When watching the movie a second time, I was taking notes on my phone, and I saw an inscription on the tunnel leading to the underworld that I wrote down in my phone as "fecim decima portentate"...and I had no idea what that meant, and searching the phrase got no results. Retrying a few more times...I now realize the phrase was actually "fecemi la divina potestate". And this is actually a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy. And if you read the summary of Dante's Divine Comedy....you'll notice it's EXTREMELY similar to the plot of "The Boy and the Heron"!!! Both are about someone traveling through hell/the underworld until reaching heaven/paradise, where they meet a divine creator/god figure. And so events like opening the golden gates and getting attacked by the pelicans... Dante's Divine Comedy opens with the main character getting attacked by beasts after committing "original sin". And so that dark cave behind the golden gates...was maybe a representation of original sin!! Kind of like the apple from Adam and Eve. So this is a very interesting angle I think people might be interested in, that I wished I added to my video!
Also the original sin in the Bible is Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The golden gate had an inscription about knowledge bringing suffering...but I forget what exactly.
@@Ironike I believe the quote was something along the lines of “those who learn my knowledge shall perish” which very much sounds like the fruit in Adam and Eve! Which was like a fruit of forbidden knowledge, and what began their descent from paradise…or Dante/Mahito’s entry into the underworld.
This is fascinating, I told my family after we watched it that I felt like I had been watching a Shakespeare play and that it is going to take some study to fully process and understand everything. There are similarities between some of Dante's works and Shakespeare's, of course, Shakespeare was influenced/inspired by many other literary works. All artists borrow from other artists and I'm sure Miyazaki is no different. Thank you for making this video, you have an excellent initial analysis here and you could make another video in the future after you read everyone's comments and make more connections to what everything meant. It was an outstanding, extraordinary film and I can't wait to watch it again.
I like your interpretation but I was thinking on a more esoteric scale: I believe this is Miyazki's love letter to Japan, his home and the Motherland. I feel this is personal parable of a journey for Japan. Miyazki is part of an older generation, as the movie starts after WW2. There is a representation of lost or death of Japan as per depicted by the death of his mother, whom he misses and searches for in the spirit world. The wizard is a half gaijin granduncle - American - is shown to be balancing a stack of rocks that is ready to crumble. A dying pelican was was shown to have said that it was a species eager to live, yet was brought into the world but have with no food (reminiscent of all the weird crazy inventions in Japan that have no value). The heron is divine wisdom or prophet (sorta like in Devine Comedy where Vigil who is the voice of reason) that is guiding Japan on the spiritual journey. I believe Miyazaki's message is a patriotic message, to tell Japan to rise up to the challenge and to reclaim its glory, again. Therefore, the Japanese title, How Do You Live was more appropriate in Japan as it was directed towards his own people.
On the note of original sin/corruption: there is a significant emphasis on Mahito’s “transgression” of entering the delivery room that feels parallel to the “transgression” of Adam and Eve in Eden - both cases of accessing forbidden knowledge and both punished
I’m a student who spent an entire semester studying Miyazaki’s work and you’re DEAD ON about the importance of flight. In my opinion, flight represents the freedom to explore and the ability to have a voice in what choices we make. It’s what makes life worth living. For flight to be such a strong theme of this film is extremely fitting, and beautiful to see him explore its limits as we no longer see emotionless planes or human-like birds (howl) but birds who are truly chained to their wings, like the pelican who passed away because he had no choice but to fly, and the parakeets, who have given up their flight and “choice” as complete subjects to their king.
ooh!! I haven't thought about the irony of being forced to fly, or parakeets giving up their flight. I was also reading elsewhere how...the parakeets could be a symbol of fascism. And the parakeet king was actually a parallel to Mussolini. (the scene with the parade of parakeets has parakeets holding signs saying "Duch" which can loosely be changed to "Duce" which was the nickname of Mussolini). And we know Miyazaki hates fascism like in Porco Rosso. As for how that all fits into the overall themes I've discussed......I'm not quite sure yet! There's so much more of this film I haven't yet explored yet.
@@TheLocalMangakawow, one more detail that I was thinking on came in place. Things like that are kinda easy to read but you still miss them from the first watch
@@adrielespiritu7750 HAHA I’m a CMU design student! if you go the communications design route, you spend a semester designing a brand around a design “hero” that inspires you, and I did Miyazaki. it’s a really intense project where you make a poster, animation, app, booklet, etc. about your designer but I learned a lot!
@@adrielespiritu7750 Cornell University also has an excellent course that's entirely on anime. They call it "Japanese Society Through Film" (may have changed the course name since I took it though) and you spend the semester analysing classics like Spirited Away and Astro Boy. It's taught by a Japanese professor, which is great because he was able to offer a ton of perspectives that flew right over non-natives' heads (eg. in Spirited Away, the make of Chihiro's family car indicates that they're actually reasonably well-off. Not straight up wealthy, but definitely doing well.)
I wonder if the dying pelican who expressed he had no other option but to fly is also a feeling Miyazaki felt about creating his films. He tried several times to retire, but always felt pulled to create more movies, knowing it would have negative effects on his life.
An interesting thought!!! I also thought the dying pelican reminded me of the dying boar at the beginning of the Princess Mononoke...both the pelican and boar were a dying species with nowhere to go. And both had to resort to violence.
Your analysis is dead spot on. I think the reason why Mahito had so few lines and was barely a character compared to other strong protagonists in the past is because Miyazaki wanted us to live vicariously through Mahito. We were witnessing all his ideas and past works flash by and that’s why the plot felt thin and crammed with too much visuals. It was never meant to be a story but rather an experience.
@@seljiang Which motivation? The mystical, pestering heron and his Aunt's disappearance were strong motivators for him stepping into the unknown. We definitely do live vicariously through Mahito, it is a surreal labyrinthian journey, but there is too much symbolism and thematic/allegorical content here to imply that Miyazaki meant this to be an experience. That's sort of reductive.
I had a different interpretation of the wara wara and the pelicans: Throughout the movie, we see that mahito is considerably well off- from the way he has had household attendants and a rather traditional and lavish house. But even then you could see the signs of wartime scarcity- from the lack of side dishes and food (where mahito remarks that the meal wasn't good) to even struggling to get small pleasures for cigarettes and canned food. And we see even consequences of the war reflected in the 'other world' as well -the wara wara were eaten by the pelicans and himi setting the pelicans ablaze in a fire, with the wara wara being caught in the crossfire. I thought this was alluding to the cities that were firebombed by planes(pelicans) and children(wara wara) having to suffer and being caught in the crossfire. The pelicans were very much fighting for their survival/food as well.
Great analysis! Also, knowing the history between Miyazaki and his son Goro is what makes this movie so beautiful, IMO. Because when the great uncle realised that Mahito had to go and live a life of his own making and told him to make it peaceful and bountiful, it was as close as an apology you were going to get from an 82-year-old father to his filmmaker son; it felt like Miyazaki realised that his creative vision of the world can't be shoved onto his descendants and so he released Goro from that heavy weight of expectations. Another parallel to real life: Goro has mentioned that he turned down several proposals to take on Studio Ghibli in the past, just as Mahito turned down the offers to inherit the magical world.
I was going to say, this movie really feels like he was telling his son. “All of this was mine and it will die with me. You don’t have to be me and that’s okay.” I think that it’s not only telling us to live and move on but telling Goro that Hayao Miyazaki knew he wasn’t the best father but realized that he has to let go the thought of continuing on the magical world and that he was sorry.
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 his studio and his movies, a powerful reminder to all of us
Knowing Miyazaki, this won’t be his last film if he lives for another decade, or even half that. We’ll see another one from him. The man is ultimately a creator by the end of the day, and he will always be creating.
Like Osamu Tezuka, Miyazaki will die saying "please...let me draw more!!!" (Although fun fact, Miyazaki, like many modern animators, dislike Osamu Tezuka because he was responsible for setting terrible working conditions as the standard in the animation industry)
Well he's directed 12 films (including this one) and the great uncle mentions finding 13 stones. I think theres also some articles out that say he's said he'll make another film after this one
@@johndobson8016 To be honest, after rewatching the movie for a 2nd time, I'm starting to lean towards that this could very well be his final film, just purely because of how the great uncle talks about finding a replacement but none is found. While I have issues with the story and how it is told, Miyazaki is clearly telling us that his reign of creativity is at an end and there will never be another person like him, because there can only be one Miyazaki. But that isn't a bad thing, because to try and be a replacement for Miyazaki would go against what creativity is supposed to be. There will always be creatives out there who will be known for their craft, but we should appreciate and enjoy the time of their creativity before their time is done. Right now, this could very well be the end of Miyazaki's time as a creative and I want to enjoy his newest creative art in theaters before its time is done. Even if he does one more, this movie got the message across that there will never be a replacement for him because there can never be one. And with that in mind, that means this could very well be Studio Ghibli's final film as well.
@@tjjordan4207 I think its definitely written that way, to be a final goodbye love letter to his fans. I think you're totally right that its supposed to be him saying that he couldn't find a successor but thats okay (Studio Ghibli was expected to go to his son but his son refused and the studio was bought by another company). To add to that theory, I think the magic stone floating is supposed to be graphite (for pencils) and the blocks are supposed to represent simple shapes artists use to illustrate with, along with a number of other things like the movies I mentioned earlier and possibly also his health (the stacked stones swaying) as he's getting older in years and I'm sure he's seeing the writing on the wall that this may be his last film. In the film he says that the world will only last 1 more day and also he mentions finding 13 blocks, I think he's saying he's feeling hopeful that theres one more film in him but he knows he could go any day these days. That definitely appears to be his mentality at the moment as his producer said in an article that he's already moved on to making another film and is obsessed with it.
