The Boy and The Heron Explained | Decoding Hidden Meaning & Symbols in Miyazaki's Latest Ghibli Film
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- Опубліковано 3 чер 2024
- WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! If you haven't watched The Boy and The Heron yet, go and watch it now! Then, join me back here to unravel the depth of symbolism and different images within the film. If you've already been captivated by its brilliance, you'll appreciate its moments of beauty and tragedy, the wondrous and the grotesque. Even devoted Miyazaki fans might find themselves a bit bewildered by the intricate journey of discovery presented in this film, and I only scratch the surface with all this movie has to offer.
Let me know if you want a part 2 where I discuss Kiriko as Psychopomp, the Feathers, and more!
My plant is a kodama brought from the underworld to this one.
00:00 Intro
00:58 Crossing the Threshold
02:27 Natural World
03:21 Wizard’s Tower
05:09 Triple World
06:08 Spiral Stairway and Inscription
07:24 Meiji Restoration
09:15 Agricultural Volunteers
10:16 “Wounded Healer”
12:37 Gray Heron
14:50 Father
15:58 Viscera
16:41 “Your presence is requested.”
18:18 Books and How Do You Live?
20:38 Glass Rose
21:28 Water
23:14 Warawara
23:50 Lady Himi and Fire
25:07 Namu Amida Butsu
26:13 BIRDS
27:45 Two Charms
28:48 Film’s Ending
#studioghibli #theboyandtheheron #miyazaki #ghiblifilm #ghiblinews #hayaomiyazaki #gkids #newfilm #animefilm #ghiblifan #animefan #ghiblicommunity #animecommunity #animetube #animation #anime #ghibli #genzaburoyoshino #howdoyoulive #howdoyoulivefilm #animationmovie #wwii #spiritualgrowth #animatedfilm #toho #imax #pacificwar #comingofage #2023release
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I think the line that hit me the hardest is when the Grand Uncle asks Mahito if he’s sure he wants to return home, back to a world that’s overrun with chaos. Not only does this signify the director Miyazaki being unable to find a successor for the studio he helped establish, but it also foreshadows the fate of Studio Ghibli itself. After Miyazaki is gone, there’s a likely chance the studio will just fall to corporate power or just fall apart altogether just like the Otherworld in this movie. And what’s scary is that Miyazaki knows what kind of influence the rest of the world will have on his art after he’s gone. He’s seen the effects that great tragedies have had on people. WWII. War. Pandemic. The Grand Uncle knew this is the kind of world Mahito would return to, and now Miyazaki is seeing the same thing happen all over again in the modern day. His characters and art collapsing into the hands of a destructive world.
Well said. You hit the nail on the head there. I think he's really leaving it up to us as the viewer to work with what he's saying/suggesting through this film and find a way to create free from the malice of a destructive world.
I would have to disagree. I think he doesn't want a world free from malice. It's like a soul building theodicy defended by the greatest Catholic thinkers. A world without malice wouldn't make us who we are and the greatest virtues we can acquire through that malice. The boy denied the older man. He didn't want that world.
I actually saw it more as Miyazaki then vs now, where he is notoriously (along with Isao) difficult to work with due to his need for control and perfection. This kind of parallels the great grand uncle who tries so hard to build balance and perfection-the older and more conservative idea of what the perfect world is. There's also insane references to potentially Miyazaki seeing modern anime being ruined by westernization if you really look deeper into the historical nuances happening within Japan and overall Japanese sentiment to westernization during the Meiji restoration and edo periods
Mahito is almost like a new perspective born of both the old and the new-it's kind of reflected in the art style, where Mahito is generally animated in a slightly different way, and there are also moments where traditional and modern animation techniques blend together. I saw Mahito as Miyazaki kind of reconciling his utter disdain for modern anime and accepting what's to come lol
Miyazaki is also an optimist and I think Mahito can do better than the grand uncle. Mahito as the next Generation find's his own way of changing the world instead of simply taking uncles offer to replace him.
