Anime film buffs rejoice asThe Boy and the Heron, one of the best animated films in years, will soon join Netflix’s streaming lineup after a successful distribution in theaters. Confirmed by Netflix Anime on X (formerly Twitter)the Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece is set to premiere on August 08, 2025, on the Netflix streaming service. This marks another major acquisition by the streaming giant as it appears to take its anime push increasingly seriously in light of new shows likeTerminator Zeroand upcoming tentpole releases likeBlue BoxandSakamoto Days.
The Boy and the Heronwas one of the biggest anime film releases of 2023and, by extension, the last decade,with Hayao Miyazaki’s triumphant directorial re-emergence being an instant hit.It was a smash success in festival circles, a critical darling, a box office winner, and secured multiple prestigious year-end accolades as an anime film. The fact that it’ll be available on a platform as large as Netflix only boosts its appeal, withThe Boy and the Heronbeing a must-watch going into the Fall 2024 season.
The Boy and the Heron Is One Of Miyazaki’s Finest
The Latest Acclaimed Film from One of Anime’s Best Directors
With Hayao Miyazaki’s directorial credits reaching back to 1979 and his earlier credited work reaching back over sixty years, it’s difficult to fathomThe Boy and the Heronbeing yet another of his films to resonate with viewers worldwide. Netflix viewers will soon be blessed with this latest story if they haven’t seen it yet, as it’sa beautiful coming-of-age tale with shades of Miyazaki’s self-reflection as it parallels his upbringing.The Boy and the Heronscooped the Best Animated category at the Golden Globes, BAFTAs, andAcademy Awards in 2024’s awards season.
The Boy and the Heronwill soon joinSpirited Away, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind,Castle in the Sky, Princess Mononoke, and many other irreplaceableStudio Ghibli classics as essential anime film experiences. The film follows Mahito Maki, who discovers a strange other world and a talking heron after a tragic incident that claims his mother’s life.It exhibits a sense of coming to terms with the past, evoking themes of post-war Japan, what direction the surviving citizens must go, and what sort of lives they will live, creating a powerful vision of national optimism.
The Boy and the Heron Confirms Netflix Is Serious About Upping Their Anime Game
A Hugely Desirable Acquisition for the Streaming Giant
However, for fans craving more Ghibli experiences outsideThe Boy and the Heron, finding streaming homes for any given film is difficult to pin down. In the United States,The Boy and the Heronand the rest of the Ghibli library have been streaming on the Max app since August 02, 2025, before joining Netflix on July 27, 2025. Still, for how ubiquitous Netflix is, this streaming acquisition ofThe Boy and the Heron, much likeJujutsu KaisenSeason 1 andJujutsu Kaisen 0, is sufficient for viewers not wishing to be inundated with subscription services.
The Boy and the Heron
Cast
Billed as the final work of famed animator Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is a drama-fantasy film that follows a young boy named Mahito who contends with grief following the passing of his mother during World War II. Forced to evacuate to the countryside amid the war, Mahito struggles to fit into his new environment and contend with his new stepmother. However, Mahito’s life is changed after meeting a strange talking Heron - setting him on a journey of self-discovery filled with magic.