Feel so sorry for his son. He walked out of his sons movie and never gave him the acknowlagement his son was looking for. All while being a distant father and shuning his sons work. Really heart braking. Miyazaki is a very intricate person that does his best but leaves an unintedend wake of sadness and longing.
Totally agree with you. Although neither of us can know the exact relationship they have together, I feel like this movie was Miyazaki trying to tell his son that he doesn't need to carry his father's legacy on his shoulders. It’s passive-aggressive, but also gentle in its own way.
"never gave him the acknowlagement his son was looking for." Not true. In the longer documentary floating around, Miyazaki eventually expresses approval for Goro's second film. Goro - who comes across as quite a funny and likeable guy - kind of smirks and gives a sardonic response when the cameraman asks him about it, but it's clear the approval was given.
I feel like the Parakeet King being the tower's ultimate destruction could symbolize a few different things. My initial thought was that sometimes when people are passive in taking action someone else who is truly harmful will take that opportunity. I can also see it as an older generation unwilling to relinquish control to the next generation leading to the destruction of the thing they meant to preserve and protect. I think Miyazaki understands the beauty of his work but he's also become wise enough to understand that he must relinquish some of the control he has over it. That can be seen even in the process of how the movie was made because usually he would have a direct hand in every part of the process but was willing to trust other creatives to help him make this film.
interesting!! yeah I haven't thought too much about what the Parakeet King specifically symbolizes yet (other than that he provides a focal character to kind of represent all the birds). It would be extremely unfortunate if Ghibli's IP was overtaken by greedy execs and we got....idk, a Ghibli Cinematic Universe hahaha. That would be truly a destruction of Miyazaki's vision!! Also yeah thats a great point of Miyazaki needing to trust others for this film!!
Since the movie was based around the time of WWII I felt the parakeet king and the parakeets kind of represented the people living in those fascist states. Not depicted as outright evil just a product of their times and ideologies and also victims of their circumstance. There was a lot of symbolism of nationalism with the parakeet parade and the people blindly following their leaders. And the parakeet king was willing to destroy the world to save his empire. Almost how Hitler, Mussolini and Hideki Tojo were willing to destroy their countries and the world for their empires.
@jaysonhuckaby6323 I think the pelicans are meant to be those people, or perhaps unwilling soldiers forced to fight for their country. I, for one, view the parakeets as those who support those fascist states. I say this because they hold up signs directly support the king with "DUCH" (presumably a reference to Il Duce, aka Mussolini) and a parakeet symbol that reminds me of the Nazi Eagle.
The part that's so great about the mother is that he tries to keep her alive through his art world but knows one day he will have to put down his pencil.
I knew I wasn't crazy noticing all of the other Ghibli references in this movie! There were even some specific pieces of animation that looked directly referenced off of other Ghibli films. One that got me in particular was how much the ring of paper ribbons in the Delivery Room made me think of the magic-stealing paper dolls from Howl's Moving Castle
That makes sense, but why would Himi and Kiriko go through a separate door where they will eventually meet/give birth to Mahito? I guess there are many doors for different times within the same universe?
@@TheBlueGoldenHawk thats what i was thinking. maybe its like hotel floors where the front number(s) represent the floor, whereas these represent the universe.
Great job on this! I saw the movie last night and felt like I caught some of these pieces in the theater but walked out still trying to put it all together. Your video just snapped it all into place 🙌🏼
Thank you!!! i mentioned this in other comments but lots of my friends said the same thing, being confused by their first watches. And so seeing that common sentiment actually inspired me to make this video!! And so I'm glad it's being able to reach more people!! Thanks for watching!
I’m crying. What a well explained and very emotional(on my side) take on this. Hayao Miyazaki is my Hero. He and Isao Takahata has opened my mind on how ugly and devastating war can be.
Just saw this movie today and I’ll admit, much of the well-thought out metaphors flew right over my head… your interpretations make so much sense and are ones that I can truly appreciate as most accurate. Such a great perspective, awesome video!
Absolutely nailed the interpretation! Please do go ahead and make a longer in depth version if you have the chance, I loved this movie and could listen to this for hours!
I think the literal reason for the Granduncle’s World being infested mainly by birds is because the tower’s entrance by foot is obscured by vegetation but birds can enter the tower at will through the window at the top!
Just got done seeing the movie and man I think you nailed it. Especially with the uncle and the connection to Miyazaki and his own life. I love how many different aspects this movie takes from all other Ghibli movies and combines them so subtly into the perfect “final” Miyazaki movie. Thank you for putting into words my thoughts while watching the movie. amazing analysis
You have understood the meaning of this film exactly as how we interpreted it after we saw it. Great video and glad to hear we thought alike. This is definitely a film of Mr. Miyazaiki letting go.
“It is time to go live ours” after such a beautiful breakdown of so much impact in so many peoples lives. Thank you for this. And thank you for being a part of mine.
Thank you so much for this beautiful explanation! As a fan of Hayao's movies throughout the years, I feel ashamed for not understanding the symbolisms in the movie. This video will make me greatly appreciate and probably cry for the second viewing!
No shame there. I missed most of it aswell. I think if I had gone into it looking for Miyazaki's meta narrative I would have picked most of it, but I was looking at it from a different perspective. I caught the narrative in The Wind Rises, but if you know anything about Miyazaki you see from his perspective from the start. You don't in this movie.
I’m glad you liked it!! I will admit I probably went in expecting the meta narrative because I’m like a border line religious follower of Miyazaki LOL. I didn’t go into it that much in this video but I think a lot of other people could have more strongly interpreted the movie in its more universal themes of mourning and grief. Which would have been just as valid!
I didn't catch it right away either and I am a diehard fan. I think this movie just requires more than one watch. It will be easier when it becomes available digitally, so we can rewind and rewatch certain parts. So much happens in this movie so fast, so just like actively reading a dense piece of writing, this film needs us to use our "active watching" skills, which is hard to do in a dark movie theater.
Absolutely surreal to watch maybe his last film from miyazaki himself, grew up with ponyo and ended with this. i definitely need to rewatch the movie to understand the symbolisms behind the film
I also completely agree with you that Grand Uncle most closely represents Miyazaki himself & that we the enjoyers are Mahito. Elements of a younger Hayao himself in M too, sure, but in a grander sense... it's us. Who among us will create the next worlds... who will preserve the magic spark, in a sense. How will we keep the spirit of Miyazaki alive & enkindle it in its purest, the spirit of personal artistry that's within us all. We don't need to follow in his same footsteps, he made the choices he thought were most fitting to leave behind a legacy of his own reckoning... now he's commissioning us to do the same, in our own unique expressions. Not a reflection of him but an invention of our very own.
....why do I have a feeling you've seen my old AKIRA video haha. This comment reminded me of some things I said in that video. Interesting take!! It makes us feel a even personally more connected to Miyazaki
My greatest dream is to be an animator like Miyazaki, the understand life to its fullest and create worlds of wonder while also showing the malice in the world few capture as brilliantly as Studio Ghibli does. I want to keep that spark alive in every way I can, and hope to find artists that have that same spark.
Love this analysis so much!! I feel like the movie went over the heads of a lot of my friends who watched but didn’t feel satisfied. So I’ll be sending your video their way 😊
Thanks so much!!! And yeah, lots of my friends said the same thing, being confused by their first watches. And so seeing that common sentiment actually inspired me to make this video!! And so I'm glad it's being able to reach more people!! Thanks for watching!
This is one of the best anime movie reviews I have ever watched. Please keep doing what you do - you are truly walking the talk in choosing to do what’s meaningful to you - that’s what ultimately matters! ❤
This was beautiful! Your video helped me understand the movie so much more. I watched it last night and was really captivated by it, but not in the way Spirited Away did it for me. But now I am even more excited to watch this a second time. Also, to add to your incredible insight, at the end when the heron asks Mahito if he took a piece of the stones with him and Mahito basically replying that he took it because he wanted to (or something like that). I like to think that is a way to represent us taking some lesson or inspiration from his movies, and adding them to our life. The heron may have insisted the stone isn’t powerful enough and that we will forget about these worlds soon enough, but I think he’s wrong.
That's an amazing interpretation of that last scene!!! I was thinking about how Miyazaki can be grumpy and have a pessimistic view of his own films. And maybe he's telling us to "forget his films" and go outside and touch grass or something lol...but I can never do that!! But yeah, I was thinking about that last quote for a while too!
@@TheLocalMangaka hey! I wanted to come back to this comment to thank you so much for your video. I went to see the film again yesterday afternoon (this time in Japanese), and everything clicked this time around. I can confidently say this movie is now in my top 3 Ghibli movies (behind Spirited Away and Whisper of the Heart) and it was thanks to your video that I was able to walk away with a much better understanding. I chocked up when Himi thanks him for these worlds. Surprisingly I also found the movie to go by much faster this time around. I know some people were saying the pacing at the beginning was dragging a bit, I didn’t mind it since to me it felt like time staying still when you are experiencing grief, but the pacing felt just right this second time.
Thanks for your in-depth analysis of this movie! None of us wants to see his career come to an end, but I'm glad he's encouraging us to find our own path and not be burdened by people's expectations of us.
I appreciate this explanation and you sharing your interpretations! I watched the film yesterday with good friends and we all really enjoyed it, and spent so much time after the film sharing our interpretations with eachother. I hadn't realized how many different homages to past Ghibli films there were in this story. While I viewed their adventure within the Tower as a microcosm of Mahito's inner-experience with grief and his life changing, it blows my mind to hear that the symbolism extends outside of the film to real aspects of Hayao Miyazaki's life and career. Self-determination is such a powerful gift we are all given in this life. Thanks for using yours to share this video with us!
