GKIDS Release 'The Boy And The Heron' English Trailer

Some animation filmmakers are prolific, releasing a new film every two years or so (or even less). Others work at a much more relaxed pace. When those films do eventually see release, somehow they can feel extra special. Case in point The Boy And The Heron, the new film from anime legend Hayao Miyazaki, which has been in production for years (we first covered the story in 2016). It arrives a full decade after his last feature The Wind Rises.

It feels like it's been a long time coming, but the wait is nearly over for fans in the English-speaking world. Ahead of the film's December US release, distributor GKIDS Films have unveiled a new English-language trailer. The trailer previews the new English language version which it has already been announced features the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson, and Florence Pugh. The dub was produced in accordance with the SAG-AFTRA Foreign Dubbing Agreement.

GKIDS will bring The Boy And The Heron to cinemas across the US and Canada from December 8, in both original language and English dubbed versions, The eagerly awaited new film from Japan's lauded Studio Ghibli, it will hold special preview engagements in New York and Los Angeles on November 22, before expanding nationwide on December 8. The film is the first Ghibli film to be released in the IMAX format.

The film is an original story written and directed by Miyazaki, produced by Toshio Suzuki and with an original score by regular collaborator Joe Hisaishi. The film's theme song Spinning Globe is performed by J-Pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

The Boy And The Heron made its international debut at Toronto International Film Festival in September, selling out all five screenings in record time. The film's US premiere took place at The New York Film Festival, its European premiere at the San Sebastian International Film Festival, and its UK premiere at the BFI London Film Festival. Its Los Angeles IMAX premiere took place as the opening night at the Animation Is Film Festival.

The film will be released in the UK on December 26 by Elysian Film Group.