8.4
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
The Boy and the Heron (2023)
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Viewer Rating
Rating: 8.4
Overview
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. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Bias Dimensions
Political: Strong Left
Diversity: Moderate
Overview
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. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
Starring Cast
Where to watch
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
The film's central thesis explicitly promotes a progressive ideology by critiquing imperialism, militarism, and authoritarianism as self-destructive systems, advocating for a break from oppressive legacies and a renewal based on historical truth and self-criticism.
The film's casting is culturally authentic to its Japanese setting, featuring characters that are diverse within that context but without explicit race or gender swaps of roles traditionally associated with Western identities. Its narrative explores universal themes of grief and resilience, focusing on a personal journey rather than explicitly critiquing traditional identities or centering DEI themes in a confrontational manner.
Secondary
Based on available information, 'The Boy and the Heron' does not feature identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes. The film's narrative primarily focuses on existential, political, and familial themes, leading to a classification of N/A for LGBTQ+ portrayal.
The Boy and the Heron does not explicitly feature transsexual characters or themes within its narrative. While some thematic interpretations exist, the film's direct content does not depict or focus on transsexual identity or community, leading to an N/A rating for portrayal.
The film features strong female characters like Lady Himi and Natsuko, but none engage in direct physical combat against male opponents. Lady Himi utilizes magical fire abilities, which do not fit the criteria for physical combat victories.
The Boy and the Heron is an original story by Hayao Miyazaki. All characters are new creations for this film and do not have pre-established genders from prior source material, making gender swaps inapplicable by definition.
The Boy and the Heron is an original animated film with new characters, not an adaptation of pre-existing material or a biopic. Therefore, there are no established characters whose race could be swapped.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
7.4
7.4
Critic Ratings
9.6
9.1
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