The Boy and the Heron. About Miyazaki and Japanese Mythology | Film and conversation by Scholar of religious studies Arjan Sterken

Review

After a decade, there is now another new film from world-renowned Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki: The Boy and the Heron. Miyazaki's films often seem very strange to Western audiences. After all, they are full of symbolism and references to Japanese culture and myths that we are not familiar with. The Boy and the Heron is no exception. Yet they are immensely popular! What makes Miyazaki's films so special and why do they do so well in the West? What is the significance of the many fantasy creatures that claim such important roles? Come hear anime expert Tess Wiskerke and scholar of religious studies Arjan Sterken place The Boy and the Heron in the context of Miyazaki's oeuvre and the context of Japanese mythology.

Read the review