The Boy And The Heron English Anime Voice Cast Includes Two Batman Actors And A Joker
The English cast for Hayao Miyazaki’s first animated film in a decade, The Boy and the Heron, has been revealed, according to Comic Book Movie. Notably, the cast includes Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson, both of whom have famously donned the cape as Batman in The Dark Knight trilogy and The Batman, respectively. In addition to the Batman stars, the cast is graced by the presence of Mark Hamill, who has voiced the Joker in numerous DC animated projects, including the acclaimed Batman: The Killing Joke.
The Boy and the Heron, the latest anime masterpiece from Hayao Miyazaki, has a stellar English voice cast, including both Christian Bale and Robert Pattinson, alongside Mark Hamill.
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, The Boy and the Heron is loosely based on the novel How Do You Live? By Genzaburo Yoshino and tells the semi-autobiographical tale of 12-year-old schoolboy Mahito Maki. After losing his mother in a firebombing raid, Mahito and his father Shoichi relocate to a secluded country house, where they live with his aunt Natsuko. In this new setting, Mahito’s encounters with the mysterious Gray Heron act as a gateway, leading him through a magical tunnel into a fantastical world filled with discovery, wonder, and myriad surprises that Miyazaki has masterfully crafted.
Critically, The Boy and the Heron is being showered with immense praise, as numerous critics are applauding the film for its deep, soulful exploration of thought-provoking themes, all encapsulated within a stunningly beautiful, animated world.
In addition to Christian Bale, Robert Pattinson, and Mark Hamill, The Boy and the Heron features an impressive cast of industry heavyweights, including Florence Pugh (Oppenheimer, Black Widow), Willem Dafoe (The Light House, Spider-Man), Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Army of the Dead), Luca Padovan (You), and Gemma Chan (Crazy Rich Asians, Eternals). Padovan takes on the lead role of Mahito Maki, while Chan voices his aunt Natsuko. Bale lends his voice to the character of Shoichi, Mahito’s father, and Pattinson plays the titular Gray Heron.
Other characters in The Boy and the Heron include Kiriko, a sailor voiced by Florence Pugh, who navigates a magical aquatic world inhabited by giant, predatory birds. Dave Bautista lends his voice to the Parakeet King, the authoritarian ruler of the world’s parakeets, while Willem Dafoe plays the Noble Pelican. Mark Hamill’s character, Granduncle, harbors the secrets of the magical world’s inner workings.
The Boy and the Heron will finally be available in the United States, in both sub and dub formats, on December 8.
The Boy and the Heron, originally titled How Do You Live? in Japan, made its debut in Japanese theaters on July 14. The film was then presented to an international audience at the Toronto Film Festival on September 7, following its premiere release. Special advance previews will be held on November 22 in the United States before the film, available in both Japanese and English, hits theaters on December 8.
Critically, The Boy and the Heron is being showered with immense praise, as numerous critics are applauding the film for its deep, soulful exploration of thought-provoking themes, all encapsulated within a stunningly beautiful, animated world. With an impressive score of 99 percent based on reviews from 77 critics who have had the privilege of experiencing the film prior to its release, it is clear that The Boy and the Heron is poised to be a standout piece in the world of animated filmmaking. Audiences around the globe can certainly anticipate a rich cinematic treat when the film makes its grand debut.
