Hayao Miyazaki’s first film in a decade was released on December 8, 2023. The hype around this Studio Ghibli film is at an all-time high. But, between The Boy and the Heron and Suzume, which anime film had the better reception? Let’s find out!
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The Boy and the Heron: Miyazaki’s Semi-Autobiographical Magnum Opus
Following the loss of his mother amid war, young Mahito moves to his family’s rural estate.
Amidst a series of mysterious events, he comes across a secluded, old tower inhabited by a playful gray heron.
Upon the mysterious disappearance of his new stepmother, Mahito pursues the gray heron into the tower and enters a fantastical realm where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur.
As Mahito embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his companion, he is forced to unravel the mysteries of this other world and look for the truths about his own identity.
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Suzume: Makoto Shinkai’s Visual Masterpiece
Suzume is a coming-of-age anime film that revolves around the titular heroine who lives with her aunt in southern Japan.
She has a chance encounter with Souta, a young man on a quest for ancient ruins in the vicinity.
Intrigued, she decides to follow him and stumbles upon a freestanding door within the remains of a hot springs resort.
Upon opening the door, she is confronted with an alternate world, harboring eldritch and calamity-causing forces yearning for release.
As she shuts the door, things take a turn for the worse. Souta undergoes a bizarre transformation into a chair, courtesy of a talking cat named Daijin.
Now, Suzume must travel across Japan, sealing doors and stopping disasters, all in pursuit of returning Souta to his original form as they go after Daijin.
The Boy and the Heron vs Suzume: Which Anime Film Had the Better Reception?
Before talking about the box office collections of the two anime films, both Suzume and The Boy and the Heron were nominated for the Best Animated Motion Picture category at the 2024 Golden Globe Awards.
Also, we are only comparing the two anime films nominated from Japan, and not including the Western animated films such as Wish, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie.
As soon as the news about Golden Globe Awards nominations was out, fans started sharing who between Suzume and The Boy and the Heron could win the award.
The fans appear divided about who will win the top prize. But fans are elated that anime films are getting the spotlight they deserve in the Golden Globe Awards.
Meanwhile, if we look at the box office collection, Suzume, which opened in North America on April 14, 2023, earned USD 5 million in the first weekend in the US.
However, The Boy and the Heron has smashed records as it opened to a whopping USD 12.8 million.
The Studio Ghibli anime film achieves a historic milestone as the first-ever original anime movie to lead the domestic box office chart.
Additionally, it stands as the most successful opening in North America for Miyazaki.
The box office numbers are favoring The Boy and the Heron at the moment, and fans are loving this fantastical anime film.
Which is your favorite – Suzume or The Boy and the Heron? Share your thoughts with us on X @epicstreamanime and @subarashiibaka.
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