The Boy and the Heron, Hayao Miyazaki’s stunning hand-drawn film, marks his big return after a decade and it might be his final masterpiece. It’s already won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film and boasts a stellar cast of voice actors in Japanese and English versions. It significantly impacted the box office upon its release late last year, breaking records and generating fan anticipation for its home release. Finally, the film is set to premiere on Max on July 9, 2024, offering viewers a chance to experience its magic at home.
Dive into everything you need to know about this captivating film, including the release date, where to watch The Boy and the Heron, who will be in it, the trailer, and more. Plus, if you want to watch HBO Max outside the USA and encounter geo-restrictions, ExpressVPN is your solution. Below, we explain how to use ExpressVPN to watch The Boy and the Heron on Max Outside USA. Stay tuned for more!
[Step-by-Step Guide]: Watch The Boy and the Heron on Max Outside USA
Here’s an easy and dependable method to watch The Boy and the Heron on Max outside USA:
Advertisement - Subscribe to a VPN. (We recommend ExpressVPN due to its speed.)
- Download and install the ExpressVPN app on your device.
- Select and connect to a server in the US. (Recommended: New York.)
- Access your Max account, or sign up if you don’t already have one.
- Find the show in the HBO Max catalog.
- Begin watching The Boy and the Heron Outside USA.
Get the Inside Scoop on The Boy and the Heron!
Great news for fans of The Boy and the Heron! GKIDS, the company that brings The Boy and the Heron and many other Ghibli movies to the US, has announced that the movie will be available on Blu-ray and DVD starting July 9, 2024. You can even preorder it now on the GKIDS website, Amazon, and Walmart.
The Boy and the Heron is a hand-drawn animated movie about Mahito Maki, a boy who moves to the countryside after his mother passes away. He finds it hard to adjust to his new home until a talking heron informs him that his mother is alive. Mahito goes on a magical adventure through an old tower to another world, hoping to find his mother and be with her again.
Let’s dive into the trailer for The Boy and the Heron below and see what magic awaits!
What was the Message Behind The Boy and the Heron?
The Boy and the Heron has important themes and messages. It explores grief and loss, showing how coping with the death of loved ones affects a person’s choices. The film highlights the importance of friendship and connection, showing how the main character’s relationships help him deal with his feelings.
As Mahito learns to move on from his mother’s death and accept his new life, he realizes he should stop repeating his great-grand-uncle’s failed dream. The message is clear: people need to move on, or those around them will suffer. By blending fantasy and reality, the story encourages viewers to use their imagination to handle tough emotions. Overall, the film shares messages about strength, the complexity of feelings, and the healing power of connections.
Why Is Max the Ideal Platform to Watch The Boy and the Heron Outside USA?
You can watch The Boy and the Heron on Max in the USA. Accessing Max content outside the USA can be a significant hurdle due to geographic restrictions. A robust VPN like ExpressVPN or Surfshark VPN is essential to navigate this challenge. Max boasts an extensive library of shows, ensuring a diverse range of entertainment options for subscribers, such as We’re Here Season 4, Ghosts Season 4, New York Giants Hard Knocks, and Home Sweet Rome Season 1.
The Max deals offer two different cost plans which are listed as follows:
| Monthly Subscription | Yearly Subscription | |
| HBO Max (Ad Supported Plan) | USD 9.99 | USD 99.99 |
| HBO Max (Ad-free Plan) | USD 14.99 | USD 149.99 |
Now that you know about the release date of The Boy and the Heron and have seen The Boy and the Heron trailer, now take a look at the English cast of The Boy and the Heron below.
Who’s Featured in the Cast of The Boy and the Heron?
In the Japanese version of The Boy and the Heron, the voice cast includes:
- Sima Santoki as Mahito Maki
- Masaki Suda as The Grey Heron
- Kô Shibasaki as Kiriko
- Aimyon as Himi
- Yoshino Kimura as Natsuko
- Takuya Kimura as Shoichi Maki
- Jun Kunimura as The Parakeet King
- Kaoru Kobayashi as Old Pelican
- Shohei Hino as Great-Uncle
The English dubbed version of The Boy and the Heron features a voice cast that includes:
- Christian Bale as Shoichi Maki
- Dave Bautista as The Parakeet King
- Gemma Chan as Natsuko/Hisako
- Willem Dafoe as Noble Pelican
- Karen Fukuhara as Lady Himi
- Mark Hamill as Granduncle
- Luca Padovan as Mahito Maki
- Robert Pattinson as The Grey Heron
- Florence Pugh as Kiriko
How Have Critics Reviewed The Boy and the Heron?
Audiences have given The Boy and the Heron a solid 7.6 out of 10 on IMDb, based on feedback from approximately 53,000 viewers. According to The Boy and the Heron review from Rotten Tomatoes:
Studio Ghibli makes amazing movies where animals and people act like they’re the same. Their scenes are stunning and their stories really touch your heart. It feels like magic and real life mix together in their films, making you feel amazed and thinking long after the movie ends.
What Awards Has The Boy and the Heron Won?
Here’s a summary of the major awards and nominations The Boy and the Heron has received so far:
| Award Ceremony | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Oscars | Best Animated Feature Film | Winner |
| BAFTAs | Best Animated Film | Winner |
| Golden Globes | Best Motion Picture – Animated | Winner |
| Best Original Score | Nominee | |
| Critics Choice Awards | Best Animated Feature | Nominee |
| London Critics’ Circle Awards | Foreign Language Film of the Year | Nominee |
| Animated Film of the Year | Nominee | |
| Los Angeles Film Critics Awards | Best Animation | Winner |
| National Board of Review | Top 10 Films of the Year | – |
| New York Film Critics Awards | Best Animated Film | Winner |
What’s the Social Media Buzz Around The Boy and the Heron?
