Spoiler Warning
This article contains major spoilers for The Boy and the Heron (2023).
So what actually happens at the end?
An editorial breakdown of the closing minutes of The Boy and the Heron is in progress. Full beat-by-beat coverage will publish shortly; for now, the plot summary below covers the major narrative arcs through the climax.
Plot recap leading into the ending
The Boy and the Heron is a 2023 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Produced by Studio Ghibli, the film's Japanese title references Genzaburō Yoshino's 1937 novel How Do You Live? but is not an adaptation of it. The film stars the voices of Soma Santoki, Masaki Suda, Ko Shibasaki, Aimyon, Yoshino Kimura, Takuya Kimura, Kaoru Kobayashi, and Shinobu Otake. It follows a boy named Mahito Maki who moves to the countryside after his mother's death, discovers an abandoned tower near his new home, and enters a fantastical world with a talking grey heron.
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What is The Boy and the Heron about?
While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother.
Where can I watch The Boy and the Heron?
See the Where to Watch section below for the current streaming, rental, and purchase options in your region.