Thank you!!! i'm glad you liked it! I think interpreting the movie as a story of grief is an extremely valid interpretation that, in retrospect, I wish I went into more detail on in the video. Instead I just included a small blip of text at 3:30 then continued editing, cuz I didn't want to interrupt the flow of what I already recorded LOL. Recently I learned that there's a quote inscribed above a tunnel to the underworld in the movie saying "fecemi la divina postentate"...which is a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy!!! And if you're familiar with that story...you'll realize the movie is very similar!!!
I could be reaching but, the Uncle says he found 13 blocks free of malice. Miyazaki has 12 ‘feature’ films he directed including this one. Maybe a connection? What would the extra block be? Another film he has planned? Or 1 extra to symbolize us? 1 extra to represent Studio Ghibli as a whole? Our main character Mahito is also 12 years old, a connection? Edit: I just remembered at the end of the film Mahiko does pull out of his pocket 1 of the blocks and the Granny Caretaker figure. Maybe 1 block was meant for Mahiko? Again I could be reaching 😅
Ive seen some people say "12 feature films" and then include "Future Boy Conan" the TV series as the thirteenth block. So that might be it? I'm not too sure about this one. Surely, with 13 being an unlucky number, there are lots of other feelings associated with 13. I very recently learned (and thus didn't mention in the video) that the movie very much follows Dante's "The Divine Comedy". It even includes a quote in the movie "fecemi la divina potestate" inscribed on the tunnel in the underworld. And so maybe a closer reading of "The Divine Comedy" might provide an explanation of the thirteen blocks. Maybe.
Hmm... if the birds might represent his works, they could in a fashion be considered 'Agents of Malice'... to which, I wonder if this could also be another form of him contemplating the impact of his works on society. What I mean is, the Pelicans eating the warawara could be an interpretation of some guilt for imposing his cynicisms against humanity onto us. He's invented portals to other worlds where we can be free of humankind's tethers, maybe there's some aspect of shame for providing us a way out... an escape from life we can easily sink ourselves into? That displeasure for living in reality, it's like he made a gateway for us to participate in that. Boiled down, it's the simple trappings of escapism. There's a danger to conjoining with worlds we don't belong to, we could very well lose our life in them & lose sight of the joys held out before us along the way. Like a precautionary tale maybe?
The guilt over providing escapism... this feels very Hideaki Anno/Evangelion-like!!! I remember when I first watched this movie, I thought... "This is Miyazaki's Evangelion 3.0+1.0!!!!" Both took a long time to make and were delayed over the pandemic. Both are each creators kind of saying goodbye to their series. And both are kind of telling us... "Go outside and live your life!!!"
This is a hell of a ...... critique? Breakdown? Interpretation? Whatever one would call it, It has given me a lot to think about. Thank you very much for making it and for broadening my horizons on this movie.
This story reminded me of the first Chronicles of Narnia book: The Magicians Nephew. Young child travels into a world connecting worlds, where in one someone creates a world. Honestly loved this movie. Super thought provoking and honestly existential. Not for everyone tho
Thank you for your break down of The Boy and the Heron. I watched it in cinemas today and left fairly confused but your video has helped immensely. The reading of the film being a reflection of Miyazaki and his wonderful collection of films makes me sad because he is aware of his old age and I really do believe he has spread so much joy through his magical movies. I have to say I’m so glad that his last film is one that is fantastical over the more mundane, The Wind Rises.
The decision to change the title of the movie from How Do You Live to The Boy and The Heron really boggles my mind. How Do You Live seems to encapsulate everything Miyazaki created and such a fitting title for a film at this stage of his career whether it is his last or not and even if the book doesn’t have any similarity to the film you can tell that he uses at the very least similar theme in almost all of his films including this one. From memory almost all of his characters struggle with decisions on how to live their lives and the choices they make and how to be honest and authentic to themselves so that they can live with their choices which is the main theme of the book. I really like your analysis and you discussed points that I haven’t thought about before which is really interesting even though I took away a different message from the film, I’m always interested in different people’s point of views when watching the same film.
My guess is that in Japan the title might immediately spark a connection with the existing 1937 novel. But outside of Japan, that connection won’t be made. And maybe publicists thought the title by itself might feel too vague. But I agree the original title conveys the themes of the movie so much better-and the new title probably misleads audiences into thinking this is a movie primarily between Mahito and the heron…when really the main conflict and drives the plot of the whole movie is between Mahito and his great grand uncle.
@@TheLocalMangaka I thought the movie was named after the book called "The boy and the blue heron", A childrens book in which a boy meets a heron at the lake side, who takes him to a fantastical world. The book is made for kids to give them a opertunity to explore emotions. in my mind this would be a perfect connection with the topics in How do you live. And the way you the movie made you feel like it was something created for Miayzaki's grandson, or lineage.
@@ClydeStarkeoriginal Japanese title is 君たちはどう生きるか？ which is named after the aforementioned novel and means How Do You (all) Live? The movie is loosely based on that book and is from Miyazaki’s childhood. The book even appears in the film too. I tried to find the blue heron book you mentioned and can’t find it. Do you know the author?
Thanks so much for your review and commentary! I thought you demonstrated terrific insight and articulated it very skillfully for us all, launching a deeper appreciation of this wonderful work. Heartfelt and fun to watch. You're the best.
What a beautiful video, pal, I'm getting quite old (just reached 42) and Miyazaki's and Ghibli's movies have been a constant my whole life. I agree with your thankfullness of his life's work and wouldn't want it any other way. Thanks, man!
Loved your analysis very much! Keep up the good work! My girlfriend and I watched this analysis video together and and she teared up watching it. She is huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki.
After seeing this film about two weeks ago I searched youtube for thorough analysis videos and most started with "don't worry, I won't spoil anything!" So I was very happy when this video started with a spoiler warning! 😄 I will watch the video next, just couldn't contain my excitement...
Yeah!! I don't think many people want to risk doing an in-depth analysis this early into the release haha (it def benefits a lot to have an at-home copy you can pause and replay through)...but i felt i was confident enough in my interpretation to make a video
Thank you very much. When you explained the first section about how the magical world represents all of Miyazaki's work and the granduncle represents Miyazaki himself, as he looks for a successor and that Mahito is us, I honestly teared up. Another section was about the theme that it's okay if Mahito don't want to take over. Because we choose how we want to live. These are something I somehow resonated with so much.
I left the theater confused as to what the theme of the movie was. After warching your take on the meaning behind it I'm amazed to the master piece he created as a way to say goodbye. He's a gineous and a master on what he does. Thank you for your amazing review of the movie!
Thank you so much for making this amazing analysis video. It's really helped me understand it, and I like your interpretation of the film's message a lot.
I really appreciate this explanation. To be completely honest, I did not enjoy the movie so much while I was watching it, but I did have a sense that I was missing something. There were obviously metaphors throughout that I just couldn't decipher in a first viewing. This really helped me understand the movie and I can't wait till I can buy a copy of it--with all the details and references, it certainly seems that it will be quite a rewatchable film.
Yeah this was exactly the effect I was hoping to spread! I know a lot of people personally who felt confused by the movie, so I thought this might help. That being said, I'll admit there's still a lot of the movie that remains a mystery to me!! But I honestly feel there are elements of that in all Ghibli movies.
Very good job explaining it. I’ve never had trouble understanding Miyazaki’s past works but with this I left the theater so confused. Thank you for examining and explaining it.
Thanks so much for this comprehensive, and detailed explanation. It makes so much sense that Hayao is the Uncle! I just found your channel and you seem like a great guy with great taste and sense of humor. Keep doing what you love!
I just saw this movie at the theater the other day and I’m not gonna lie a lot of it felt really confusing to me and I remember thinking that it was really beautiful but it felt like there was to much happening? I didn’t plan on prob ever watching it again but after watching this video I feel like it completely changed my perspective on it and I appreciate it so much more, it definitely feels like the perfect last movie or send off. What I originally kinda thought was just an okay movie I now see as an emotional masterpiece 😭 you did a really great job with this video!
My nine-year-old went in cold today and kept telling me how he was feeling the vibes of all the previous Ghibli films he had seen at different moments. More than just a scene that "looked like" another Ghibli scene, he picked up on how the soul of the Ghibli corpus kept popping up at critical moments. I think the only thing I would add to this good video is that I thought the movie intentionally went beyond just a personal portrait of the artist as an old man, reflecting on his legacy and worth. That was there for sure, but I also saw a story about how to deal with painful grief and an unhealthy desire to "fix" a tough situation or to give in to the temptation to bitterly reject a new reality. It was an artist's and a misanthrope's film to be sure, but there were some universal themes re: maturity and grief offered as well.
Yeah, in retrospect, I wished I went more into the grief and mourning aspect of the film. Because that's an aspect of the film that would be more enjoyed by people who have no familiarity with his works. I did think mourning of a lost loved one is a very parallel feeling to mourning the loss of an artistic legacy! But yeah...glad you liked the video!!!
tearing up at the fact the great grand uncle is representative of miyazaki also w the idea of beautiful things crumbling away, letting go of them motif has always been in his movies like the floating castle from castle in the sky
This is a good take. While I didn't love this film or understand the magic world, AT ALL, I was still captivated by the animation and characters. It felt very much like a Ghibli film and a Miyazaki creation.
