The Boy and the Heron
In the wake of his mother's death and his father's remarriage, a headstrong boy ventures into a dreamlike world shared by the living and the dead in search of his missing stepmother.
Despite a moderate budget of $50.0M, The Boy and the Heron became a financial success, earning $294.2M worldwide—a 488% return.
1 Oscar. 34 wins & 87 nominations
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Mahito Maki
The Grey Heron
Natsuko
Shoichi Maki
Kiriko
Himi
The Grand Uncle
Lady Himi
Main Cast & Characters
Mahito Maki
Played by Soma Santoki
A young boy grieving his mother's death who ventures into a mysterious tower after his father remarries.
The Grey Heron
Played by Masaki Suda
A mysterious and mischievous grey heron who guides and antagonizes Mahito, revealing himself as a guide between worlds.
Natsuko
Played by Yoshino Kimura
Mahito's aunt who becomes his stepmother, pregnant and struggling to connect with her grieving stepson.
Shoichi Maki
Played by Takuya Kimura
Mahito's father, an aircraft factory owner during wartime who remarries quickly after his wife's death.
Kiriko
Played by Aimyon
A young fisherwoman in the alternate world who serves as a protector and ally to Mahito.
Himi
Played by Karen Takizawa
A young girl with fire powers who helps Mahito in the tower world, later revealed to be his mother as a child.
The Grand Uncle
Played by Shohei Hino
The mysterious architect of the tower world who seeks an heir to maintain the balance of his created realm.
Lady Himi
Played by Takuya Kimura
Mahito's deceased mother who died in a hospital fire, whose presence haunts and motivates Mahito's journey.