It might be my favorite Ghibli movie. Honestly I think it just comes to personal preference. This was definitely the most Miyazaki film, and I loved it. I loved how deep it was, it was more complex than other films and I loved it. There were so many things that appear random but you can actually discern the true meaning behind it. For example, Himi(aka Mahito's mom) had fire powers in the magical world, and in the other world she died in a fire. I actually cried when I put that together. How the Heron said that Mahito would find his mom in the other world and in a way, he actually did by finally recognizing his step mom as his mom after realizing how much he cared about her when he might have lost her. Even though the life he was born with was hard, he still decided to go back, because by taking that journey, he figured out how to live, which is the title of the film in Japanese. Did you know that herons in Native American culture represent an ability to progress and resolve? The legs of the heron represent that you don't need giant pillars to remain stable, but must be able to stand on your own. Which relates to how Mahito must learn to stand on his own without his mom, and the Heron showed him the way. It just reminded me of when my father struggled with cancer and eventually died, and then I had to accept my step father as my new dad. I related to a lot of the things in the movie, and many things reminded me of past experiences. I too loved fantasy for the escape from reality it offered, I was very closed off and guarded from people, occasionally I would also do things to get my mother's attention because I lacked it. It actually helped me heal a little, which is probably the highest praise you could give to a film that had a main message such as this.
I loved how you could tell that the story was told through the eyes of the child. And I mean THEY EYES OF THE CHILD. For example, when he first comes to his new home, he doesn't want to be there and everything is new and scary to him. When he walks down the hallway and sees the grannies, it should just be that the grannies are obsessing over the food. BUT it is being shown through the eyes of Mahito, and it shows this dark long hallway with the grannies that remind you of monsters feasting off of the body of their prey, and you can tell he is getting scared and ready to attack or run. They don't just immerse you in the story, the immerse you in the story through HIS eyes. Sometimes the world around him is more beautiful and magical than it really should be, and sometimes it is scarier than it really should be, due to how they portray it, because it is in the eyes of a child. It reminds me of how I viewed the world when I was a kid, and I love how it did that to me, it's really impressive. It's stuff like that that you hardly ever see in films that I just appreciate so much. It's a story dedicated to his grandson because he doesn't want him to live the troubled life that he did growing up, and I think it did an amazing job of that, showing the viewer how to live. I also think this was the funniest Ghibli movie, which I wasn't expecting. There were a lot of parts that made the people in the audience laugh, myself included. I loved the Heron, I loved the parakeets, I loved how I got the feeling of being taken into this magical world and setting on an adventure, just like Spirited Away. I think it was a masterpiece of a film
Wow, thanks for sharing all that awesome perspective. 100% agreement about this masterpiece, and I think a lot of people probably tapped into similar, personal elements about childhood like you've touched on. Certainly a film to keep coming back to over the years to see what different pieces you catch as we continue, like Mahito, to transform throughout life : D
@SamuelJamesGray Definitely! Another interesting thing I noted is that some Native Americans would carry around Heron totems(still do sometimes, just not nearly as often) to gain the things I previously mentioned on their own unique journey, which is exactly what happened to Mahito. It's even more interesting that there are actually totems in the movie and they do offer magical protection to Mahito. I feel like it just can't be a coincidence due to that, it feels very intentional
Imo, this movie is the deepest Miyazaki movie. On the surface, it's a mix of Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke. but to me, it's a love letter from Miyazaki to us. He's telling us to create beautiful worlds untainted by malice. That block that Mahito kept at the end is a symbol of the movie itself, a powerful reminder that we have the power to create something beautiful.
Ooo, I like that- the block is the movie itself. I think that's spot on! And agreed, that's the noble task he leaves us with. Glad you enjoyed the film as much as I did :)
"Fecemi la divina potestate" was the inscription in the entrance to hell from Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy.
I needed this after my first viewing of the film, your commentary helped me cohere and value what I saw. While I was struck by the beauty and power of the images in the theatre, I was also constantly looking for plot and character moments that would sign-post where we were, where we were going, and how we were getting there. I kept feeling like I had no idea what would happen next. It was like an epic poem with images coming and going, themes blurring into one another. Your analysis was exactly what I needed coming out of the theatre and excited to watch the film again.