I thought maybe this movie was more confusing than previous films...but then I thought about how maybe I always felt like I was initially confused by most Ghibli fantasy movies when I first saw them...but felt I understood them now only cuz I've seen them so many times since. I'm not sure cuz I first saw Spirited Away and other such films almost two decades ago.
Thank you so much for this video! I was so confused after leaving the cinema, and I felt kind of sad… I was hoping to connect more with Miyazaki’s final work, but it just wasn’t clicking for me. I will say the movie still doesn’t evoke the strong feelings I have for his past films like Kiki, Totoro and Spirited Away etc but at least now I can understand the intention behind this work. Thank you! !
Thank you for this wonderful explanation. I was lost and didn’t know what to think. Your explanation put everything together incredibly and showcased how wonderful the movie truly is.
Thanks for your wonderful analysis, it made me cry. In Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, there's a wall painting drew by Hayao Miyazaki, which depicts a ship which has many rooms for pigs, his assistants, producing anime, eating and resting. He left a message that "Making anime is like a journey on the sea". And the illustration exactly looks like A CAVE in The boy and the heron! So birds in the cave represent himself and his co-workers. They have a malice(They tried to kill Mahito), meaning they're also accomplices for Hayao Miyazaki's works.
Thank you so much for this video. I left the theatre feeling kinda empty and confused, given that Miyazaki’s work was and still is such a pivotal part of my formative years. The Wind Rises left me in tears when I watched it thinking it was the last one, it really felt as a message from a retiring artist. The Boy and the Heron felt bizarre and at times nauseating, as if going in ten opposite directions. After your video it all really came in place for me, especially the heritage parts, the pessimism and weak belief in the future generations.
Thank you for this beautiful explanation. Your research and insight on all of it definitely helped me understand the film more. Will definitely come to your channel again for future stuff I need explained :)
Something about realizing this is probably the last Mr.Miyazaki's movie makes me sad. It was gonna happen but is still sad, considering all the things he made, all the things he been trough and how he portrayed everything with heart, sweat, blood and soul in his films, and realizing "Well. This is my legacy, this is what I have done... And there's no one else after me" It's never gonna be another Hayao Miyazaki, his vision was truly one of a kind. I can't do nothing but respect him, deeply
Wao I’m really impressed by your interpretations, some of them are new to me 😮 His film always makes me watch couple of times to slowly figure out the messages (and also understand the plot 😢). Man, the soundtrack at the end really makes me sobbing bit when hearing you say Thank you and goodbye 😢
I hope you dabble with more on-camera stuff, grow that comfortability! You were excellent & thoroughly enjoyable to watch. You have a great, fun, and cheery personality it's quite magnetic! Grateful you went out of your typical comfort for us & hope to see you do it more!
I've been to cinema yesterday and watched this film. Overal had the same thoughts as you actually. By the way, during that scene when Himi leads the boy to the room with lots of doors i was literally praying for no other Miyazaki cartoon character to show up. Today's industry is full of multidimensional crap like this after Marvels drops. Thank God Miyazaki didn't do that.
LOL although there have been minor cases of cameos of ghibli characters in other movies! Nausicaa’s fox squirrels appear in Castle in the Sky. Totoro soot spirits appear in spirited away. But yeah the vibe of those are definitely not of the nostalgia bait cash grabs other movies might use!
Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed the movie, but it leaves one with so much to think about! Also finding out about the book sort of hurts one of my readings of this film xp (though doesnt fully sink it). So I had started to think there was two ways to view the movie, as a literal fantasy adventure, or one of imagination. A young boy, grief stricken and reclused, gets moved to a new enviroment against his will. The little sense of wonder and adventure with the Heron and tower is relatively grounded. He then conks himself on the head. This Heron stuff gets weirder from there for our concussed boy. He sees some fantastical things. He gets more lively too though as he starts to interact more with those around the manor. Then he finds the book. And it is only after he starts the book he travels to another world. Without knowing the actual nature of this book... i thought the book could have been the open and unfinished book of the Granduncle. The events in the tower could be the events of the book. A world of wonder created by granduncle/miyazaki. Fantastical escapism, and a way for a grief stricken young boy to contextualize all that's going on. Perhaps his mother in the book is from when she herself discovered it. Her "year missing" an exageration of when she herself was wrapped up in this book. Maybe she added to the story. Maybe her having fire powers was Mahiko rationalizing a better end for his mother he could more easily accept. And her leaving this story for him was a way the two could bond and have an adventure. The aunt being hard to reach is Mahiko worrying hes secretly hated. So many aggressive birds could be because birds are flocking animals sometimes, and Mahiko felt left out. Didnt feel part of the new house/family. Didnt fit in at school. Befriended the lone Heron, just as he himself felt alone. Birds, flying, and planes could have a link. Resentment for the war, his fathers busy job working on planes, and how not all the birds were bad. The abrupt end, not being able to know if he remembered, him taking a literal piece of it with him... its like a story of a youth who spent his summer vacation buried in a fantastical book, but moving onto life, but still carrying a piece with him. But this works better if that very book wasnt a real world book that has nothing to do with this? Xp But i think the movie still can be about overcoming grief through fantasy fiction. The emotional links still feel there.
I think the abstract and often deliberately vague nature of some of Miyazaki's works mean they can be open to many equally valid forms of interpretation!! If what you take away from it matters to you, I think that's all that matters. One thing I might point out is that "How Do You Live" was published in 1937, which should be quite a while after the mother's childhood. But i guess it could be very possible that the movie's version of the book doesn't strictly follow the publishing date and rules of the real book. Just like how the movie shares its name but doesn't share any of its content. Lots of people watching this movie will probably have no idea that this book was an actual thing, and might have your interpretation as well! The movie could've deliberately said in the movie "this is the 1937 book by genzaburo yoshino" but it didn't haha. But yeah, interesting theory!! Feels very...Alice in Wonderland-ey.
When watching the movie a second time, I was taking notes on my phone, and I saw an inscription on the tunnel leading to the underworld that I wrote down in my phone as "fecim decima portentate"...and I had no idea what that meant, and searching the phrase got no results.
Retrying a few more times...I now realize the phrase was actually "fecemi la divina potestate".
And this is actually a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy. And if you read the summary of Dante's Divine Comedy....you'll notice it's EXTREMELY similar to the plot of "The Boy and the Heron"!!! Both are about someone traveling through hell/the underworld until reaching heaven/paradise, where they meet a divine creator/god figure.
And so events like opening the golden gates and getting attacked by the pelicans... Dante's Divine Comedy opens with the main character getting attacked by beasts after committing "original sin". And so that dark cave behind the golden gates...was maybe a representation of original sin!! Kind of like the apple from Adam and Eve.
So this is a very interesting angle I think people might be interested in, that I wished I added to my video!
Also the original sin in the Bible is Adam and Eve eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The golden gate had an inscription about knowledge bringing suffering...but I forget what exactly.
@@Ironike I believe the quote was something along the lines of “those who learn my knowledge shall perish” which very much sounds like the fruit in Adam and Eve! Which was like a fruit of forbidden knowledge, and what began their descent from paradise…or Dante/Mahito’s entry into the underworld.
This is fascinating, I told my family after we watched it that I felt like I had been watching a Shakespeare play and that it is going to take some study to fully process and understand everything. There are similarities between some of Dante's works and Shakespeare's, of course, Shakespeare was influenced/inspired by many other literary works. All artists borrow from other artists and I'm sure Miyazaki is no different. Thank you for making this video, you have an excellent initial analysis here and you could make another video in the future after you read everyone's comments and make more connections to what everything meant. It was an outstanding, extraordinary film and I can't wait to watch it again.
I like your interpretation but I was thinking on a more esoteric scale: I believe this is Miyazki's love letter to Japan, his home and the Motherland. I feel this is personal parable of a journey for Japan. Miyazki is part of an older generation, as the movie starts after WW2. There is a representation of lost or death of Japan as per depicted by the death of his mother, whom he misses and searches for in the spirit world. The wizard is a half gaijin granduncle - American - is shown to be balancing a stack of rocks that is ready to crumble. A dying pelican was was shown to have said that it was a species eager to live, yet was brought into the world but have with no food (reminiscent of all the weird crazy inventions in Japan that have no value). The heron is divine wisdom or prophet (sorta like in Devine Comedy where Vigil who is the voice of reason) that is guiding Japan on the spiritual journey. I believe Miyazaki's message is a patriotic message, to tell Japan to rise up to the challenge and to reclaim its glory, again. Therefore, the Japanese title, How Do You Live was more appropriate in Japan as it was directed towards his own people.
On the note of original sin/corruption: there is a significant emphasis on Mahito’s “transgression” of entering the delivery room that feels parallel to the “transgression” of Adam and Eve in Eden - both cases of accessing forbidden knowledge and both punished
I’m a student who spent an entire semester studying Miyazaki’s work and you’re DEAD ON about the importance of flight. In my opinion, flight represents the freedom to explore and the ability to have a voice in what choices we make. It’s what makes life worth living. For flight to be such a strong theme of this film is extremely fitting, and beautiful to see him explore its limits as we no longer see emotionless planes or human-like birds (howl) but birds who are truly chained to their wings, like the pelican who passed away because he had no choice but to fly, and the parakeets, who have given up their flight and “choice” as complete subjects to their king.
ooh!! I haven't thought about the irony of being forced to fly, or parakeets giving up their flight.
