‘The Boy and the Heron,’ ‘Suzume’ and ‘The Peasants’ Prove Mature Storytelling in Animation Can Be a Box Office Hit
12.01.2024 - 23:01
/ variety.com
Karen Idelson Though there are still those who view animation primarily as a kids or family form of entertainment, over the last year many of the most challenging, risky stories have been told by the modern masters of animation.
Films like “Suzume,” “The Peasants” and “The Boy and the Heron” have all been lauded for taking on compelling stories that often attract more adult audiences or even becoming crossover hits that draw diverse viewers. Makoto Shinkai’s “Suzume” earned well over $300 million in international box office.
“The Peasants,” helmed by DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman, tells the story of a young woman and her controversial choices, and is based on a much-loved Polish novel. The film became a huge hit in Poland and is now attracting international attention.
Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron” delves deep into Japanese mythology and has earned over $100 million at the global box office as of October 2023.
Toshio Suzuki, co-founder and president of Studio Ghibli, has been a longtime collaborator and producer of Miyazaki’s films. He was especially moved by the latest film and supports the idea of an auteur working in animation to make a deeply personal statement.
“When Miyazaki came and showed me the first 20 minutes of the storyboards [for “The Boy and the Heron”], I knew that this one was going to be something very special,” says Suzuki.
“I decided then that I am going to put all the money and time in this film to support his creativity because I thought at the time that this was going to be his last film. This is an autobiographical film, but the audience doesn’t necessarily have to know which parts are autobiographical for him.
It was a process for him to reflect on his life. The protagonist is based on
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