Glad to hear, and thanks so much! That's honestly just how I felt leaving the theatre. The characters are defined more my their worlds and roles than dialogue. Such a refreshing experience!
Italian speaker here. The translation you gave of "Fecemi la divina potestate" is close but not quite correct. It is from old Italian, and it means "the divine power made me" or "I was made by the divine power".
Noted on the old Italian! Thanks for the correction : )
Best analysis video on this film that I’ve seen so far.
I would add that I think it’s a very Jungian film in the sense that all characters can be seen as aspects of Miyazaki’s life and psyche.
You cover a lot and could go into even more; would you consider a part two??
Thank you; you’ve earned a sub!
Thank you very much, I'm glad to hear it! VERY Jungian film, without a doubt....and yes, I'm working on the part 2 right now :D Appreciate the support!!
Thank you for offering this thoughtful analysis. Ive struggled to find other reactions that engage the mythic significance of various elements of the story. Thank you!
Thanks so much! That means a lot and glad you enjoyed
@@SamuelJamesGray Of course and, also (in response to your question above) please create a part 2 that addresses the roles of psychopomps and any other topics that you think would be illuminating!
Using concepts from Western culture to interpret elements like the rose, the broken tower, the triple world, etc. was interesting. I wasn't thinking about that kind of stuff because it's a Japanese film and those ideas may not have been a direct influence, but it's interesting to look at things from that direction anyway.
I really appreciate how you made this video because you ACTUALLY know stuff about what's behind the details of this movie. thank you for sharing from your plethora of knowledge, i learned so much!
Glad it was helpful, Aurora! I appreciate that you took the time to tune in : )
Damn....Fuck bro, you went deep.
Good stuff.
I will see it later, so this was a good primer.
incredible essay video- you're so eloquent with how you explain the various symbolisms and thematics in a understandable way, making it very pleasant to listen to. i saw the film in the cinema today, and once finished, i thought it was just enchanting. knowing more about it's history, i feel a deep connection to it. man i wish i had you as a teacher:( thank you thank you so much for making my day, wishing you the best ahead!!!♡
Thank you so much for the kind and heartfelt message! That same enchanting feeling was what motivated me to make this, and I'm so glad you got something out of what I had to say. Likewise, all the best to you!!
Just saw it last night and left way more emotional than I thought I would.
To me a lot of it is a goodbye.
The old man symbolizes that he can't keep the world he created in balance anymore and he never found a successor with how he feels his work should go, or how he finds a lot of other people's work to be too close to a recreation of his own instead of creating something unique themselves.
Everything is twisted and wrong because he sees the constant wanting to fix things as a curse, nothing can be what it should to him.
I knew I was going to love it as I do all Ghibli movies, but this hit me harder than I ever expected.
SAME! You said it perfectly. Yeah, this movie has stuck with me for how hard it hits. You can get so much from the Granduncle character even though he has so few lines. Powerful.
@SamuelJamesGray Miyazaki has been a part of my life since I was around 2. 28 years I've followed this man very closely, and this movie was like a very dear friend I've never met saying goodbye.
I can understand how a lot of people don't understand it or feel it's too weird or out of place, but if you know Miyazaki it makes so much sense.
I enjoyed your insight on everything! Very interesting, I knew I liked you when I clicked the video and saw your awesome shirt haha. Good video man.
Also, I had forgotten his mother gave that book to him, I know she died from TB in the hospital when he was a kid, that's been such a powerful thing in a lot of his films.
The curse of perfectionism. I also thought it was very interesting how the grand uncle said that most stones were full of malice and how he had to search hard for stones that weren’t touched by malice. I interpreted that to mean that too many people build for reasons that aren’t pure like for the sake of fame and fortune and it causes worlds to crumble. I think Mahito realized that if he were to make a structure out of the stones it wouldn’t be pure and the only thing that could be done would be to move on and blaze his own trail while taking with him the lessons he learned.