I was also reading elsewhere how...the parakeets could be a symbol of fascism. And the parakeet king was actually a parallel to Mussolini. (the scene with the parade of parakeets has parakeets holding signs saying "Duch" which can loosely be changed to "Duce" which was the nickname of Mussolini). And we know Miyazaki hates fascism like in Porco Rosso. As for how that all fits into the overall themes I've discussed......I'm not quite sure yet! There's so much more of this film I haven't yet explored yet.
@@TheLocalMangakawow, one more detail that I was thinking on came in place. Things like that are kinda easy to read but you still miss them from the first watch
where do u go? asking for a friend (i want to spend an entire semester studying miyazaki)
@@adrielespiritu7750 HAHA I’m a CMU design student! if you go the communications design route, you spend a semester designing a brand around a design “hero” that inspires you, and I did Miyazaki. it’s a really intense project where you make a poster, animation, app, booklet, etc. about your designer but I learned a lot!
@@adrielespiritu7750 Cornell University also has an excellent course that's entirely on anime. They call it "Japanese Society Through Film" (may have changed the course name since I took it though) and you spend the semester analysing classics like Spirited Away and Astro Boy. It's taught by a Japanese professor, which is great because he was able to offer a ton of perspectives that flew right over non-natives' heads (eg. in Spirited Away, the make of Chihiro's family car indicates that they're actually reasonably well-off. Not straight up wealthy, but definitely doing well.)
I wonder if the dying pelican who expressed he had no other option but to fly is also a feeling Miyazaki felt about creating his films. He tried several times to retire, but always felt pulled to create more movies, knowing it would have negative effects on his life.
An interesting thought!!! I also thought the dying pelican reminded me of the dying boar at the beginning of the Princess Mononoke...both the pelican and boar were a dying species with nowhere to go. And both had to resort to violence.
Might be a reference to Palestinians
@@msn219no the fuck it’s not stop reaching lol
@@msn219doubt it , but i see the point you are making
Your analysis is dead spot on. I think the reason why Mahito had so few lines and was barely a character compared to other strong protagonists in the past is because Miyazaki wanted us to live vicariously through Mahito. We were witnessing all his ideas and past works flash by and that’s why the plot felt thin and crammed with too much visuals. It was never meant to be a story but rather an experience.
Thank you!!
To me Mahito felt real. He is still grieving. He does not have much to say. I don't know why that makes him a weak protagonist in the eyes of some.
THIS! Literally wrote this like ten minutes before reading this on another video on the film 😂
@@deewrekk7375 I don’t think people are saying he’s weak in his character but rather weak as in his presence and motive in the movie.
@@seljiang Which motivation? The mystical, pestering heron and his Aunt's disappearance were strong motivators for him stepping into the unknown. We definitely do live vicariously through Mahito, it is a surreal labyrinthian journey, but there is too much symbolism and thematic/allegorical content here to imply that Miyazaki meant this to be an experience. That's sort of reductive.
I had a different interpretation of the wara wara and the pelicans:
Throughout the movie, we see that mahito is considerably well off- from the way he has had household attendants and a rather traditional and lavish house.
But even then you could see the signs of wartime scarcity- from the lack of side dishes and food (where mahito remarks that the meal wasn't good) to even struggling to get small pleasures for cigarettes and canned food.
And we see even consequences of the war reflected in the 'other world' as well -the wara wara were eaten by the pelicans and himi setting the pelicans ablaze in a fire, with the wara wara being caught in the crossfire. I thought this was alluding to the cities that were firebombed by planes(pelicans) and children(wara wara) having to suffer and being caught in the crossfire. The pelicans were very much fighting for their survival/food as well.
That is amazing.... wow....... very profound. ❤❤
Great analysis! Also, knowing the history between Miyazaki and his son Goro is what makes this movie so beautiful, IMO. Because when the great uncle realised that Mahito had to go and live a life of his own making and told him to make it peaceful and bountiful, it was as close as an apology you were going to get from an 82-year-old father to his filmmaker son; it felt like Miyazaki realised that his creative vision of the world can't be shoved onto his descendants and so he released Goro from that heavy weight of expectations. Another parallel to real life: Goro has mentioned that he turned down several proposals to take on Studio Ghibli in the past, just as Mahito turned down the offers to inherit the magical world.
I was going to say, this movie really feels like he was telling his son. “All of this was mine and it will die with me. You don’t have to be me and that’s okay.” I think that it’s not only telling us to live and move on but telling Goro that Hayao Miyazaki knew he wasn’t the best father but realized that he has to let go the thought of continuing on the magical world and that he was sorry.
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 his studio and his movies, a powerful reminder to all of us
Knowing Miyazaki, this won’t be his last film if he lives for another decade, or even half that. We’ll see another one from him. The man is ultimately a creator by the end of the day, and he will always be creating.
Like Osamu Tezuka, Miyazaki will die saying "please...let me draw more!!!"
(Although fun fact, Miyazaki, like many modern animators, dislike Osamu Tezuka because he was responsible for setting terrible working conditions as the standard in the animation industry)
Well he's directed 12 films (including this one) and the great uncle mentions finding 13 stones. I think theres also some articles out that say he's said he'll make another film after this one
@@johndobson8016 To be honest, after rewatching the movie for a 2nd time, I'm starting to lean towards that this could very well be his final film, just purely because of how the great uncle talks about finding a replacement but none is found.
While I have issues with the story and how it is told, Miyazaki is clearly telling us that his reign of creativity is at an end and there will never be another person like him, because there can only be one Miyazaki. But that isn't a bad thing, because to try and be a replacement for Miyazaki would go against what creativity is supposed to be. There will always be creatives out there who will be known for their craft, but we should appreciate and enjoy the time of their creativity before their time is done.
Right now, this could very well be the end of Miyazaki's time as a creative and I want to enjoy his newest creative art in theaters before its time is done. Even if he does one more, this movie got the message across that there will never be a replacement for him because there can never be one. And with that in mind, that means this could very well be Studio Ghibli's final film as well.
@@tjjordan4207 I think its definitely written that way, to be a final goodbye love letter to his fans. I think you're totally right that its supposed to be him saying that he couldn't find a successor but thats okay (Studio Ghibli was expected to go to his son but his son refused and the studio was bought by another company). To add to that theory, I think the magic stone floating is supposed to be graphite (for pencils) and the blocks are supposed to represent simple shapes artists use to illustrate with, along with a number of other things like the movies I mentioned earlier and possibly also his health (the stacked stones swaying) as he's getting older in years and I'm sure he's seeing the writing on the wall that this may be his last film.
In the film he says that the world will only last 1 more day and also he mentions finding 13 blocks, I think he's saying he's feeling hopeful that theres one more film in him but he knows he could go any day these days. That definitely appears to be his mentality at the moment as his producer said in an article that he's already moved on to making another film and is obsessed with it.
Suzuki already said Miyazaki is working on his next film.
He can not retire. Like the old man in the film.
Feel so sorry for his son. He walked out of his sons movie and never gave him the acknowlagement his son was looking for. All while being a distant father and shuning his sons work. Really heart braking. Miyazaki is a very intricate person that does his best but leaves an unintedend wake of sadness and longing.
Totally agree with you. Although neither of us can know the exact relationship they have together, I feel like this movie was Miyazaki trying to tell his son that he doesn't need to carry his father's legacy on his shoulders. It’s passive-aggressive, but also gentle in its own way.
@@samspotz8r8s that's a really great perspective. Come to think of it I think your spot on
"never gave him the acknowlagement his son was looking for." Not true. In the longer documentary floating around, Miyazaki eventually expresses approval for Goro's second film. Goro - who comes across as quite a funny and likeable guy - kind of smirks and gives a sardonic response when the cameraman asks him about it, but it's clear the approval was given.
@@anthonythorne8708 this is in the NHK hayao miyazaki 4 part documentary right? I agree. Hayao did give him approval, he just had to earn it.
not like the son really wanted to make the film and the pressure on him wasn't good
I feel like the Parakeet King being the tower's ultimate destruction could symbolize a few different things. My initial thought was that sometimes when people are passive in taking action someone else who is truly harmful will take that opportunity. I can also see it as an older generation unwilling to relinquish control to the next generation leading to the destruction of the thing they meant to preserve and protect.
I think Miyazaki understands the beauty of his work but he's also become wise enough to understand that he must relinquish some of the control he has over it. That can be seen even in the process of how the movie was made because usually he would have a direct hand in every part of the process but was willing to trust other creatives to help him make this film.
interesting!! yeah I haven't thought too much about what the Parakeet King specifically symbolizes yet (other than that he provides a focal character to kind of represent all the birds). It would be extremely unfortunate if Ghibli's IP was overtaken by greedy execs and we got....idk, a Ghibli Cinematic Universe hahaha. That would be truly a destruction of Miyazaki's vision!!
Also yeah thats a great point of Miyazaki needing to trust others for this film!!
Since the movie was based around the time of WWII I felt the parakeet king and the parakeets kind of represented the people living in those fascist states. Not depicted as outright evil just a product of their times and ideologies and also victims of their circumstance. There was a lot of symbolism of nationalism with the parakeet parade and the people blindly following their leaders. And the parakeet king was willing to destroy the world to save his empire. Almost how Hitler, Mussolini and Hideki Tojo were willing to destroy their countries and the world for their empires.
That’s a really great interpretation
This is a great interpretation! Love it!
@jaysonhuckaby6323 I think the pelicans are meant to be those people, or perhaps unwilling soldiers forced to fight for their country. I, for one, view the parakeets as those who support those fascist states. I say this because they hold up signs directly support the king with "DUCH" (presumably a reference to Il Duce, aka Mussolini) and a parakeet symbol that reminds me of the Nazi Eagle.
