The Boy and the Heron - Limited Edition Steelbook 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray [4K UHD]

I don't know that a Miyazaki movie can be bad, and this one certainly isn't, but it's also not one I'll be likely rewatch multiple times like some of his others. It not just that it deals with some heavy issues, as that's par for the course for Miyazaki. It's that it does so disturbingly, grotesquely in places. There are scenes in the movie that make my night paralysis demons check under their beds before going to sleep. It's also kind of disjointed in its structure, and the ending felt rushed. Beyond that, it is a beautiful movie that displays Miyazaki's artwork at its finest, full of gorgeous landscapes and hunger-inducing food. The quiet melancholy touches the soul with all of the tenderness of classic Ghibli, and the themes of trauma and loss are handled gracefully. I'd recommend you watch it. Just don't watch it with a kid who is prone to nightmares.

A great physical copy of a compelling Hayao Miyazaki movie! Plenty of bonus features along with the English dub. The original Japanese dialogue and actors. Plus absolutely gorgeous animation as well!

One of the best movies ever made.

I absolutely loved The Boy and the Heron. It was a beautifully emotional journey that combined stunning animation with a heartfelt story. Following Mahito as he copes with the loss of his mother and explores a mysterious, fantastical world felt both personal and epic. The visuals were breathtaking—especially the surreal creatures and landscapes that made every scene feel like art. What stood out most was how it tackled grief and growth in such a genuine way. Even the slower moments had this quiet beauty that pulled me in, and the music just tied everything together perfectly. It’s the kind of movie that sticks with you, and I’d recommend it to anyone who loves stories with heart and imagination.

Brilliant and mysterious film, another Miyazaki classic. This one leans into the mystical and unknown elements in a way more similar to Spirited Away. Very cool to see.

I just watched “The Boy and the Heron,” and it’s another stunning masterpiece from Studio Ghibli! The animation is absolutely breathtaking, as always, and the story is both magical and thought-provoking. Ghibli has a unique way of blending beautiful visuals with deep themes, and this film is no exception. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making the journey all the more engaging. I can’t help but feel that Ghibli truly is the greatest when it comes to storytelling and artistry. If you’re a fan of their work, this movie is a must-see! Highly recommend!

Hayao Miyazaki's Oscar-winning return to cinema, ***The Boy and the Heron***, is an intensely beautiful and highly personal work, and its 4K Ultra HD debut, particularly in the Limited Edition Steelbook, is a **mandatory purchase** for any Studio Ghibli collector or fan of high-quality animation presentation. This release marks the **first-ever Studio Ghibli title to be released on 4K UHD**, and it is treated with the reverence it deserves. | Category | Rating | Note | | **Overall Presentation** | **⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5** | A spectacular debut for Ghibli in 4K. | | **Video Quality (4K UHD)** | **⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5** | HDR/Dolby Vision is a stunning revelation. | | **Audio Quality (Dolby Atmos)** | **⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5** | Immersive and dynamic. | | **Steelbook & Extras** | **⭐⭐⭐⭐ / 5** | Gorgeous collectible with solid features. | --- ### 🖼️ Video Quality: The Beauty of HDR (4K UHD) The film was finished with a 2K Digital Intermediate, which is then upscaled to 4K. In a standard review, this might be a point of minor concern, but here, the inclusion of **Dolby Vision and HDR10** is the true game-changer. * **Color & Contrast:** The High Dynamic Range (HDR) grade is a perfect fit for Miyazaki's meticulously hand-drawn animation. Colors are more saturated, and the contrast is deeper, giving the image incredible **depth and dimension** that the standard Blu-ray cannot replicate. * **Highlight Reel:** Moments involving **fire (especially the opening scene)**, the ethereal Warawara, or the lush, vivid blues and greens of the fantasy world practically *glow* off the screen. * **Clarity:** Fine lines and intricate details in the animation remain crisp and refined, without noticeable artifacts. This is, quite simply, the **best a Studio Ghibli film has ever looked** for home viewing. ### 🎧 Audio Quality: A Seamless Atmos Experience Both the original Japanese and the English dub tracks are presented in **Dolby Atmos**, offering a fully immersive listening experience. * **Immersive Mix:** The sound design is generally subtle, allowing for a natural and enveloping environment, but it opens up dramatically when the fantasy elements take over. Directional effects—like the Heron flying overhead or echoes within the tower—are effective and precise. * **Hisaishi's Score:** Joe Hisaishi's beautiful and often melancholy score is given excellent balance and air, anchoring the emotional core of the film within the listening space. ### ✨ Limited Edition Steelbook & Special Features The physical presentation is suitably collector-focused. * **Steelbook Design:** The Steelbook casing features **gorgeous artwork** that makes it a fantastic display piece. * **Bonus Materials:** The set is a 2-disc package (4K UHD + standard Blu-ray), with special features primarily housed on the Blu-ray disc. * **Feature-Length Storyboards:** A Ghibli tradition, allowing you to watch the entire film with the original storyboards filling a portion of the screen. * **Interviews:** Features with key creators, including Composer **Joe Hisaishi**, Producer **Toshio Suzuki**, and Supervising Animator **Takeshi Honda**. * **Drawing with Takeshi Honda:** An insightful featurette on the animation process. * A **fold-out poster** is often included with the limited edition. ### Summary The film itself is a dense, multilayered, and often challenging masterpiece that invites multiple viewings. This **Limited Edition 4K UHD Steelbook** is the definitive way to experience it, delivering reference-quality video and audio that perfectly honors the stunning artistry of Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. It is an essential cornerstone for a modern 4K collection.

