The Boy and the Heron: When will it be released in the Philippines?

Miyazaki's next (and likely last) film will come to PH cinemas soon.

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The Boy and the Heron is confirmed to release in North American cinemas later this year, but what about in the Philippines? Well, it was originally listed for a November release, but it is now set to be released in January 2024.

For those unfamiliar, The Boy and the Heron (or How Do You Live? in Japan) is the latest film by legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki. While Miyazaki “retired” after his 2013 film The Wind Rises, he came back some years after to work on this new film which is likely going to be his actual final film.

This movie is based on the 1937 novel of the same name, and it was released in Japanese cinemas on July 14, 2023. What’s interesting about the film’s release is that, aside from a poster, there were no trailers or other promotional materials. Despite the lack of promotion, the film was a huge hit in Japan, though that’s not surprising given how beloved Miyazaki is.

Soon after, it was revealed that the film will be released in North American cinemas on December 8.

But what about the Philippines? Well, Pinoy Ghibli fans will be happy to know that the film has been listed for a November release!

The Boy and the Heron: Philippines Release Date

Over the past years, many anime films have been released in Philippine cinemas. For instance, all of Makoto Shinkai’s movies following Your Name have gotten theatrical releases, including Suzume which is his latest. Meanwhile, big shonen films like One Piece Film: Red, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, and The First Slam Dunk have also been released in the Philippines even before their US theatrical runs.

On the flip side, no Hayao Miyazaki movie has gotten a cinema release in the Philippines before. Though this is unsurprising given that his last film was in 2013. For reference, anime theatrical releases in the country have only become more common in the past couple of years.

The Boy and the Heron was originally listed for a November 29, 2023, release date in the Philippines. This is based on a listing on Ayala Malls Cinemas’ Sureseats website.

Sadly, things have indeed changed as film’s release has been pushed back, as per an update via the Philippine Star.

Finally though, Encore Films Philippines announced that The Boy and the Heron is coming to cinemas in the Philippines on January 8, 2024. Hopefully, this new release date will stick.

UPDATE (12/1): The film’s release has been moved to January 2024.

[This article was originally published on August 22 and has since been updated with new information]