Japan, 1943. Following the death of his mother, 12-year-old Mahito moves to the countryside to live with his father and new stepmother in a sprawling estate. There, Mahito draws the attention of a mysterious and mischievous grey heron. The bird lures Mahito to a magical alternate realm with the promise that Mahito’s mother is still alive there. The young boy sets off on an adventure through a dazzling but dangerous world.

Studio Ghibli’s latest animated wonder marks the long-awaited return of legendary Hayao Miyazaki. Here, the master director mixes a thoughtful, emotionally complex coming-of-age story with beautiful, otherworldly fantasy. It has welcome echoes of classics like Spirited Away, while still overflowing with wondrous images and ideas all its own.

OSCAR WINNER: Best Animated Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards.

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki | 124 mins | Cert 12A | English