Maybe Miyazaki (grand uncle) wants someone to take over his role but at the same time realizes that no one will be able to completely replace him and in that way it would be better for his planned successor (Mahito) to go his own way rather than become bitter and full of malice for feeling forced into that role wanting to do something different. Maybe Miyazaki is feeling that he can barely hold back the malice in his own inner world and that it would be better to leave it all behind. That’s why he didn’t seem mad when Mahito refused and just accepted it.
The parakeet stepped in and tried to stop the world from crumbling because he thought he could do better without considering the deeper meaning of things and because he benefits from keeping the world alive. Maybe he represents all the various benefactors of Studio Ghibli.
Sorry for the long comment. Just thinking out loud 😅
@linmonPIE This movie will only honestly make sense to those who truly know Miyazaki, and honestly that's why I love it so much. It felt like he was speaking to us rather than making a movie to appeal to the masses.
This was really helpful on all the little details connected to culture and history. Thanks for this!
Glad it was helpful! Much appreciated!
I enjoyed the explanation from a symbolic and literary perspective, vulture and religion. Thanks for explaning.
My pleasure! Glad I was able to offer something worthwhile :)
Hey Sam. My wife and I really enjoyed your analysis here. As both Campbell and Jung and Bly fans, it's refreshing to see their work both explicitly (or implicitly) utilized here to explore Miyazaki's final signature. We're most stuck on the birthing chamber scene with Natsuko. My wife says the look on her face when she screams at Mahito is one of birthing pain (she would know). That's the scene, the firework that keeping blowing up when we close our eyes. I was so relieved to see Miyazaki comfortable in not telling the audience what to think or feel -- to see him use the realm of the visually figurative to stir up conversation and deep exploration. He's once in a generation. Thanks again for the discussion.
ABSOLUTELY early labor contractions combined with the knowledge of seeing Mahito breaking the taboo of entry into the room that her child may have lost the opportunity to be born in (or receive the appropriate gestational period in) the underworld. We assume that Hisako/Himi did this same thing for her baby, Mahito, and Natsuko here is trying to complete a similar pregnancy/delivery ritual....which is foiled by Mahito's impatience and insistence he must save her.
Glad for your and your wife's support and that you enjoyed the video! Once in a generation, to say the least :D
Nice video!! You went really in-depth!!! I'm not super familiar with Buddhist concepts so it was interesting to see your perspectives!! Also thanks for the shout-out!
You bet and much appreciated! I'm glad to support a great channel like yours!
This is phenomenally done!! Best review i’ve seen of this film so far!
Thanks for this samuel! Your passion and deep consideration for the themes in this film really come through and shine in your words.
Hi Samuel, I really enjoyed watching this and the depth of your analysis! Thank you ! 🙏
Herons in Asians culture are messengers of the gods (the grand uncle) and he symbolises the trickster archetype, who represents duality, which is why the grey heron was the only creature that could travel between the two world & guide Mahito through them.
Firstly. Thank you. I am not incredibly versed in Ghibli film, I have only seen a few, my favourite being Howls Moving Castle. But I’ve been searching for a video for an hour today after I watched The Boy and The Heron earlier that actually talked about the story and gave impressions and meaning. All the other videos just talked about the metaphysical nature of it being about Miyazakis work and life and that’s amazing. But I wanted an analysis on the actual story in a standalone way to see if I was understanding it correctly within my own perception. You absolutely killed it and gave me everything I was looking for and more. Your passion also really shined through and kept me engaged, along with all the anecdotes that I wouldn’t otherwise understand whether that be with historical accuracies or what have you. Really really enjoyed this video.
This is a long message already lol sorry.. but I left the cinema wondering one thing that I can’t seem to find an answer on.. The Grey Heron. Apart from the.. forget his name, the great grandfather, the wizard. No one could enter the middle plain of existence without either forgetting or losing their magical nature. (We never saw it but I assume he could go between them all as you described in the king section) But The Heron is able to go to and from the tower whilst keeping his magical nature. I guess I’m wondering what does that mean? How is that possible? And or who is the Heron trying to be depicted as? We really never learn anything about him for the most part. Everything else makes complete sense to me apart from that character. He is called a guide. So maybe he’s an extension of Will? In a literal sense. The power of Will? The Will to guide the heir to the throne, that we know ends up unoccupied. But then the Heron is still there in the end so I don’t know lol.
