In December 2023, the unedited material from "The Professional: A Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki Workstyle of 2399 Days," which was broadcast on NHK, was re-edited to create the full version titled "Hayao Miyazaki and the Blue Heron... - The Path to 'The Boy and the Heron'" set for a physical release. A "Complete Preservation Edition" bundling the Blu-rays and DVDs of both the documentary and the main feature film "The Boy and the Heron" will be released on July 3.

Since "The Wind Rises" in 2013, this is Miyazaki's first new work in about ten years, "The Boy and the Heron." The "non-promotional promotion" by producer Toshio Suzuki has cultivated a sense of anticipation, sweeping through Japan as a major topic and recording a blockbuster hit upon its theatrical release in July last year. It has since won numerous awards, marking a historic achievement in Japanese animation history, including the "96th Academy Awards" for Best Animated Feature, the "77th British Academy Film Awards" for Best Animated Film, and the "81st Golden Globe Awards" for Best Animated Film.

How was the Academy Award-winning "The Boy and the Heron" created? The documentary "Hayao Miyazaki and the Blue Heron... - The Path to 'The Boy and the Heron'" covers the seven-year production process through exclusive, intensive coverage. It reveals the events at Studio Ghibli in a two-hour documentary, depicting the daily clash between the "madness" of film director Hayao Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki. Director Miyazaki strives to immerse himself in the world of the film, opening the "lid" of his mind, while Producer Suzuki drives him further into madness, aiming to create an unprecedented masterpiece. The two are "accomplices" in this film, deceiving each other, smirking, yet needing each other the most. Their relationship mirrors that of the main characters "Makoto" and "Blue Heron" in the film—straddling reality and delusion, they embark on a great adventure. As colleagues who have made films together pass away, the documentary explores how the two chose to live through the "twilight" of their careers. It reveals their curious relationship—whether it was based on friendship or something else...

Additionally, the revised and expanded edition released on the same day (July 3) adds "The Boy and the Heron" to "The Hayao Miyazaki Collection," which was first released in 2014, covering all twelve works from "Lupin the Third: The Castle of Cagliostro" to "The Boy and the Heron." It also includes the promotional video for CHAGE and ASKA's song "On Your Mark" as a special feature. Each film is presented in the highest quality using the latest HD masters, and the packaging features a uniform jacket design using the theatrical posters as key art, complete with a booklet that includes commentary and filmography.

Edit By Taimu Tsuji
Source ORICON NEWS