Do you know someone who enjoys anime? Then Shout! Studios has lots of anime movies that make great gifts including GKIDS's "The Boy and The Heron", an Academy Award®-winning new fantasy adventure.

Note: I received product for review purpose. Any views expressed are always 100% my own.

My Review

I first saw GKIDS's "The Boy and The Heron" when it showed in theaters and enjoyed it so much. It was packed with imaginative adventure, amazing animated scenes and a heart felt storyline.

While "The Boy and The Heron" are the main lead in characters of the story, once you get into the larger world, the story becomes so much more with amazing characters, who lead the story into different and wonderous angles.

After viewing the film in theaters I couldn't wait for the home release. Thankfully I didn't have to wait very long.

After receiving the Blu-ray for "The Boy and The Heron" from Shout! Studios, I enjoyed learning more about the hand drawn animation, how the music was composed and watching the interviews with the Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki.

SYNOPSIS

After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family’s estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events leads him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron.

When Mahito's new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world and the truth about himself.

The Boy & The Heron on 4K UHD and Blu-Ray

The Boy and The Heron, from legendary Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away), is available on 4K UHD + Blu-Ray™ ($34.98), Blu-Ray™ + DVD and in a Limited Edition Steelbook™ ($44.98) that includes 4K UHD™ + Blu-Ray™™, featuring Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos for the ultimate home entertainment experience.

This is the first title from Studio Ghibli to ever be released on 4K UHD.

Contains the film in its original Japanese language with English subtitles, as well as in the new English-language version featuring the voices of Christian Bale, Dave Bautista, Gemma Chan, Willem Dafoe, Karen Fukuhara, Mark Hamill, Robert Pattinson and Florence Pugh.

Special Features include feature-length storyboards, an interview with Golden Globe®-nominated composer Joe Hisaishi, an interview with Academy Award®-winning producer and Studio Ghibli co-founder Toshio Suzuki, an interview and drawing featurette with Annie Award-winning supervising animator Takeshi Honda, the music video for the film’s theme song “Spinning Globe” from global J-Pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu, and teasers and trailers.

The hand-drawn, animated feature – director Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years – is an original story written and directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, produced by co-founder Toshio Suzuki, and featuring a musical score from Miyazaki’s long-time collaborator Joe Hisaishi.

Its theme song, “Spinning Globe,” was written and performed by global J-pop superstar Kenshi Yonezu.

Shout! Studios Anime Gift Ideas

While I highlighted "The Boy and The Heron", there's so many more Shout! Studios anime films to enjoy. Here are some of my top picks.


THE DARK CRYSTAL 4K UHD, Blu-Ray™ (Limited Edition Collector’s Set) RELEASE DATE: November 19, 2024
SRP: $99.98

THE DARK CRYSTAL Limited Edition Collector’s Set includes a glass replica of the shard (1:1) from the movie, five art cards, a 28-page book with a new essay, production stills, concept art by Brian Froud, a collectible sticker, insightful bonus content, and stunning 4K UHD™ and Blu-ray™ of THE DARK CRYSTAL.

All are housed in a gorgeous box with wrap-around art featuring original concept art from the movie and a lid flap that opens to a window display of the chard.

From the brilliant imagination of Jim Henson, this puppetry work of genius recounts the timeless tales of good versus evil, becoming a cult favorite around the world. Travel back in time to the faraway planet of Thra where evil Skeksis are in control and the Gelfling Jen, the last of his kind, is sent on a quest by the peaceful Mystics to find the missing shard that will restore balance and heal the world.


EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME Blu-Ray™ [Limited Edition Steelbook] from GKIDS
RELEASE DATE: July 2, 2024
SRP: $36.98

From legendary director Hideaki Anno, EVANGELION:3.0+1.11 THRICE UPON A TIME is the fourth and final installment of the REBUILD OF EVANGELION films, bringing an epic conclusion to the story of Shinji and his fellow Eva pilots, with the stunning visuals and thought-provoking storytelling that has made EVANGELION a global pop culture phenomenon.

Misato and her anti-NERV group Wille arrive at Paris, a city now red from core-ization. Crew from the flagship Wunder land on a containment tower. They only have 720 seconds to restore the city. When a horde of NERV Evas appear, Mari's improved Eva Unit 8 must intercept. Meanwhile, Shinji, Asuka, and Rei (Provisional Name) wander about Japan.


Great Pretender: The Complete Series Blu-Ray™ [Deluxe Edition]
RELEASE DATE: March 12, 2024
SRP: $159.98

Self-styled “Japan's greatest swindler” Makoto Edamura is mainly targeting elder people and occasional foreign travelers. But when he tries to scam an apparently clueless French tourist in Tokyo, he can't possibly imagine that what looked like just another ordinary job is going to take him all the way to Los Angeles, tied upside-down on the famous Hollywood sign... And he is yet to find out what fate awaits him.

This highly anticipated 5-Disc Blu-ray collection comes housed in a visually striking slipcase and collects all 23 thrilling episodes, insightful bonus features, 10 stunning art cards, a double-sided poster, and a 192-page art book!


Arcane League Of Legends: Season One 4K UHD + Blu-Ray™ [Limited Edition Steelbook] (4K UHD) from GKIDS
RELEASE DATE: October 8, 2024
SRP: $59.98

Set in the universe of the massively popular video game League of Legends, made by Riot Games and Fortiche Productions for Netflix. The series is co-created by Christian Linke and Alex Yee, and follows the origins of iconic League champions Vi and Jinx, as they become caught in the power struggle between the utopian city of Piltover and the oppressed underground city of Zaun.

Features a stunning Jinx-themed outer package, and contains the full nine-episode series presented across three 4K UHD discs, and an additional Blu-ray™ disc containing over three hours of bonus features.

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