If you are a Miyazaki fan you can put this in your cart right now! This film is surprising, weird, funny and wonderful like all Miyazaki's! This is a beautiful movie that really takes advantage of the 4k HDR disc. A classic Miyazaki that is unpredictable and takes you to wonderful places! I don't think it's the absolute best he's done but it's still very, very good. It's a little hard to identify with and keep track of the characters but it doesn't matter too much because I'll be watching it again! At first it looks barely better than a blu ray. But as the picture goes on it seems they got better and better at using the format to full effect. Detail is only a little better than a blu ray disc but colors are much more nuanced and vibrant. HDR is utilized in well when depicting fire and sunlight streaming through the scenes. Also surprisingly good is the audio. I believe this movie has the best audio/effects of any Ghibli film. A great use of your system for sure. So it's probably the best looking and sounding Miyazaki film but I pray it isn't his last! I'd love to see earlier Ghibli films given the 4K treatment as well but I'm so happy to have this to watch!

Es un paquete completo. Ha sido de lo mejor que ha sacado la compañía gkids relacionado con una película ghibli. Viene con idioma al japonés, inglés y español latino. Viene con dos discos (un bluray y 4k uhd). Viene con un póster de buen tamaño. Una compra obligada. Pd. De entre el material extra que se encuentra, hay una versión completa de la película con storyboards, lo que me sorprendió es que puedes poner el idioma que quieras (de lo ya mencionados). Eso sí me tomo por sorpresa. Subo video como muestra porque eso sí vale muchísimo la pena. 10/10

As a lifelong fan of the works of Hayao Miyazaki, I would consider The Boy and the Heron to be the best movie of his career. It is perhaps a bit more challenging than some of his other films, but I think that's part of what makes it so engaging. It's not easy to just absorb in one go, but it's embedded with textured emotions. It's a fairy tale about processing grief, life and death. When I first saw it in theatres, I was thinking about it for days. The animation is just as good as you'd expect from a Ghibli film directed by Miyazaki. Particularly the opening sequence of the film. And the minimalist score is a standout for composer Joe Hisaishi. I ordered the steelbook, and love the gorgeous packaging. I have a few Ghibli steelbooks now, and this one might be my favourite for the artwork. Now, Amazon stupidly files all reviews for a single film, despite the fact that different releases or editions of a film might have different disc transfers, bonus features, etc. That being said, whether you buy the standard blu-ray, or the 4K UHD disc, you'll get a fine transfer of the film either way. (also both editions are combo packs, the 4K comes with the blu-ray, and the blu-ray edition comes with a DVD) I would happily give 5 stars to any of the three releases of this film. The film has a modest selection of bonus features (including the complete storyboards, a standard for almost all studio Ghibli home video releases). The film has both a Japanese track with literal English subtitles, and a dub. I prefer to watch any foreign film, animated or live action in the original language with subtitles. That being said, the English dub is excellent (particularly Robert Patterson as the Heron) Highly, highly recommended.