All those quick flashes around 17:00 caused me to rewind that part too many times
The part that's so great about the mother is that he tries to keep her alive through his art world but knows one day he will have to put down his pencil.
I knew I wasn't crazy noticing all of the other Ghibli references in this movie! There were even some specific pieces of animation that looked directly referenced off of other Ghibli films. One that got me in particular was how much the ring of paper ribbons in the Delivery Room made me think of the magic-stealing paper dolls from Howl's Moving Castle
Yes! And also reminded me the paper dolls attacking Haku in Spirited Away!
@@1000_questions_ I can't believe I didn't also think of that 🤣
The fire at the beginning reminded me so much of the earthquake at the beginning of the wind rises, too.
this really explains the hundreds of doors in the movie too , all of those lead to all of his universes he has created. great stuff man 🙏
That makes sense, but why would Himi and Kiriko go through a separate door where they will eventually meet/give birth to Mahito? I guess there are many doors for different times within the same universe?
@@TheBlueGoldenHawk thats what i was thinking. maybe its like hotel floors where the front number(s) represent the floor, whereas these represent the universe.
Great job on this! I saw the movie last night and felt like I caught some of these pieces in the theater but walked out still trying to put it all together. Your video just snapped it all into place 🙌🏼
Thank you!!! i mentioned this in other comments but lots of my friends said the same thing, being confused by their first watches. And so seeing that common sentiment actually inspired me to make this video!! And so I'm glad it's being able to reach more people!!
Thanks for watching!
I’m crying. What a well explained and very emotional(on my side) take on this. Hayao Miyazaki is my Hero. He and Isao Takahata has opened my mind on how ugly and devastating war can be.
Just saw this movie today and I’ll admit, much of the well-thought out metaphors flew right over my head… your interpretations make so much sense and are ones that I can truly appreciate as most accurate. Such a great perspective, awesome video!
Thanks!!! I'm really glad this video has been of some help to a lot of people!!
Absolutely nailed the interpretation! Please do go ahead and make a longer in depth version if you have the chance, I loved this movie and could listen to this for hours!
Thank you!!! Whenever it comes out on Blu Ray maybe!! I'm very fickle about the types of videos I make haha
I think the literal reason for the Granduncle’s World being infested mainly by birds is because the tower’s entrance by foot is obscured by vegetation but birds can enter the tower at will through the window at the top!
Just got done seeing the movie and man I think you nailed it. Especially with the uncle and the connection to Miyazaki and his own life. I love how many different aspects this movie takes from all other Ghibli movies and combines them so subtly into the perfect “final” Miyazaki movie. Thank you for putting into words my thoughts while watching the movie. amazing analysis
Thank you!!!! I'm glad you liked it!!
You have understood the meaning of this film exactly as how we interpreted it after we saw it.
Great video and glad to hear we thought alike.
This is definitely a film of Mr. Miyazaiki letting go.
Thank you!! I’m glad you liked it!!
“It is time to go live ours” after such a beautiful breakdown of so much impact in so many peoples lives. Thank you for this. And thank you for being a part of mine.
Thank you for such a kind comment!!
Thank you so much for this beautiful explanation! As a fan of Hayao's movies throughout the years, I feel ashamed for not understanding the symbolisms in the movie. This video will make me greatly appreciate and probably cry for the second viewing!
No shame there. I missed most of it aswell. I think if I had gone into it looking for Miyazaki's meta narrative I would have picked most of it, but I was looking at it from a different perspective. I caught the narrative in The Wind Rises, but if you know anything about Miyazaki you see from his perspective from the start. You don't in this movie.
I’m glad you liked it!!
I will admit I probably went in expecting the meta narrative because I’m like a border line religious follower of Miyazaki LOL.
I didn’t go into it that much in this video but I think a lot of other people could have more strongly interpreted the movie in its more universal themes of mourning and grief. Which would have been just as valid!
I didn't catch it right away either and I am a diehard fan. I think this movie just requires more than one watch. It will be easier when it becomes available digitally, so we can rewind and rewatch certain parts. So much happens in this movie so fast, so just like actively reading a dense piece of writing, this film needs us to use our "active watching" skills, which is hard to do in a dark movie theater.
Absolutely surreal to watch maybe his last film from miyazaki himself, grew up with ponyo and ended with this. i definitely need to rewatch the movie to understand the symbolisms behind the film
my first was spirited away!
also yeah, like many ghibli movies, i can also see myself rewatching this movie many more times in the future!
apparently this won't be his last (assuming he lives long enough for another). That 'retirement' rumor was just blown way out of proportion.
I also completely agree with you that Grand Uncle most closely represents Miyazaki himself & that we the enjoyers are Mahito. Elements of a younger Hayao himself in M too, sure, but in a grander sense... it's us. Who among us will create the next worlds... who will preserve the magic spark, in a sense. How will we keep the spirit of Miyazaki alive & enkindle it in its purest, the spirit of personal artistry that's within us all. We don't need to follow in his same footsteps, he made the choices he thought were most fitting to leave behind a legacy of his own reckoning... now he's commissioning us to do the same, in our own unique expressions. Not a reflection of him but an invention of our very own.
....why do I have a feeling you've seen my old AKIRA video haha. This comment reminded me of some things I said in that video. Interesting take!! It makes us feel a even personally more connected to Miyazaki
Hahahah might have been me & I just didn’t know it! Can’t recall but feels vaguely familiar? Anyway, stellar breakdown!
My greatest dream is to be an animator like Miyazaki, the understand life to its fullest and create worlds of wonder while also showing the malice in the world few capture as brilliantly as Studio Ghibli does. I want to keep that spark alive in every way I can, and hope to find artists that have that same spark.
Love this analysis so much!! I feel like the movie went over the heads of a lot of my friends who watched but didn’t feel satisfied. So I’ll be sending your video their way 😊
Thanks so much!!! And yeah, lots of my friends said the same thing, being confused by their first watches. And so seeing that common sentiment actually inspired me to make this video!! And so I'm glad it's being able to reach more people!!
Thanks for watching!
This is one of the best anime movie reviews I have ever watched. Please keep doing what you do - you are truly walking the talk in choosing to do what’s meaningful to you - that’s what ultimately matters! ❤
Thank you for your very kind comment!! May you live a wonderful life too!!
This was beautiful! Your video helped me understand the movie so much more. I watched it last night and was really captivated by it, but not in the way Spirited Away did it for me. But now I am even more excited to watch this a second time.
Also, to add to your incredible insight, at the end when the heron asks Mahito if he took a piece of the stones with him and Mahito basically replying that he took it because he wanted to (or something like that). I like to think that is a way to represent us taking some lesson or inspiration from his movies, and adding them to our life. The heron may have insisted the stone isn’t powerful enough and that we will forget about these worlds soon enough, but I think he’s wrong.
That's an amazing interpretation of that last scene!!! I was thinking about how Miyazaki can be grumpy and have a pessimistic view of his own films. And maybe he's telling us to "forget his films" and go outside and touch grass or something lol...but I can never do that!! But yeah, I was thinking about that last quote for a while too!
@@TheLocalMangaka hey! I wanted to come back to this comment to thank you so much for your video. I went to see the film again yesterday afternoon (this time in Japanese), and everything clicked this time around. I can confidently say this movie is now in my top 3 Ghibli movies (behind Spirited Away and Whisper of the Heart) and it was thanks to your video that I was able to walk away with a much better understanding. I chocked up when Himi thanks him for these worlds.
Surprisingly I also found the movie to go by much faster this time around. I know some people were saying the pacing at the beginning was dragging a bit, I didn’t mind it since to me it felt like time staying still when you are experiencing grief, but the pacing felt just right this second time.
Thanks for your in-depth analysis of this movie! None of us wants to see his career come to an end, but I'm glad he's encouraging us to find our own path and not be burdened by people's expectations of us.
Thank you for watching!! And yes, may you find your path too!!
This is the best explaination / video thesis I've ever seen . Thank you for making this movie's experience even better
Thank you!! I'm glad you enjoyed it!!
I appreciate this explanation and you sharing your interpretations! I watched the film yesterday with good friends and we all really enjoyed it, and spent so much time after the film sharing our interpretations with eachother. I hadn't realized how many different homages to past Ghibli films there were in this story. While I viewed their adventure within the Tower as a microcosm of Mahito's inner-experience with grief and his life changing, it blows my mind to hear that the symbolism extends outside of the film to real aspects of Hayao Miyazaki's life and career. Self-determination is such a powerful gift we are all given in this life. Thanks for using yours to share this video with us!
Thank you!!! i'm glad you liked it!
I think interpreting the movie as a story of grief is an extremely valid interpretation that, in retrospect, I wish I went into more detail on in the video. Instead I just included a small blip of text at 3:30 then continued editing, cuz I didn't want to interrupt the flow of what I already recorded LOL.
Recently I learned that there's a quote inscribed above a tunnel to the underworld in the movie saying "fecemi la divina postentate"...which is a reference to Dante's Divine Comedy!!! And if you're familiar with that story...you'll realize the movie is very similar!!!
I could be reaching but, the Uncle says he found 13 blocks free of malice.
Miyazaki has 12 ‘feature’ films he directed including this one.
Maybe a connection? What would the extra block be? Another film he has planned? Or 1 extra to symbolize us? 1 extra to represent Studio Ghibli as a whole?
Our main character Mahito is also 12 years old, a connection?
Edit: I just remembered at the end of the film Mahiko does pull out of his pocket 1 of the blocks and the Granny Caretaker figure. Maybe 1 block was meant for Mahiko?
