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Encore Films Opens The Boy and the Heron, 'The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbye', and City Hunter The Movie: Angel Dust Films in the Philippines
posted on by Rafael Antonio Pineda
Hayao Miyazaki's latest feature film The Boy and the Heron (Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka, or literally How Do You Live?) will open in the Philippines on November 29.
The story takes place during World War II. After Mahito loses his mother during the firebombings of Tokyo, he and his father move to the countryside. There, Mahito's father gets remarried to his late mother's pregnant sister. As Mahito struggles with his situation, he encounters a talking heron and enters another world based on a promise that he can meet his mother again.
The film opened in Japan on July 14, and sold 1.003 million tickets and earned about US$13.2 million in its first three days in Japan. The film sold 1.353 million tickets and earned 2.149 billion yen (about US$15.53 million) in its Friday-Monday long weekend (July 17 was the Marine Day holiday in Japan). The Boy and the Heron has earned a cumulative total of 8,333,397,800 yen (about US$55.60 million). It is the #74 highest-grossing film ever in Japan. The film had its international premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), as the event's opening film on September 7 at Roy Thomson Hall. This marked the first time the festival opened with an animated film as well as the first time for a Japanese film.
The film is the first Studio Ghibli film to get a simultaneous IMAX release. The film is also screening in Dolby Atmos, Dolby Cinema, and DTS:X.
Miyazaki is credited with the original work, in addition to directing the film and writing the script. Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro) composed the music. Kenshi Yonezu (Chainsaw Man, My Hero Academia, March comes in like a lion) performs the theme song "Chikyūgi" (Globe).
The film opened in Japan in September 2022. Oji Suzuka starred in the film as Kaoru Tōno and Marie Iitoyo played Anzu Hanaki.
Tasuku Hatanaka played Kaoru's friend Shōhei Kaga. Arisa Komiya played Koharu Kawasaki, Anzu's belligerent classmate. Haruka Terui played Kaoru and Anzu's homeroom teacher Hamamoto-sensei. Rikiya Koyama played Kaoru's father. Seiran Kobayashi played Kaoru's younger sister Karen Tōno.
Tomohisa Taguchi (Akudama Drive, Kino's Journey - the Beautiful World-, Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna) directed the film at CLAP (Pompo: The Cinéphile), and was also the scriptwriter and storyboarder, as well as the line director alongside Kanji Miyake. Tomomi Yabuki (Pompo: The Cinéphile animation director) was the character designer and chief animation director, with Yabuki, Seiji Tachikawa, Akio Hasegawa, and Yasuhisa Kato as animation directors. Harumi Fuuki (Miss Hokusai, Forest of Piano, Tsurune) composed the music.
Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed both the original light novel and its manga adaptation in North America, and it describes the story:
Tono Kaoru heard a rumor: The laws of space and time mean nothing to the Urashima Tunnel. If you find it, walk through and you'll find your heart's desire on the other side...in exchange for years of your own life. On the night Kaoru just so happens to find himself standing in front of a tunnel that looks suspiciously like the one the rumor describes, he finds himself thinking of Karen, the sister he lost in an accident five years ago. To Kaoru's surprise, he's been followed by the new transfer student Anzu Hanaki, who promises to help him experiment with the mysterious tunnel--but what does she want from Kaoru in exchange? And what will he have left to give, after the tunnel's done with him?
Hachimoku released the original light novel in July 2019, with illustrations by Kukka. The novel was ranked #9 in the bunkobon category of the 2020 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi! (This Light Novel Is Amazing!) guidebook.
The film opened in Japan on September 8, and ranked at #1 in its opening weekend. The film sold 210,000 tickets for 324,949,388 yen (about US$2.21 million) in its first three days. The film has earned a cumulative total of 892,312,582 yen (about US$5.95 million) as of October 1.
Returning voice actors include Akira Kamiya as Ryo Saeba, Kazue Ikura as Kaori Makimura, Harumi Ichiryūsai as Saeko Nogami, Tesshō Genda as Umibozu, and Mami Koyama as Miki. Also returning in the film are the three Kisugi thief sisters from the Cat's Eye anime. Keiko Toda and Chika Sakamoto are returning from the original Cat's Eye television anime as Hitomi and Ai. Rica Fukami plays Rui. (Toshiko Fujita, who played Rui in the original Cat's Eye anime, passed away in December 2018.)
City Hunter franchise director Kenji Kodama directed the new film at Sunrise and The Answer Studio Co., Ltd. Yasuyuki Mutō (Deadman Wonderland) wrote the screenplay. Aniplex is distributing the film.
The film revolves around the past of Ryo Saeba and the death of his old partner Hideyuki Makimura. It also revolves around Angel Dust, which was also important in the original series.
TM Network performed the opening theme song "Whatever Comes" and ending theme song "Get Wild" (the original anime series' ending theme song).
The new anime film commemorates the television anime's 35th anniversary.
Source: Anime Pilipinas (JM Melegrito)