Thank you so very much!!! I really appreciate your thoughtful response here and that you genuinely resonated with what I'm saying here.
I see the heron as the Trickster archetype as Guide. Classic deceptive coyote/raven/trickster mythos through and through Miyazaki's writing of this character. Someone...I think Himi or Heron tells Mahito that the parakeets and pelicans were living beings brought into the underworld by Granduncle. While they're there their inner nature manifests as they become intelligent. I think the heron is similar, an actual living heron, but was not brought into this world by Granduncle...rather, that as long as the tower has been there, the "resident guardian heron" as he is referred to by Natsuko early on, has been able to cross the three worlds also of his own accord, just as Granduncle, Himi, and Natsuko are able to. Not everybody needs to be dragged down there like the parakeets, Mahito, and Kiriko. The heron who we see come out from underneath the glamour is his real nature, something genuinely masked by his sleek exterior, but the underworld helps what lies within come out. Everybody loves Robert Pattinson's voice acting for this characters in the English version, but I think he plays the character in a way that comes off kinda dweeby...in the Japanese version, the voice actor plays the heron much more as a wily con-man type of character and I think that helps his trickster side shine forth more. There's something about Will being tied up in what the tickster/coyote typically goads others into, sure.
Thanks again, truly appreciate the support!
This is the best analysis of the film. Amazing
This is my favorite analysis video on UA-cam analyzing this masterpiece. You made the symbolism in this film so much more understandable for me. Thank you. ☺️
Wow, thank you! Truly glad to hear it :)
throughout the video when you kept saying you’d have to make another video for whatever topic you were discussing got me excited. very glad to have found your channel! woohoo
Thanks so much, I really appreciate it! And I _will_ be making that part 2 video, so stay tuned : D
@@SamuelJamesGray yay! can’t wait!!
I've seen it 4 times so far lol Won't be another theater experience like it for a while i'm telling ya. Also, thanks for the mystifying video. I'm surprised you didn't mention water as the unconcious like Campbell does when interpreting stories like Jonah and the whale. Looking forward to part 2.
I truly loved the movie, and am craving for thoughtful analysis, and your video is by far the best one Ive seen! Cant wait for part 2!
It's great to be able to put words on concept I was "feeling", like "Mono no aware", thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it and to hear that I could help! Stay tuned as it's currently in the works and about to drop in the next week or so 🙏
Thank you for this video! I knew there was a lot of beautiful symbolism that I was missing and indeed there was! I really liked the movie but now I know how incredibly beautiful it was!
Thanks so much for this amazing video. I love this type of Campbellian analysis! Subbed
Glad to hear, and thank YOU very much! Plan to keep up more of this sort of content this year with a part 2 of this forthcoming shortly.
Yes, part 2!!! Please!
Thank you! Will aim to get that out in the next week : D
Thank you for your excellent analysis of the myriad symbolism in this movie. I saw it last night and struggled to fully understand it. Your video is a big help.
You're very welcome! There's....a lot...in this film. Glad I was able to shed some light on a little of it.
This is the best and most in depth look on the movie
Wow, really appreciate the high praise! 😄
Great insight and depth in your analysis!
Thanks man! Appreciated!
OMG! Thank you so much for your explanations. ❤️
Happy to help, and thank you!
@@SamuelJamesGray ❤️
I love that this TBATH review is feat. that ff vii sweater too.
HA! Just felt it was appropriate 🙃
HEY loved the video!! love how much knowledge you put into it , im super excited to watch your catalogue of videis !! keep going
Thank you! I appreciate the support, Treety!
Beautiful movie, wonderful interpterion; thank you for the video!
Much appreciated!!
great stuff!