Again I could be reaching 😅
Good coconnections
Ive seen some people say "12 feature films" and then include "Future Boy Conan" the TV series as the thirteenth block. So that might be it? I'm not too sure about this one. Surely, with 13 being an unlucky number, there are lots of other feelings associated with 13.
I very recently learned (and thus didn't mention in the video) that the movie very much follows Dante's "The Divine Comedy". It even includes a quote in the movie "fecemi la divina potestate" inscribed on the tunnel in the underworld. And so maybe a closer reading of "The Divine Comedy" might provide an explanation of the thirteen blocks. Maybe.
Hmm... if the birds might represent his works, they could in a fashion be considered 'Agents of Malice'... to which, I wonder if this could also be another form of him contemplating the impact of his works on society. What I mean is, the Pelicans eating the warawara could be an interpretation of some guilt for imposing his cynicisms against humanity onto us. He's invented portals to other worlds where we can be free of humankind's tethers, maybe there's some aspect of shame for providing us a way out... an escape from life we can easily sink ourselves into? That displeasure for living in reality, it's like he made a gateway for us to participate in that. Boiled down, it's the simple trappings of escapism. There's a danger to conjoining with worlds we don't belong to, we could very well lose our life in them & lose sight of the joys held out before us along the way. Like a precautionary tale maybe?
The guilt over providing escapism... this feels very Hideaki Anno/Evangelion-like!!! I remember when I first watched this movie, I thought... "This is Miyazaki's Evangelion 3.0+1.0!!!!" Both took a long time to make and were delayed over the pandemic. Both are each creators kind of saying goodbye to their series. And both are kind of telling us... "Go outside and live your life!!!"
This is a hell of a
...... critique? Breakdown? Interpretation?
Whatever one would call it, It has given me a lot to think about.
Thank you very much for making it and for broadening my horizons on this movie.
Thank you!!! I'm glad you liked it!
So many lightbulbs went off from watching this! Thanks for the video. Also that sweater is so cute!!
Thank you!!!! Also it's a Howl's Moving Castle-inspired sweater from a brand called Yitai! it's my favorite sweater haha
@@TheLocalMangaka Oh cool! 😊 I will have to check them out! Thanks again ✌🏻
Honestly one of the best video essays I’ve ever seen!! Great job
Thank you!!!! My Your Name essay is maybe my favorite video I've made so far, if you're interested in my other content!!
This story reminded me of the first Chronicles of Narnia book: The Magicians Nephew. Young child travels into a world connecting worlds, where in one someone creates a world. Honestly loved this movie. Super thought provoking and honestly existential. Not for everyone tho
I have not read that book! But interesting that, judging from the title, it also involves an uncle!!!
Anyways thanks for watching!!
Thank you for your break down of The Boy and the Heron. I watched it in cinemas today and left fairly confused but your video has helped immensely. The reading of the film being a reflection of Miyazaki and his wonderful collection of films makes me sad because he is aware of his old age and I really do believe he has spread so much joy through his magical movies. I have to say I’m so glad that his last film is one that is fantastical over the more mundane, The Wind Rises.
I was so high watching this and spirited away that I had no idea what was going on. I really have to re watch them both lol.
The decision to change the title of the movie from How Do You Live to The Boy and The Heron really boggles my mind. How Do You Live seems to encapsulate everything Miyazaki created and such a fitting title for a film at this stage of his career whether it is his last or not and even if the book doesn’t have any similarity to the film you can tell that he uses at the very least similar theme in almost all of his films including this one. From memory almost all of his characters struggle with decisions on how to live their lives and the choices they make and how to be honest and authentic to themselves so that they can live with their choices which is the main theme of the book. I really like your analysis and you discussed points that I haven’t thought about before which is really interesting even though I took away a different message from the film, I’m always interested in different people’s point of views when watching the same film.
My guess is that in Japan the title might immediately spark a connection with the existing 1937 novel. But outside of Japan, that connection won’t be made. And maybe publicists thought the title by itself might feel too vague. But I agree the original title conveys the themes of the movie so much better-and the new title probably misleads audiences into thinking this is a movie primarily between Mahito and the heron…when really the main conflict and drives the plot of the whole movie is between Mahito and his great grand uncle.
@@TheLocalMangaka I thought the movie was named after the book called "The boy and the blue heron",
A childrens book in which a boy meets a heron at the lake side, who takes him to a fantastical world.
The book is made for kids to give them a opertunity to explore emotions.
in my mind this would be a perfect connection with the topics in How do you live.
And the way you the movie made you feel like it was something created for Miayzaki's grandson, or lineage.
@@ClydeStarkeoriginal Japanese title is 君たちはどう生きるか？ which is named after the aforementioned novel and means How Do You (all) Live? The movie is loosely based on that book and is from Miyazaki’s childhood. The book even appears in the film too. I tried to find the blue heron book you mentioned and can’t find it. Do you know the author?
@@TheBlueGoldenHawk had a better look, but the book i mentioned is from may 2022. So by that time the movie had been in production for a some years.
Thanks so much for your review and commentary! I thought you demonstrated terrific insight and articulated it very skillfully for us all, launching a deeper appreciation of this wonderful work. Heartfelt and fun to watch. You're the best.
Thank you for your kind comment!! And for the cat box emoji!
What a beautiful video, pal, I'm getting quite old (just reached 42) and Miyazaki's and Ghibli's movies have been a constant my whole life. I agree with your thankfullness of his life's work and wouldn't want it any other way. Thanks, man!
Thank you!!! And thanks for watching!
Loved your analysis very much! Keep up the good work! My girlfriend and I watched this analysis video together and and she teared up watching it. She is huge fan of Hayao Miyazaki.
Oh thank you!!! I'm glad you both enjoyed it!!
This was such a beautiful explanation of the movie. You really paid homage to Miyazaki! Thank you so much 🥺💫
After seeing this film about two weeks ago I searched youtube for thorough analysis videos and most started with "don't worry, I won't spoil anything!" So I was very happy when this video started with a spoiler warning! 😄 I will watch the video next, just couldn't contain my excitement...
Yeah!! I don't think many people want to risk doing an in-depth analysis this early into the release haha (it def benefits a lot to have an at-home copy you can pause and replay through)...but i felt i was confident enough in my interpretation to make a video
Thank you very much. When you explained the first section about how the magical world represents all of Miyazaki's work and the granduncle represents Miyazaki himself, as he looks for a successor and that Mahito is us, I honestly teared up. Another section was about the theme that it's okay if Mahito don't want to take over. Because we choose how we want to live. These are something I somehow resonated with so much.
I left the theater confused as to what the theme of the movie was. After warching your take on the meaning behind it I'm amazed to the master piece he created as a way to say goodbye. He's a gineous and a master on what he does.
Thank you for your amazing review of the movie!
Thank you!!! I'm glad you liked it!!
Thank you so much for making this amazing analysis video. It's really helped me understand it, and I like your interpretation of the film's message a lot.
Thank you for watching!!
I really appreciate this explanation.
To be completely honest, I did not enjoy the movie so much while I was watching it, but I did have a sense that I was missing something. There were obviously metaphors throughout that I just couldn't decipher in a first viewing. This really helped me understand the movie and I can't wait till I can buy a copy of it--with all the details and references, it certainly seems that it will be quite a rewatchable film.
This movie is not something to be explained logically! The true way to go in is to just feel it! Miyazaki himself says he does not understand it
Yeah this was exactly the effect I was hoping to spread! I know a lot of people personally who felt confused by the movie, so I thought this might help. That being said, I'll admit there's still a lot of the movie that remains a mystery to me!! But I honestly feel there are elements of that in all Ghibli movies.
Incredible video! Loved hearing your thoughts, you're a natural story teller.
Thanks so much!!
Very good job explaining it. I’ve never had trouble understanding Miyazaki’s past works but with this I left the theater so confused. Thank you for examining and explaining it.
Thank you!! Glad I could be of help!!
Thanks so much for this comprehensive, and detailed explanation. It makes so much sense that Hayao is the Uncle! I just found your channel and you seem like a great guy with great taste and sense of humor. Keep doing what you love!
Thank you for your kind comment!!
Just got home from the theater. Great video!
Thank you!!
Thank you!!! Really adds some context to the whole movie and made it all connect 🙏🏼🙏🏼❤️
Glad you liked it!!!
Thank you great analysis. This cleared a lot up for me. Also you did a great job speaking on camera :)
thank you!!!!!
loved this video essay !
This was a wonderfully in depth and invested breakdown. Thank you.
I just saw this movie at the theater the other day and I’m not gonna lie a lot of it felt really confusing to me and I remember thinking that it was really beautiful but it felt like there was to much happening? I didn’t plan on prob ever watching it again but after watching this video I feel like it completely changed my perspective on it and I appreciate it so much more, it definitely feels like the perfect last movie or send off. What I originally kinda thought was just an okay movie I now see as an emotional masterpiece 😭 you did a really great job with this video!
Thank you!!! I'm glad you were able to find something new with this video!!
82 years YOUNG.
LOOL I feel bad for ragging on Miyazaki for his age haha
My nine-year-old went in cold today and kept telling me how he was feeling the vibes of all the previous Ghibli films he had seen at different moments. More than just a scene that "looked like" another Ghibli scene, he picked up on how the soul of the Ghibli corpus kept popping up at critical moments. I think the only thing I would add to this good video is that I thought the movie intentionally went beyond just a personal portrait of the artist as an old man, reflecting on his legacy and worth. That was there for sure, but I also saw a story about how to deal with painful grief and an unhealthy desire to "fix" a tough situation or to give in to the temptation to bitterly reject a new reality. It was an artist's and a misanthrope's film to be sure, but there were some universal themes re: maturity and grief offered as well.
