Studio Ghibli has announced its first animated movie to be released in 4K HDR through online storefronts in June and on UHD Blu-ray in July.

The Boy and the Heron will be the first movie from Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki to be released in 4K, but hopefully not the last.

Studio Ghibli is known for a long list of critically acclaimed animation movies such as Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, Castle in the Sky and Grave of the Fireflies. The Boy and the Heron premiered last year in cinemas and IMAX – also a first for Studio Ghibli.

- "Fresh off a historic Academy Award win for Best Animated Feature, the latest and long awaited cinematic masterpiece from the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, The Boy and the Heron, will be released July 9 on 4K UHD + Blu-ray, Blu-ray + DVD, and in a Limited Edition Steelbook that includes 4K UHD + Blu-ray, featuring Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos for the ultimate home entertainment experience from GKIDS with home entertainment distribution from Shout! Studios. This is the first title from Studio Ghibli to ever be released on 4K UHD," the partners announced via press release.


Online first, UHD Blu-ray later
The Boy and the Heron will be released in 4K Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on all major digital platforms, including Amazon, Apple and Fandango at Home (Vudu), starting June 25 in the US. The release date for other regions may vary.


 The Boy and the Heron on UHD Blu-ray, Blu-ray and a Limited Edition Steelbook with UHD Blu-ray. Photo: GKIDS

It will be available on physical formats, including UHD Blu-ray, on July 9 in the US. Again, the release date for other regions may vary. It can be pre-ordered on Amazon.com here.

Dolby Atmos will be available for both the original Japanese audio track and the English dubbed audio track.

The hand-drawn, animated feature – director Miyazaki’s first feature film in 10 years – is written and directed by Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki.

The Boy and the Heron - special features
- Feature-Length Storyboards
- Interview with Composer Joe Hisaishi
- Interview with Producer Toshio Suzuki
- Interview with Supervising Animator Takeshi Honda
- Drawing with Takeshi Honda
- “Spinning Globe” Music Video
- Teasers & Trailers 
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