What do you think about the tomb behind the gates when Mahito just got to the underworld? And the magical asteroid too.
Love your analysis, man
Saw the film last night and found your insightful video while dwelling on it today. Thank you for this knowledge. I'm midway through a video on The Natural (film) and was excited to hear you mention Parsifal in explaining the wounded healer. Very helpful. I would certainly tune in for a part 2.
Very cool to hear and thanks for mentioning The Natural - that's been on my list to check out for awhile and now I feel like I have to watch it this week. Nice channel you have yourself by the way! Appreciate the similarly thoughtful commentary - also thought Elemental was pretty good and got some undeservedly bad press.
@@SamuelJamesGray Thanks! I recently read the book by Malamud and was surprised at how different the film is. Not as different as How Do You Live? is from the Miyazaki film, but very much its own thing. Keep up the great work!
very nice video u ve made. i can see the passion in yr eyes. thank you
Very much appreciated 🙏
Great video. Thank you!
Thanks and glad you liked it!
This was a great analysis of the movie! I greatly appreciated the thought put into the video and how much I learned. I've subscribed and will be checking out more of these videos :)
Thank you Dasha, I really appreciate it! Thanks for subscribing!
Thanks for the great analysis, I love this film to me it’s Miyazakis finest.
I see this film deeply personal for Miyazaki , his deepest thoughts and experiences much like Carl Jungs individuation process Miyazaki takes his life’s work ,elements of his conscious and unconscious self and presents us this beautiful rich tapestry.
This was an absolutely wonderful video with some of the best insights I've ever observed for something of this nature. I really appreciate your willingness to look beyond what is obvious and literal. Miyazaki is a bit like Lynch, I feel. His work is meant to be interpreted on many confluent layers, and to provide a kind of "sandbox of meaning". It encourages an open, intuitive, curious perspective! I can tell that you are of a similar mind! :) Also, belated congrats on having a child two months ago!
Thanks so much, Rebecca, I appreciate the high praise and YES so very much like Lynch. Very cool channel you also have there! Subbed and thanks also for the well-wishes : D
Wow this movie kept reminding me of Lynch, so I’m glad someone else felt that way. Mainly for me how characters show up in different forms and everyone seems to casually accept it. And then going with that, the themes of death and renewal and reincarnation.
@@Fake_Robot Very much so! I really enjoy this spiritual theme of archetypes shifting fluidly, taking numerous forms, appearing in various people, etc (very well presented, for instance, in Evangelion).
Love the wounded healer references. I was thinking the same thing.
Thanks! Great minds, you know...
I’m only five minutes in but I’m so glad I found this review. It’s refreshing to hear the view point of someone who consumes more than just anime/manga. It seems to me that most people who review anime only consume anime so their perspective is a bit limited and that is NOT the case with you lol. I will definitely be subscribing and I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of your videos. Thank you.
Thanks so much, Eric. Really appreciate that!
I would love to hear what you think about the part where Mahito get pushed through the golden gate then that one lady saves him(I’m blanking on her name) and she makes that fire circle and has them walk backwards.
Funny I was just wondering this week what happened to you. Cool new video, excited to watch it.
Thank you!! Hope you enjoy :) ....I get to it in the video but I had my firstborn son which has been sucking up all my time :D
Interesting insight. I would like to watch the movie again.
Thank you very much! And same. Feel like I need to.
Thank you for this in-depth analysis, going into the film without context.. it became confusing for my 1st watch as I was trying to make sense of the abstract symbolism that I could see but didn't always knew why things happened. I was looking from the perspective of his previous films which had clearer arcs, while this one had different themes merged together. I'm glad that you explained about the agricultural aspect and what the animals symbolise. I'm curious whether Mahito was going to the underworld, or was it about traveling multi-dimensional in a magic tower? The only clues I took away was reincarnation with the Warawara, Pelicans that were feeding on them like a life and death cycle. I enjoy the theory that the Grand Uncle is a possibly part of Miyazaki as other reviewers had the same sense as well. I definitely think I'll need a 2nd rewatch to catch the clues i've missed.