J'ai vu ce film au cinéma le premier week-end de sa sortie en décembre dernier et je n'avais regardé aucune bande-annonce et j'essayais de ne regarder aucune publicité/promotion du film afin de me garder la surprise et d'essayer d'avoir l'expérience comme Hayayo Miyazaki l'a pensé (au Japon, seule une simple affiche faisait office de promotion). Je ne regrette pas du tout d'avoir fait ce choix. Ce film est incroyablement bien écrit et génial... très différent des autres films cependant. Les "grands" films Ghibli, des années 80-90 surtout avaient des thèmes très forts comme l'environnement et la guerre. Ce film, lui, n'est pas dans ce registre pour le thème principal. Oui, il y a encore certains des thèmes chers à Miyazaki (comme la guerre et la présence d'une personnage féminine forte), mais ce ne sont pas les messages que Miyazaki veut transmettre. Comme il l'avait expliqué dans certaines interviews, ce film est beaucoup plus personnel. Il transpose surtout et avant tout sa relation avec son petit-fils, (aller au prochain paragraphe pour vous éviter toute information) le fait qu'il n'est pas éternel et qu'il va mourir un jour, bientôt. Ce film parle du deuil qu'un jeune garçon doit faire de sa mère qui est morte lors d'un incendie. Pour cela, il va rencontrer un jour, un héron proche d'un ancien bâtiment en ruine, inaccessible et ce dernier l'amènera dans un monde où il fera la rencontre d'une jeune fille. Pour ce qui est de l'animation, si vous avez regardez les autres films de Ghibli et de Miyazaki, alors vous savez à quoi vous attendre. Ce film est encore une magnifique œuvre d'animation 2D avec de superbes paysages, décors et environnements (ainsi qu'une nourriture au visuel délicieux). Néanmoins, lors de mon visionnage au cinéma (mon unique visionnage pour le moment), je n'avais pas remarqué de musiques particulièrement marquante, excepté la musique de fin du générique, comme d'autres films ont été capable de le faire par le passé. Cela veut peut-être aussi dire que la musique accompagnait parfaitement le film, donc ce n'est pas nécessairement mauvais. Le seul aspect négatif que j'ai avec le film se trouve à être avec cette version physique... car j'ai écouté le film au cinéma en français, avec encore un doublage d'une très grande qualité. Cependant, cette version physique ne contient pas du tout la VF. Il n'y a que les versions japonaise (originale), anglaise et espagnol qui sont incluses et je trouve ça vraiment bien dommage. J'ai écouté rapidement ce que donnait la VA et elle ne semble pas mauvaise du tout comparé à d'autres films Ghibli dont j'ai un peu plus de mal avec la version anglaise. Néanmoins, les sous-titres possèdent une version française (avec l'anglais et l'espagnol). Au final, bien que la version française est manquante, je vous recommande fortement d'écouter ce film, dernier né du Studio Ghibli.

La película llegó rápido y en buen estado. La película es preciosa, un gran último trabajo del maestro Hayao Miyasaki, ver la película en 4k es sencillamente magnífico, su sonido es asombroso, la historia muy emotiva, una despedida con sabor a todas sus obras anteriores.

Hayao Miyazaki's Academy Award winning The Boy and the Heron is a landmark for Studio Ghibli, not just for its story, but because it is the first-ever Ghibli film released in 4K. "Limited Edition" isn't just a label here. The packaging is a work of art. The steelbook features beautiful matte finish artwork that looks incredible alongside the other Ghibli steelbook releases. If you are a physical media collector or a Studio Ghibli devotee, this is a non-negotiable purchase. It sets a new standard for how Studio Ghibli films can look in the modern era.