Highlights
- The Boy and the Heron is a highly acclaimed anime film with deep themes of grief, self-discovery, and magic.
- Despite being based on How Do You Live?, the movie differs significantly in characters and plot details.
- Both works share a common theme of life’s philosophical questions, making them spiritually connected despite surface disparities.
By now you’ve likely heard of The Boy and the Heron. You know it is an anime film. You know it comes from Studio Ghibli. You know that it may very well be the final film by acclaimed (and now two-time Academy Award-winning) director Hayao Miyazaki. You may have also heard it’s based on a book; How Do You Live?
However, when released internationally, the producers decided to change the name, which begs the question: does The Boy and the Heron have much (if anything) in common with the novel How Do You Live?
What is How Do You Live?
How Do You Live? is a coming-of-age novel written by Japanese author Yoshino Genzaburo. It was first published in 1937. The story follows a teenage boy named Junichi Honda, who learns life lessons from his uncle, a philosopher named Mr. Honda. The novel explores themes of morality, existentialism, and the search for meaning in life. It’s considered a classic of Japanese literature and has been highly influential in Japan, with many influential Japanese individuals listing it as one of their favorite books (including Hayao Miyazaki, who would take inspiration from the book for his possible final film).
Who is Yoshino Genzaburo?
Yoshino Genzaburo was a Japanese author known for his works of fiction, particularly for his exploration of moral and philosophical themes. How Do You Live? is one of his most famous works, often cited as a classic of Japanese literature. However, he did publish several collections of short stories, including Shokugyō to shite no henshūsha and Heiwa e no ishi (neither of which has been published in English as of this essay).
What is The Boy and the Heron?
The Boy and the Heron is the latest (and possibly final film) by Hayao Miyazaki. By design, the story of the film was shrouded in mystery, but for the purposes of this article we must discuss the story. So if you want to see the movie without any context (the way Miyazaki intended), this is your chance to back out now. The story involves a young boy during WWII who is uprooted by his father and moved to another town after an air raid destroys their home and kills his mother. While at his new home, he is lured into a fantastic world by a blue heron, who promises that if the boy does what he is told, he will let him see his mother again. This is very much an oversimplification, but it’s a start. If you don’t want to know more, this is your second chance to back out.
Acclaim for The Boy and the Heron
The Boy and the Heron has been wildly acclaimed since it was released. It received rave reviews from critics, is one of the highest grossed worldwide hit for an anime feature film (especially impressive when you consider the film is not part of an established franchise), and it even won the coveted Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film, beating out more popular movies like Elemental and Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse. Considered an underdog to win the accolades due to the personal subject matter, the film never-the-less went the distance during award seasons, and won numerous other awards as well.
How Different is the Movie from the Book?
The most fascinating thing about the movie adaptation of How Do You Live? is the fact that it really doesn’t have much to do with the novel it is based on when it comes to surface details. The book follows the journey of a young Japanese boy named Junichi Honda as he navigates the complexities of life, guided by the wisdom of his Uncle Honda. The story begins with Junichi facing the loss of his father and the challenges of adolescence. As he goes through life, Junichi grapples with questions about morality, identity, and the meaning of existence.
Junichi’s uncle serves as a mentor figure, imparting philosophical insights and life lessons to his nephew. Mr. Honda encourages Junichi to embrace curiosity and to approach life with a sense of wonder and curiosity. Through their conversations and experiences together, Junichi learns about the importance of integrity, compassion, and self-discovery. And that’s basically it. Of course, considering the source material, it is the wisdom and the philosophical questions on life that makes the book so captivating to read. The movie, however, follows young Soma Santoki as he tries to meet his mother again. Though things like the heron, the fantasy world, and the entire cast of characters don’t show up in the film, the movie does have some surprising connections.
Starting with the fact that How Do You Live? the novel touches on some very deep questions about life and morality. While Miyazaki’s characters may be different, his movie is his own personal meditation on life and the things he will leave behind. The main driving conflict in the book revolves around Junichi and how the relationships in his life help mold who he is. Likewise, Soma is also going through changes in his life, as new people that come into his life will mold who he is by the end. Finally, the name itself is the biggest connection between the two works, as How Do You Live? isn’t just a title: it is the center question both author and filmmaker as asking as they give us our works.
Ironically, it was decided that the title would be changed for international releases, and as such the one thing that both works have most in common is no longer there. Some may say this isn’t a big deal, since on a technical movie the two don’t have much to do with each other. However, when you look deeper into the themes and how the stories are told, you discover that on a spiritual level both works of art are asking the same answers (though coming to different conclusions). So if you liked the movie (or vice-versa), you may want to check out the other story. Because interestingly enough, knowing what the book holds will give viewers a much greater insight into the movie.
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