Following the film’s International Premiere as the Opening Night film of the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival, Elysian Film Group, Anonymous Content and Bleecker Street have announced that they have jointly acquired the UK rights to THE BOY AND THE HERON, the highly-anticipated new film from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki – his first film in a decade – which will be released in cinemas nationwide later this year.
The Studio Ghibli production opened in Japan this summer surpassing the first four-day box office of Spirited Away (2001).
THE BOY AND THE HERON is a hand-drawn, original story written and directed by the Academy Award®-winning director. Produced by Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, the film features a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi.
The deal was negotiated by Nick Shumaker of Anonymous Content with Danny Perkins of Elysian Film Group and Kent Sanderson and Avy Eschenasy on behalf of Bleecker Street, and Vincent Maraval and Eva Diederix of Goodfellas on behalf of the filmmakers. This acquisition continues the collaboration between the companies across borders in a time of corporate contraction.
The deal marks the first time Bleecker Street has directly invested in UK distribution and marks their first-ever animated film.
