The Boy and the Heron
Original title: 君たちはどう生きるか
Recommended from age 10. Mother dies in a fire; surrealism and symbolism.
Reason translated with AI from our Spanish original.
Good to know
- Scary scenes
- Frightening villains, monsters, transformations or jump scares.
- Death or separation
- Someone loved dies or disappears, often a parent.
Medium confidence
Medium confidence · They broadly agree.
Where to watch
UK
Included with subscription: 
Netflix
US
Included with subscription: 
Max
Rent or buy
Spain
Included with subscription: Netflix
Rent or buy
Availability as of 18 October 2026. Data from JustWatch. Streaming data and logos: JustWatch.
TMDb user score
What it’s about
While the Second World War rages, the teenage Mahito, haunted by his mother's tragic death, is relocated from Tokyo to the serene rural home of his new stepmother Natsuko, a woman who bears a striking resemblance to the boy's mother. As he tries to adjust, this strange new world grows even stranger following the appearance of a persistent gray heron, who perplexes and bedevils Mahito, dubbing him the "long-awaited one."
Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Drama
Other opinions
What families think
Loading opinions…
Disagree?
Does the age look wrong to you? Tell us which scene and we’ll review it. Write to us
Similar movies for the same age
10 Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio (2022)Geppetto's son's death, fascism, and killings
10 Violet Evergarden: Eternity and the Auto Memory Doll (2019)Japanese drama about letters, death and love
10 The Pied Piper (1986)Rat plague and disappearing children; dark version
10 Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011)Superhero battles with deaths and a cosmic monster
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Streaming data: JustWatch.