Thanks for the analysis. It makes more sense now in explaining the reasoning behind the characters actions. Having said that, their actions has no logic other than forcing the plot forward. At the beginning, Mahito should’ve followed his father’s directions and stayed home and defend the house from embers. There’s nothing a boy can do to fight a raging inferno at the hospital. Mahito’s (and others’) questionable decisions drove me crazy.
great content. subscribed!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed :)
very cool video
Great video very insightful. I loved this film and really want to understand what’s happening. This video helped a ton. New sub here.
Glad you enjoyed it and very much appreciated. Thanks for subscribing!
Excellent in-depth analysis! Is your jumper an anime version of Jung's 12 archetypes? Xx
Thank you for your analysis!
I was especially struck by how similar in meaning the Kanji symbol for king is to the Baha’i ring symbol meaning “God is most Glorious” in Arabic. It’s pretty much the same structure with 3 horizontal lines with the first line being the world of God, second line the world of the prophets, and the third line meaning the world of man. The one vertical line represents the prophets (Christ, the Buddha, Muhammad, Moses, Abraham, Baha’u’llah, etc.) who connect all the worlds together. I guess it makes sense because cultures are tied together in all sorts of fascinating ways.
You're welcome and thank you! You see- the connections are everywhere, and that's such a cool perspective - other facets of what I'm talking about here. When such a symbol is so recurrent, it certainly speaks to something larger, deeper, more archetypal and true.
Congrats on becoming a new dad. Loved the video 🤞🏼
Thank you so much, that means a lot on both fronts! My next adventure :)
wow thank you for all of that knowledge, so interesting! actually I am surprised you can interprete the symbols and meanings so well without seeing the tower as allegory of fantasy and writing, which was the most on the nose interpretation for me, be I keep learning interpretations that make perfectly sense. the autobiographical approach is also astonishing, but you need to have the knowledge for that too of course.
I would love to hear your interpretations of the altar, birth of the son, what the scar on kikiros head,and maybe what the birds represent
You've got it. Stay tuned for part 2!!
First time watching you and this was a great video . Loved how were able to connect all the little pieces that made this film to the inspiration of it. Will definitely be sticking around for more you are very knowledgeable. Btw your timestamps don’t work because you forgot to put 0:00 and name it as the first one! I’ve made this mistake before 😅.
omg, fixed. Thanks for the note! Not the first time I've done that either haha.
Really appreciate the kind words and glad you enjoyed! Subbed to your awesome channel too! 😄
Yes of course I thought "he must have chapters for all this great info" and thats how I noticed. BUT Thank you so much!!!@@SamuelJamesGray
If you do go on to make a part two, I highly recommend the video essay "Metaphor in the Boy and the Heron" by Densetsu Media
Ooo! Watching now...
Its interesting that also in Totoro, everyone is sleepy or bump their heads before seeing weird things.
Glad you picked that up and I think you're spot on that Miyazaki is showing a similar thing here with what he's doing. So many additional mentions to other Ghibli films also when you start to look for them.
Thank you for your knowledge, this video was super helpful. This film reminded me of Dead Man in a way; how the main character travels to another world and has a guide. What is your interpretation of when Lady Himi’s fire kills some of the Watawata and Mahito gets upset? I like how Lady Himi uses the fire that killed her to her advantage in this world. Also, what is your interpretation of the world itself? At first I thought it was an afterlife but it gets confusing to me that Great Grandfather created it, and also that Lady Himi is young and returns to the real world as well. Also, what is your interpretation of the scene where Mahito goes into Natsuko’s room and the paper is flying everywhere, sticking to and tainting his skin?
Much appreciated, Jake! Yes, very similar to Dead Man. Three great questions you've asked there, and I'm going to actually offer an answer with a follow-up part 2 video, so stay tuned! :D
@@SamuelJamesGrayThank you Samuel! From someone who loves to analyze film and literature, I’m more than grateful to find a new subscription in your channel.
