Writer/Director Mamoru Hosoda’s The Boy and the Beast makes its 4K UHD debut in a beautiful Steelbook Edition from GKIDS.
The Film
The Boy and the Beast, like writer/director Mamoru Hosoda’s other films, delicately balance the fantasy world they are in and the drama and themes they deal with. The fantasy, though grandiose and wonderful, is there to reinforce the drama, allowing for searing topics to play out in an entertaining delivery system.
Ren, runs away from a family that has no place for him, after his mother’s tragic passing. On the streets of Tokyo, the young boy finds a portal into another dimension … the Beast Kingdom, where beings fight for supremacy and Godhood. Taken under the wing of Kumatetsu, whose battle against rival Iōzen has now transferred over to Iōzen’s sons and Ren. As the years pass, Ren finds himself drawn back to the human world and begins a struggle not only for his own future but for the future of both worlds.
One wishes that more filmmakers were adept at drawing such emotionally evocative fantasy tales as Hosoda. The Boy and the Beast is as much a rousing adventure film as it is a meditation on depression, trauma, and acceptance. The way that the film adeptly not just weaves these themes but makes them a vital part of each other so that one cannot work without the other is the magic of Hosoda’s best work (see similar fantasy films from Hosoda, Belle, and Wolf Children).
The way that he is able to handle those heavy, dark subjects comes from his deft touch when it comes to tone and knowing when lighter moments of brevity are needed. Ren’s training is filled with the kind of training sequences in the very best martial arts films, done with the right amount of humor (in the form of the rakish monkey Tatara). Those, coupled with the delicate romance between Ren and Kaede through their love of learning, give the kind of balance that makes the wonderfully staged big set pieces the necessary stakes that can often be missing from genre filmmaking in the wrong hands.
The Boy and the Beast represent the type of genre filmmaking we need more of.
The Transfer
The 4K presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible) of the film is another winner for GKIDS. The razor-sharp image is flawless without any compression issues or defects. Even in the most hectic of scenes, the transfer has a clarity that can only be produced in 4K UHD. The color reproduction and contrast level of detail are astounding in Dolby Vision. GKIDS has produced an all-around revelatory upgrade to the Blu-ray from 2016 (which was not a GKIDS release). Anime fans will not be disappointed.
The Extras
They include the following;
- Key Staff Commentary
- Cast Commentary
- Making Of The Boy And The Beast
- Promotional Video Collection
- Teasers & Trailers
This archival commentary track, listed as Key Staff Commentary, is hosted by Ryusuke Hikawa, a professor at Meiji University, featuring director Mamoru Hosoda, animation director Yamashita, and animation director Nishida. The commentary is a relaxed affair with Hikawa prompting questions to his subjects that range from the very technical to the artistically relevant. It is primarily a technical-based commentary track with Hosoda, Yamashita, and Nishida providing a wealth of information about not just the making of this film but of directing a technically complex full-length animated motion picture. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
The second archival commentary track is listed as a Cast Commentary, is hosted by writer Ko Furukawa, featuring actors Aoi Miyazaki (Kyuta), director Mamoru Hosoda. This track is more of a conversation about the story and voice work of the film, a more personal affair than the technical-based Key Staff Commentary track. They discuss both the challenges and joys that voice acting provides, their collaboration in the process, and much more. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Making Of The Boy And The Beast (43:44) – More movie studios could take note from the respect the Japanese have for the filmmaking process, and specifically animation. This making-of (along with multiple making-ofs that have been included on GKIDS releases) that cover the filmmaking process with respect and depth, the way that studios used to in the DVD heyday. Starting with the press conference announcement and ending with the film’s premiere around the world, this detailed look at not just the making of the film but the filmmaker himself and his work. The access given by Hosoda and Studio Chizu allows for a truly in-depth look at all aspects of making the film. Every aspect of the film, from development to R&D, to casting, to voice direction, editing, and post production, and finally release, is all discussed with the cast and crew. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Promotional Video Collection (27:08) – these 13 extended looks (ranging anywhere between 1 to 5 minutes long) are not necessarily trailers but are not promotional videos as they claim. More visual poems that look at certain aspects of the story. The last five look at the filmmaking process itself, giving a glimpse at the various production art and storyboards used to make the film. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
Teasers & Trailers – can be accessed through a submenu. Unfortunately, there isn’t a ‘play all’ function. In Japanese with English Subtitles.
- Trailer 1 (1:32)
- Trailer 2 (1:32)
- Teaser 1 (0:32)
- Teaser 2 (0:32)
- Teaser 3 (0:31)
- TV Spot 1 (0:17)
- TV Spot 2 (0:17)
- TV Spot 3 (0:17)
The Final Thought
GKIDs continues to release the very best in Anime. The Boy and the Beast in 4K UHD is the type of demo disc for why animation needs to be restored and transferred to the format. Highest Possible Recommendations!!