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Studio Ghibli has been producing award-winning animated films since its founding in 1985. From Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke to My Neighbor Totoro and Howl’s Moving Castle, the studio has an incredible catalog of films to its name. One of its newest arrivals is The Boy and the Heron–released in 2023, it’s the first Ghibli film to ever get a 4K Blu-ray release. But if you’re looking for a different way to experience the story, consider preordering The Art of the Boy and the Heron. Amazon has opened preorders ahead of its May 27 release, and the hardcover collection looks like an excellent companion for the iconic film.
$40 | Releases May 27
This large 328-page hardcover book includes concept art, storyboards, key animation, and other exclusive production content. It also includes the original memos from director Hayao Miyazaki discussing the film and its script, plus interviews with supervising animator Takeshi Honda, art director Yoji Takeshige, and background artist Noboru Yoshida discussing the creation of The Boy and the Heron and how past Studio Ghibli films impacted its development.
While you’re waiting for this art book to arrive, take a look at The Boy and the Heron: Limited Edition 4K Steelbook. Typically sold for $45, it’s currently on sale for $30. Along with a sleek steelbook and a 4K version of the movie, you’ll get heaps of bonus features–including feature-length storyboards, an interview with composer Joe Hisaishi, producer Toshio Suzuki, and supervising animator Takeshi Honda, plus various teasers, trailers, and other extras.
Here’s a look at other Studio Ghibli Blu-rays if you want to round out your collection.
Studio Ghibli Blu-rays
There’s also an extensive catalog of Studio Ghibli art books, each of which gives you an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how these popular animated films came to life. Several are discounted at Amazon, making this a good time to add them to your coffee table or bookcase.
For something a bit different, the Spirited Away Film Comic: Omnibus is available for $35. Spanning over 850 pages, it pulls together the five previously out-of-print volumes of Spirited Away into a single hardcover collection.