Amazing explanation. On a side note, you should create a History channel :)
That's honestly a great idea! Never really considered it, but as you can tell, certainly a huge interest of mine. I appreciate the support!!
Plans to do a video on Vanilla Sky analysis?
Hahaha, not until you asked me...now it's on the list! Haven't watched that one in over a decade. :D
@@SamuelJamesGray ohh
Cool
Please do because that movie can be interpreted various ways and it seems you have a good instinct for that type of screenplay.
Cheers
Well that was helpful. Thank you!
I do have one question. Maybe you answered this and I just missed it, but when Mahito enters the underworld, one of the first things he sees is that golden gate and all of those Stonehenge looking formations past its doors. Is the gate the entrance to the underworld? Did he only enter the underworld once he passed through that gate?
You bet, glad to hear! And awesome question - I'm going to make a part 2, so stay tuned in the coming week or so, and I'll hit on each one of those images!
Short answer - he entered the underworld when he arrived via water from the tower, but the gate serves as a formal entryway that seems able to consume those who enter improperly.
Again, more on what all that means in the follow up : D
I love this analysis however as a visual person I need some sort of picture to remind me of scenes
Thank you very much, and I'll take the tip. Will work to up my editing and include more video in here rather than just the pictures!
Can someone explain the scene where the step mother was yelling she hates him?
Quick take is that the white things are prayers and the "delivery room" is really just another one of the stone dolmen things from earlier in the film, but dressed up and softened with hanging rugs. I - assume - that Natsuko is intending to do with her child what she saw her older sister Hisako/Himi do for her child: Mahito. Perhaps the way that Mahito has the ability to travel this underworld is that he was either born in or was under a certain gestational period in this underworld, in his mother's belly, and Natsuko is just trying to afford her child the same blessing. When Mahito enters the room it breaks the taboo and the living prayers reject his entry in fury and the whole stone tower attacks Mahito and Himi after he leaves the room. Her yelling that she hates him is likely early labor pains/contractions. Giving birth is little like its depicted in the movies, with going to the hospital, pushing once your get into a bed and the baby shows up...it's actually a much longer process where in the early part the mother's insides are opening up to allow for the baby to come and it's quite painful for the mother. Yelling that she hates him is likely a combo of that feeling along with the knowledge that he has broken the taboo and entered her room, thereby denying her child the same blessing that Shoichi and Hisako enjoyed with their son. She doesn't really hate him...she shows him a mother's love throughout the entire rest of the movie...but in that difficult moment, yeah he kinda makes a dumb move that pisses her off.
This isn't Ghibli's "final film."
Isn't every Ghibli film their "final" film at this point?
You said Ghibli's final film, isnt that false?
No one really knows. Miyazaki is getting closer to 100 everyday and it doesn't seem like any new directors will step up
Miyazaki is seemingly working on a new project, but there is no guarantee it'll get finished
Agreed, @thejunkpile5384 I don't think Miyazaki's is going to be able to finish another, but as for Studio Ghibli, @venomtag , I'm sure they'll make more films. Will they be as quality without Miyazaki? Remains to be seen...
Do myself a favor, you've got to be joking, it was a horrible mess of a movie and myazaki, and I bought a copy of each of his films, should have stopped at "The Wind Rises", to have to have some person on UA-cam explain a film just goes to show how inaccessible this "Thing" is.
This movie sucks
This is not an explanation. It’s an interpretation. The film remains a nonsensical mishmash of symbols in a poor attempt at allegorical storytelling. Respect to Miyazaki for what he managed to pull at his age, but the magic one might have expected in this film was sadly superseded by a vain, abstract intellectualism.
Its a good video bro. Your future videos will be amazing. Editing will be key too add a lil music here and there u know
Appreciate it bro - that's my next steps. Gotta keep improving!
Thanks for making this. I have to admit I left the movie a little disappointed. I understood everything on a surface level but this deep dive clarified some things. The amount of knowledge you’ve accumulated to this point has helped all us viewers out‼️🫡
Thanks so much Ryan, you're too kind! Glad to hear I was able to offer something worthwhile here.