One of the co-founders of the beloved Studio Ghibli and one of the world’s most celebrated animators just came out of retirement to make his final film. Hayao Miyazaki, who is now 82 years old, made his probably last project titled “How Do You Live” and has already been released in Japan. We are only knowing about this movie recently due to a lack of marketing, which isn’t new for Ghibli and Miyazaki’s films. How Do You Live officially premiered in Japanese theaters two days ago, but Ghibli fans are wondering: When will the movie come out in the U.S.?
What is How Do You Live all about?
Hayao Miyazaki returns to the spotlight after retiring from the scene. The 82-year-old animator made his first movie in ten years and this will probably be his last title. Miyazaki’s How Do You Live is based on Genzaburo Yoshino’s 1937 novel of the same name.
The novel revolves around the life of a young boy named Junichi Honda. Junichi’s nickname Koperu (taken from the famous astronomer Nicholas Copernicus), is a fifteen-year-old high school kid who is academically gifted and energetic. Unfortunately, Junichi lost his father when he was young and now only lives with his mom. He would, however, have great interactions with his uncle (his mother’s brother) and would talk about life for hours. Junichi’s uncle would take note of their conversations about life in a diary that he plans on giving to Junichi soon. The novel tackles the emotional spectrum of familial relationships and how one really lives. Further, the movie’s tagline features a “roadmap for dealing with the loss of a loved one couched within a fantastical tale”, which heavily suggests Junichi Honda’s loss in the story.
Despite minimal marketing, Hayao Miyazaki’s How Do You Live earns $7 Million in Japan in just two days of showing
It has been known that the people behind How Do You Live have no intention of marketing this film. Aside from the teaser poster, there were no TV and newspaper ads, no movie trailers, and no flashy promotions. Instead, they just want to let people know about the pure cinematic magic of this masterpiece.
Despite that, the movie still was a huge box office success in Japan, earning $7 Million in just two days. How Do You Live was released on July 14, 2023, and moviegoers are already finding the movie one of Hayao Miyazaki’s Best Ghibli titles.
When is How Do You Live coming out in the U.S.?
In Japan, the movie is titled “How Do You Live” but will be changed to “The Boy and The Heron” when it comes to the U.S. In addition, although it’s confirmed that there will be an American showing, the release date isn’t yet confirmed. However, it is believed that this Ghibli film will come out later this year, a few months after its July premiere in Japan.
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