Hayao Miyazaki’s first feature film in ten years, The Boy and The Heron, has its first teaser trailer out today. It marks the first time footage from the film has been shown outside of Japanese theaters.

The hand-drawn, animated film is an original story written and directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, produced by co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and featuring a score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi. Its theme song, “Spinning Globe,” was penned and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

Below is a description of THE BOY AND THE HERON recently released by Studio Ghibli: 

A young boy named Mahito

yearning for his mother

ventures into a world shared by the living and the dead.

There, death comes to an end,

and life finds a new beginning.

A semi-autobiographical fantasy

about life, death, and creation,

in tribute to friendship,

from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

The Boy and The Heron will release in the US December 8, 2023.

Do you plan on watching the newest Miyazaki film?