Yeah, in retrospect, I wished I went more into the grief and mourning aspect of the film. Because that's an aspect of the film that would be more enjoyed by people who have no familiarity with his works. I did think mourning of a lost loved one is a very parallel feeling to mourning the loss of an artistic legacy! But yeah...glad you liked the video!!!
Wow what a beautiful analysis of all of studio Ghibli! Amazing, great video!!🎉
Thank you!!
tearing up at the fact the great grand uncle is representative of miyazaki
also w the idea of beautiful things crumbling away, letting go of them motif has always been in his movies like the floating castle from castle in the sky
That's a perfect analogy!!! Returning back to the roots of where Studio Ghibli began!!
You busted it WIDE open, my guy!!! Well done, what a beautiful analysis and explanation ❤️
Thank you for watching!!
Thank you so much for dedicating the time and EFFORT into making this video!!! Love your personality and explanation
Thank you for such a nice comment!! Have a great day!
Nailed it! Youre so amazing!!! 😭
Thank you!!!
Man, this is so good I had to shout you out in my video! Bravo and really well said. Quality analysis.
Thank you!!! And thanks for the shout out!!
This is a good take. While I didn't love this film or understand the magic world, AT ALL, I was still captivated by the animation and characters. It felt very much like a Ghibli film and a Miyazaki creation.
I thought maybe this movie was more confusing than previous films...but then I thought about how maybe I always felt like I was initially confused by most Ghibli fantasy movies when I first saw them...but felt I understood them now only cuz I've seen them so many times since. I'm not sure cuz I first saw Spirited Away and other such films almost two decades ago.
Thank you so much for this video! I was so confused after leaving the cinema, and I felt kind of sad… I was hoping to connect more with Miyazaki’s final work, but it just wasn’t clicking for me. I will say the movie still doesn’t evoke the strong feelings I have for his past films like Kiki, Totoro and Spirited Away etc but at least now I can understand the intention behind this work. Thank you! !
Glad I could be of help!!! But yeah, I feel like I've always appreciated even other ghibli movies more after a couple rewatches
Man, that's a really well thought video. Thank you 👍👍
you've made me want to watch the film again - great insight/commentary here.
Thank you!!
Such an incredible perspective! I love it, thanks for this video.
Thank you!!!
Thank you for this wonderful explanation. I was lost and didn’t know what to think. Your explanation put everything together incredibly and showcased how wonderful the movie truly is.
Thanks!!! Im glad you liked it!!
Thanks for your wonderful analysis, it made me cry.
In Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, there's a wall painting drew by Hayao Miyazaki, which depicts a ship which has many rooms for pigs, his assistants, producing anime, eating and resting. He left a message that "Making anime is like a journey on the sea".
And the illustration exactly looks like A CAVE in The boy and the heron! So birds in the cave represent himself and his co-workers. They have a malice(They tried to kill Mahito), meaning they're also accomplices for Hayao Miyazaki's works.
This is a very impressive review. Thank you for sharing - helped me further process the significance of the movie.
Thanks!! I'm glad this video is able to reach people.
Your analysis of the movie was fantastic! I'm definitely watching it again next week, thanks to your awesome video.
Thank you so much for this video. I left the theatre feeling kinda empty and confused, given that Miyazaki’s work was and still is such a pivotal part of my formative years. The Wind Rises left me in tears when I watched it thinking it was the last one, it really felt as a message from a retiring artist. The Boy and the Heron felt bizarre and at times nauseating, as if going in ten opposite directions. After your video it all really came in place for me, especially the heritage parts, the pessimism and weak belief in the future generations.
I'm glad you liked it!!
Thank you for this beautiful explanation. Your research and insight on all of it definitely helped me understand the film more. Will definitely come to your channel again for future stuff I need explained :)
this was fabulous! thank you for your interpretation and wonderful explanation ❤
Thank you for watching!!
Thank you for your breakdown. For someone who isn't super familiar with his works, I learned to appreciate this film even more
What a great video.
Thank you very much, its was good way to understand the different themes in the movie.
Thanks!! I'm glad you liked it!
What a lovely and thoughtful analysis. Thank you
This! I was confused after watching the film but this makes so much sense. Thank you.
glad i could be of help!!
Great analysis, the last part just “damn” that’s deep. thank you!
This an amazing breakdown and you sir deserve a billion subs.
thanks!!!!
So beautiful breakdown! Thank you for this. Quite emotional this might me Hayao Miyazaki’s last magical piece. ❤
Something about realizing this is probably the last Mr.Miyazaki's movie makes me sad. It was gonna happen but is still sad, considering all the things he made, all the things he been trough and how he portrayed everything with heart, sweat, blood and soul in his films, and realizing "Well. This is my legacy, this is what I have done... And there's no one else after me" It's never gonna be another Hayao Miyazaki, his vision was truly one of a kind. I can't do nothing but respect him, deeply
Just saw the movie with a friend of mine and we only got the threads of what you came up with in this video, great job man!
Glad i could be of help!!
Wow, you got this down so well! Incredible.
Wao I’m really impressed by your interpretations, some of them are new to me 😮 His film always makes me watch couple of times to slowly figure out the messages (and also understand the plot 😢).
Man, the soundtrack at the end really makes me sobbing bit when hearing you say Thank you and goodbye 😢
Thank you for this food for thought. This video is really appreciated.
thank you!!!
I hope you dabble with more on-camera stuff, grow that comfortability! You were excellent & thoroughly enjoyable to watch. You have a great, fun, and cheery personality it's quite magnetic! Grateful you went out of your typical comfort for us & hope to see you do it more!
What an incredibly kind first comment to have on my video!!! Thanks!!! I'm glad you liked it!!
I'm from Indonesia. This is probably the most heartfelt & deeply touching review of the movie I've ever seen. Thank you very much~
This video is beautiful, shockingly good and thoughtful examination of this movie I saw today for the first time. Thank you thank you thank you. ❤
This was without a doubt the most cryptic Ghibli movie, at least for me. Thanks for the explanation
I've been to cinema yesterday and watched this film. Overal had the same thoughts as you actually.
By the way, during that scene when Himi leads the boy to the room with lots of doors i was literally praying for no other Miyazaki cartoon character to show up. Today's industry is full of multidimensional crap like this after Marvels drops. Thank God Miyazaki didn't do that.
LOL
although there have been minor cases of cameos of ghibli characters in other movies!
Nausicaa’s fox squirrels appear in Castle in the Sky. Totoro soot spirits appear in spirited away.
But yeah the vibe of those are definitely not of the nostalgia bait cash grabs other movies might use!
First time I found this channel and I love it. Thank you!
Thank you for watching!!
Really great video that must have taken a lot of work. I agree, HERON is quite an impressive and thought provoking movie.
Beautiful depiction, appreciate the video so much… ❤
I really enjoyed your video! Thank you for your thoughtful insight!
Thank you!!!
Thank you for this video. I really enjoyed the movie, but it leaves one with so much to think about!
Also finding out about the book sort of hurts one of my readings of this film xp (though doesnt fully sink it).
So I had started to think there was two ways to view the movie, as a literal fantasy adventure, or one of imagination.
A young boy, grief stricken and reclused, gets moved to a new enviroment against his will. The little sense of wonder and adventure with the Heron and tower is relatively grounded. He then conks himself on the head.
This Heron stuff gets weirder from there for our concussed boy. He sees some fantastical things. He gets more lively too though as he starts to interact more with those around the manor.
Then he finds the book. And it is only after he starts the book he travels to another world. Without knowing the actual nature of this book... i thought the book could have been the open and unfinished book of the Granduncle.
The events in the tower could be the events of the book. A world of wonder created by granduncle/miyazaki. Fantastical escapism, and a way for a grief stricken young boy to contextualize all that's going on.
Perhaps his mother in the book is from when she herself discovered it. Her "year missing" an exageration of when she herself was wrapped up in this book. Maybe she added to the story. Maybe her having fire powers was Mahiko rationalizing a better end for his mother he could more easily accept.
And her leaving this story for him was a way the two could bond and have an adventure.
The aunt being hard to reach is Mahiko worrying hes secretly hated. So many aggressive birds could be because birds are flocking animals sometimes, and Mahiko felt left out. Didnt feel part of the new house/family. Didnt fit in at school. Befriended the lone Heron, just as he himself felt alone.
Birds, flying, and planes could have a link. Resentment for the war, his fathers busy job working on planes, and how not all the birds were bad.
The abrupt end, not being able to know if he remembered, him taking a literal piece of it with him... its like a story of a youth who spent his summer vacation buried in a fantastical book, but moving onto life, but still carrying a piece with him.
But this works better if that very book wasnt a real world book that has nothing to do with this? Xp
But i think the movie still can be about overcoming grief through fantasy fiction. The emotional links still feel there.
I think the abstract and often deliberately vague nature of some of Miyazaki's works mean they can be open to many equally valid forms of interpretation!! If what you take away from it matters to you, I think that's all that matters.
One thing I might point out is that "How Do You Live" was published in 1937, which should be quite a while after the mother's childhood. But i guess it could be very possible that the movie's version of the book doesn't strictly follow the publishing date and rules of the real book. Just like how the movie shares its name but doesn't share any of its content.
Lots of people watching this movie will probably have no idea that this book was an actual thing, and might have your interpretation as well! The movie could've deliberately said in the movie "this is the 1937 book by genzaburo yoshino" but it didn't haha.
But yeah, interesting theory!! Feels very...Alice in Wonderland-ey.