Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Hayao Miyazaki has made some of the most loveable anime films to date. FromSpirited AwaytoHowl’s Moving Castle,there is barely any movie from Studio Ghibli that fails to touch the hearts of the fans. With this, it is only fair to expect the same with his latest project,The Boy and the Heron.Throughout the many movies that have been made by the filmmaker, he is known to have taken inspiration from his life.
Now and then, he would add things that have influenced him, with the perfect example being that of the ending ofSpirited Away,one that he saw differently from the others. Similarly,The Boy and the Heronsaw a massive change in the storyline too. The reason for this, however, was not as wholesome as many would like. Rather, it was a personal tragedy that made him change the story of the film.
Also Read:Attack on Titan Finale Snuck in a Reference to Hayao Miyazaki’s Most Iconic Movie
Hayao Miyazaki Drew From His Personal Life For This Film
The Boy and the Heronis a semi-autobiographical work about the life ofHayao Miyazaki, and his relationship with his close friends, Isao Takahata, and Toshio Suzuki, who started Studio Ghibli together. Suzuki spoke toIndieWireabout this, stating that all three of them featured as different characters in the film, with Miyazaki being Mahito, Takahata being the great uncle, and Suzuki being the Heron. He also mentioned that the dynamics shared by these characters were similar to the ones the three shared in real life.
“Miyazaki is Mahito, Takahata is the great uncle, and the gray heron is me,”Suzuki said.“He said [Takahata] discovered his talent and added him to the staff. I think Takahata-san was the one who helped him develop his ability.”He continued,“On the other hand, the relationship between the boy and the [Heron] is a relationship where they don’t give in to each other, push and pull,”
Suzuki then went on to talk about how Takahata was a very important person in Miyazaki’s life, having had a massive influence on each other’s lives. He mentioned that the latter spent quite the majority of his life following Takahata professionally until they finally collaborated. After this, their relationship took the form of a friendly rivalry, constantly pushing the other to be better, all the while remaining close to each other. It was because of this that initially, the great uncle was a big part of the film.
Also Read:Hayao Miyazaki Apologized to ‘The Boy and the Heron’ Original Actor for the Role That Will Be Voiced by Robert Pattinson
Grief Made Hayao Miyazaki Change The Script
With how Toshio Suzuki described it, it is very clear that Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki shared an extremely complicated dynamic. Despite this, after Takahata’s passing in 2018, the animator and filmmaker was deeply affected. So much so that he was unable to continue with the film as it was, with the great uncle’s character being such an important part of the story.
“After Takahata passed away, he wasn’t able to continue with that story, so he changed the narrative and it became the relationship between the boy and the Heron,”Suzuki continued.“And in his mind, initially, the Heron was something that symbolizes the eeriness of the mansion and that tower, even ominous, that he goes to during wartime. But he changed it to this sort of budding friendship between the boy and the Heron.”
It was because of this that the director decided to reduce the character’s appearance, finding it too painful to continue with the way that the film was. The role was removed, making it only a cameo at the end of the film instead of the part the great uncle was initially meant to play. This managed to change the entire story completely, focusing more on the boy, Mahito, than anyone else.
Also Read:Staunch Miyazaki Fan Christian Bale’s Favorite Anime Film is from an Extreme Genre Hayao Miyazaki Will Never Explore
Ananya Godboley
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2219
Ananya Godboley is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows, with over 2,000 articles published. She has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years. Currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology from K.R. Mangalam University, Ananya also likes to fangirl as a full-time job. She covers news and analyses on anything from Rick and Morty to Hannibal and even Arcane. In between these lines, she also enjoys superheroes and Taylor Swift.A philosophy enthusiast, Ananya enjoys digging deeper into the media she consumes, trying to understand the root of her favorite characters' behavior.