Take a look at these tweets about The Boy and the Heron:
‘The Boy and the Heron’ secures the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film! Congratulations, Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki! #Oscars pic.twitter.com/mwoxqfxuO2
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 10, 2024
THE BOY AND THE HERON” is coming to Max on September 6! #StudioGhibli pic.twitter.com/euhSppBuPf
— Animation on Max (@AnimationOnMax) August 23, 2024
YES! After 9 months, The Boy and the Heron is finally gonna stream on Max! https://t.co/uLB3XuT0bL
— Alb3rt0 (@APPictures9) August 25, 2024
What Are the Best VPNs to Stream The Boy and the Heron on Max and Why?
MAX offers content in a limited number of regions. Most of Max’s shows and movies can easily be streamed within the USA. However, viewers outside the USA need a VPN to unblock the shows due to geo-restrictions and licensing agreements. Thus, you need a VPN to unblock The Boy and the Heron on Max Outside USA.
Using a VPN hides your location and provides a new IP address from a region where the show is already available for streaming. This grants you quick access to the show, bypassing content geo-restrictions hassle-free.
Here are the top two VPNs that will make streaming a breeze!
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is a top-tier VPN service known for its easy-to-use apps, strong privacy protection, impressive streaming capabilities, and fast speeds. Whether you want to protect your online privacy or unblock geo-restricted content, ExpressVPN has a comprehensive solution.
- Expanded Server Network: ExpressVPN has a vast network of over 3,000 servers worldwide. It gives you access to geo-restricted content on platforms like Hulu and allows you to stream without limitations.
- Blazing Speeds: With ExpressVPN, you’ll get superfast speeds that are ideal for uninterrupted streaming and gaming without annoying buffering.
- MediaStreamer Technology: ExpressVPN’s exclusive MediaStreamer feature enables you to watch content on devices that do not natively support VPNs, such as smart TVs and gaming consoles.
- Connectivity Across Multiple Devices: With a single ExpressVPN subscription, you can connect up to 8 devices simultaneously, making it ideal for families with multiple devices.
- Optimized For Streaming: ExpressVPN works seamlessly with popular streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Vudu, and others, giving you access to a diverse content library.
| Plan | Price |
| 1 Month | $10.95 |
| 6 Months | $59.95 |
| 1 Year | $99.95 |
SurfsharkVPN
Explore Surfshark VPN’s security arsenal. This budget-friendly and user-friendly solution provides robust online protection and privacy through potent encryption and effective cyber defense measures. It establishes a secure online realm backed by an extensive server network to ensure uninterrupted access to content.
- Kill Switch: If you unexpectedly disconnect from Surfshark, KillSwitch will ensure that no sensitive data is exposed by cutting off the internet connection until you reconnect to a Surfshark VPN server.
- NoBorders: This mode will be activated, allowing you to log in to your Surfshark app and view a list of best servers under current network restrictions.
- Auto–connect: This feature saves you time by eliminating the need to open the Surfshark app and click any button to connect to Surfshark servers. If you enable Auto-connect, your device will connect to the VPN the moment it connects to the internet.
- Static Servers: Surfshark has multiple servers in each location. As a result, if you connect to a New York location multiple times, you may receive different IP addresses. If you connect to a static server, you will receive the same IP address each time.
- Multi-Hop Servers: Connect across multiple countries at once to take ID protection and footprint masking to the next level. Your connection will hop from one server to another, giving you additional security.
| Plan | Price |
| 1 Month | $15.45 |
| 1 Year | $47.88 |
| 2 Year | $59.76 |
More Shows From WatchInAmerica to Watch on MAX
Here are some shows that you can stream on Max:
1- Watch ‘Am I OK?’ on MAX – This guide will show you how to watch Am I OK? on Max outside the USA.
2- Watch ‘Home Sweet Rome’ Season 1 on Max– Know how to watch Home Sweet Rome for free; read the blog for further information.
3– Watch ‘We’re Here Season 4’ on HBO MAX– Here’s everything you would wanted to know about the show.
4- Watch ‘The Jinx Part 2’ on MAX– To watch The Jinx Part 2 on Max outside the US hassle-free reading our guide to know how.
5- Stream “Ghosts Season 4” On HBO Max– Watch eerie series- Ghost Season 4. A family facing challenges sticks together.
FAQs
The Boy and the Heron has a PG-13 rating due to “some violent content/bloody images and smoking.”
The mother hugs the boy and leaves with her midwife to live and eventually die.
YES, The Boy and the Heron is another Miyazaki masterpiece.
No, The Boy and the Heron isn’t Studio Ghibli’s final film; it’s recognized as Hayao Miyazaki’s last directorial work.
Yes, ExpressVPN allows global access to Max, enabling you to watch The Boy and the Heron on Max worldwide.
The Boy and the Heron refers to a boy (Miyazaki) and a being he constantly clashes against, but also shares companionship with the heron
Wrapping it Up!
Make sure you don’t miss out on the chance to watch The Boy and the Heron at home! This beautiful animated film will be available on Max starting July 9, 2024. It’s a perfect opportunity for both fans of Hayao Miyazaki and those who are new to his work to enjoy this stunning masterpiece. With its captivating story and incredible animation, it promises to be a magical experience that you won’t want to miss. Watch The Boy and the Heron on Max Outside USA with ExpressVPN.