Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka

Three years into the war, Mahito Maki loses his mother in a tragic fire at the hospital. Shortly thereafter, his father marries Natsuko, the younger sister of Mahito's mother. They take Mahito out of Tokyo to seek refuge in his late mother's rural family home. There, Mahito is constantly taunted by a strange gray heron, who seems to have taken an interest in him.

Unable to come to terms with his loss and struggling to adjust to a new life in an unfamiliar place, the boy is shocked to discover that Natsuko is pregnant. To make matters worse, the pesky heron can speak—and claims that Mahito's mother is still alive. Luring him into a mysterious tower near the residence, the heron says that Mahito can save her from death, but the boy is not easily swayed.

When Natsuko disappears one day, however, Mahito watches her walk into the tower and becomes compelled to venture in to rescue her. He soon finds himself falling into another world below his, where life and death seem to be entwined. As he navigates through this foreign realm to find Natsuko, Mahito must understand what it means to live if he wants to safely return home.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Maki, Mahito Main

Santoki, Souma Japanese

Heron Man Main

Suda, Masaki Japanese

Himi Main

Aimyon Japanese

Warawara Supporting

Takizawa, Karen Japanese

Kiriko Supporting

Shibasaki, Kou Japanese

Parakeet King Supporting

Kunimura, Jun Japanese

Great Uncle Supporting

Hino, Shouhei Japanese

Old Pelican Supporting

Kobayashi, Kaoru Japanese

Maki, Shoichi Supporting

Kimura, Takuya Japanese

Aiko Supporting

Ootake, Shinobu Japanese

Suzuki, Toshio Producer

Miyazaki, Hayao Director, Storyboard, Screenplay, Original Creator

Kasamatsu, Kouji Sound Director

Nakazawa, Shintarou Episode Director

Reviews

Sep 8, 2024

VibranToucan

Recommended

This is one of the most beautiful animes I have ever watched. The first act was honestly just straight up amazing. If they made the entire movie like that it would be a 10/10, no question. However, the rest was often weird and confusing, despite being a pretty generic story. The character growth was barely existant and when it was it often felt forced and unnatural. The main character often felt like he was just a spectator in his own story and the ending wasn't bad per say, but definitely needed to take up more movie time and be fleshed out more. Overall enjoyable.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Sep 16, 2024

Ishigami45

Mixed Feelings

By far most bad animation of Ghibli studio. Why I said this? Simple, this is very confusing unnecessary. The initial part is good, very good with an animation above of average, but the rest...

All time the anime show some things that don't make sense or doesn't explain in the future. But, neither all is bad. The end caught my attention with the message passed. The Journey is forgettable, but the end has a surprise.

In general, my note is 6 because of animation and the plot, only. The rest isn't a pattern of Ghibli studios...

Another point interesting is the details of anime, as beautiful ... sight and smooth movement. I cannot leave off mention this, because is very beauty. The characters has your charm, but, is generic of my POV.

Reviewer’s Rating: 6

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Nov 7, 2024

Lugga02

Not Recommended

I am a heavy Ghibli and Miyazaki Enthusiast. Writing a somewhat negative review is hard and even breaks my heart to think back to this mediocre ... product of "dry clay". While reading Starting Point and Turning Point, a biography about Miyazaki's work, I thought to myself that I should review his last child.

Every Miyazaki movie had a soul, mindstate of its creator and a certain target audience it wants to slam into a cinema seat.
'Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka' did not have any of that. It's just... a Ghibli movie. A group effort. A team that wants to recreate the magic of a ... Ghibli movie without having the Miyazaki wizardry.

Miya-san is getting old. Storyboards are crumbling. Damn, not even forming from its start on.

Miyazaki does not really write a Script, he starts with maybe a Layout, an idea of something inside his head, to slowly start a storyboard without even knowing how the story will end, how it will turn out. A whole story starts with his theme he is onto at that moment.

This movie has the typical Miyazaki stuff of course.
There is always a certain "Miyazaki-ness" of his female characters, male characters, animals, creatures and world.

This has left all boundaries.
It's like a zoo. The ideas are trapped. For people to gaze at it, to just say: IT'S A MIYAZAKI MOVIE!

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli) Directed Anime Watchlist

by TheCoolGuy82

19 Entries · 18 Restacks

🎧Anime with Thai dubs🇹🇭 2 / 🎧อนิเมะที่มีพากย์ไทย🇹🇭 ๒

by Adrena

50 Entries · 4 Restacks

the best of the best

by etanmess

36 Entries · 29 Restacks

North American Anime & Manga Releases for July

Here are the North American anime, manga, and light novel releases for July. Week 1: July 2 - 8 Anime Releases Bungou Stray Dogs 4th Season (Bungo Stray Dogs 4) Comp...read more

Jul 1, 3:21 PM by Aiimee | Discuss (1 comment)

'Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka' Anime Movie Announces Cast, Staff, Theme Song

The screenings of Hayao Miyazaki's Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka (The Boy and the Heron) anime movie revealed the cast members and theme song on Friday. The movie o...read more

Jul 14, 2023 4:54 PM by DatRandomDude | Discuss (6 comments)

	Poll: Kimitachi wa Dou Ikiru ka Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 3 ) __potato__ - Jul 14, 2023	100 replies	by Inuh »» Nov 8, 3:18 PM
	Disappointed Yeetyus - Feb 7	26 replies	by JoeChip »» Nov 3, 9:24 AM
	Poll: Sub or Dub? nirererin - Jun 28	10 replies	by V1P3R0P »» Sep 19, 1:53 AM
	It's here guys Oreki_Houtaro24 - Jun 26	0 replies	by Oreki_Houtaro24 »» Jun 26, 9:27 PM
	Releasing in India Aryu1410 - Apr 26	4 replies	by Ashwin_Kaushik »» May 13, 9:21 AM