Thanks for the memories!

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

Best movie of this year hands down!

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

A beautifully animated adventure that's (almost) perfectly told. Yes, "The Boy and the Beast" has an epic story that, in my opinion, is not as epic as it thinks (especially in acts 2 & 1). The character arcs were on point and the movie, most of the time, is very fun to watch. I did have a couple of major problems with the movie:1.) Kaede is JUST a love interest. She was introduced late in the movie making her the obvious love interest for Kyuuta/Ren. That was her only purpose.2.) Why does Ichirohiko look like a beautiful girl!? Had his brother not said that Ichirohiko is his brother, I would not realize that Ichirohiko is a guy.(((VAGUE SPOILERS FOR NUMBER 3))) 3.) Near the film's 90-minute mark, something unexpected happened. Unexpected because it was unlike the first hour and a half of the movie. It made me form a different (darker in tone) expectation for the film's last half hour. However, the ending is consistent (tone-wise) to what I formed prior to the "thing that happened unexpectedly." This. however, damaged the film for me. Despite the fact that it's consistent (tone-wise) with what I originally formed, I would've liked the darker (tone-wise) ending I formed after the "thing that happened unexpectedly."DESPITE THESE MAJOR PROBLEMS, I STILL LIKED"THE BOY AND THE BEAST."

Love anime, especially the best of Studio Ghibli (particularly the likes of 'Spirited Away' and 'Princess Mononoke'), and love animation in general.Having loved Mamoru Hoshoda's previous three films, it was inevitable that his latest film 'The Boy and the Beast' was highly anticipated. Was not let down, it may be Hoshoda's weakest film but that is just testament to how wonderful 'The Girl Who Leapt in Time' (my favourite), 'Summer Wars' and 'Wolf Children' are, though picking a favourite between them was difficult. Because 'The Boy and the Beast' is still a very good film, two thirds of it even being great. Is it the most original anime there is? No, there are some familiar tropes here though in no way is this a bad thing. Have these tropes been executed a little more imaginatively elsewhere? Sure. Does 'The Boy and the Beast' still do a good job with these tropes and the storytelling? Absolutely.It is somewhat a shame that the final third is not as good as the first two acts. The pacing does lose its excitement while the storytelling itself becomes rushed (especially the main villain's reveal that comes rather suddenly and doesn't feel explored enough) and jumpy, meaning that the film loses some of its cohesiveness.On the other hand, the animation is amazing. The way it's designed is almost realistically photographic, while there are some inventive shots, very natural character designs and gorgeously detailed and real-looking background art with a great contrast between the vibrant pastel colours of Jutengai and the drabness of Shibuya. The music score is a mix of rousing and melancholic, always easy on the ears and at times dream-like.'The Boy and the Beast' was clearly written with a lot of thought and insight, and balances the funny and poignant moments beautifully. The story has familiar but universal tropes and very relevant and relatable themes (love, friendship and peace being the big ones), executing them very intelligently and inventively gripping. It's nearly always entertaining and it's touching too, with something for everyone of any age and gender.Characters are very well-written and interesting, never being too black and white, too perfect or stereotypical. These are characters with flaws but also with enough to make one want to identify with them. The conflicts, in individual characterisation and with how the characters interact, are very believable and delivered with tension. More could have been done with the main villain perhaps but this didn't bother me.Voice acting is very dynamic and fit the characters very well.Overall, very good film that may be Hosoda's weakest out of a very strong filmography but is more a beauty than it is a beast. 8/10 Bethany Cox

Mamoru Hosoda is arguably one of the best filmmakers working in animation today. And nowhere is that more clear than in the Boy in the Beast. Coming off fresh from other fantastic animated films such as The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Wolf Children, Hosoda crafts a funny, compelling, bittersweet, and well animated tale about mentorship and confronting your demons.The struggles the main characters go through is done in a way that's both plausible and implausible at the same time. I really love films that allow you to relate to a character's dilemmas in a way you wouldn't expect. I also really love the relationship between the titular characters. I normally don't get into relationships that are mostly shouting and arguing, but the two share a relationship more reminiscent of a bickering father and son rather than something more obnoxious or dark. Both characters have their flaws that you would think would make them unlikable, but each has their own reasoning for being how they are and either side is completely understandable and relatable. As the film progresses, you slowly learn that both characters are on the same side of the same coin.Its only downfall in my opinion is the third act. Without giving anything away, it's fine for what it is, but it mainly came off as kinda forced and not explored quite as well as some of the other aspects of the film. It's not terrible and it doesn't really harm the film as a whole, I feel it would've come off a lot stronger if it was explored a lot more.But besides that, I absolutely freaking loved The Boy and the Beast. Mamoru Hosoda truly is gifted with the craft of telling stories through Japanese animation. Many people have been referring to him as the next Hayao Miyazaki. But honestly, I don't think that's necessarily true. Both are great directors and both have this wonderful ability to take realtivley dumb ideas and somehow make them plausible. But Hosoda is something entirely different. I connect to his films in a different way than I do Miyazaki's. Each has their own style and their own means of forming a connection with their audience. And this film truly connected with me.

I hope Mamoru-san can read this :)I'm a huge fan of your works. Wolf Children is my 2nd most favorite movie (not just animated, all movies) the first is How to Train your Dragon 1.The Boy and the Beast ReviewGood The pacing is perfect. You are never too fast or too slow. Always perfect The characters are great. The setting is absolute brilliant, So is the animation.The movie is great during the early parts. (SPOILER-Alert) Until the main antagonist is reveal (darkness). It not well establish, a bit rushed. The ending felt a little cheesy. Overall, it left me with a nice smile after watching. But compared to your previous works, it don't have that 'Its great to be alive' feelingMy Opinion (HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD) If I rank all your movies, The Boy and the Beast is in the last place. I observe your at your best when a strong female character is involve. For wolf children and Girl leap through time, it was the protagonist. For summer wars, it was the Head of the clan. Also, as a fellow storyteller, I think the way started (which is great) makes the ending a bit hard to execute. This is a boy/beast or father/son relationship. In a typical boy/beast story, the beast is either accepted by the society (How to Train you Dragon) or not accepted (Iron giant). This cannot be done in Kumatetsu because doesn't live in the human world.For a Father/Son story, it usually ends with the son making his father proud and they continue their life but with better relationship. In that kind old ending, Kyuuta will have to stay in Shibuten. But the most conclusive ending is Kyuuta leaving Shibuten (which means also leaving Kumatetsu) and return to the Human World. So your left with a Son-leaves-father ending. Those kind of ending are very hard to execute. It requires a lot of building up. But your left with very little time because you used a lot of it in World Introduction and creating a clear distinction between Human and Beast realm.I conclude that the plot of The Boy and the Beast requires more than 2 hrs to be executed properly. There is too little time for a Son-leaving-Father ending. So you decided Kumatetsu being in Kyuuta's heart as the ending (which I think felt a bit cheesy). Overall, The Boy and the Beast is great. 8 out of 10. It has its moments. The story is just to much for a 2hr movie