Hayao Miyazaki apologized to ‘The Boy and the Heron’ star for giving him ‘such a strange role’

In EW’s exclusive video preview, Masaki Suda, who voices the titular bird in the Japanese version, says he studied videos of real herons for the voice role.

Before the end of this year, audiences around the world will have the chance to watch a new film from animation master Hayao Miyazaki. Contrary to The wind picks uphis new job The boy and the heron is a fantasy epic in the vein of his past masterpieces like Taken away as if by magic — but even stranger.

Don’t take our word for it. Watch EW’s exclusive English-dubbed clip (above) of a conversation between actor Masaki Suda, who plays the titular bird in the Japanese version, and musician Kenshi Yonezu, who sings the theme song “Spinning Globe.” The conversation was recorded and aired in Japan, but GKIDS will now share the video in theaters during Ghibli Fest screenings. Taken away as if by magic.

According to Suda, Miyazaki lightheartedly apologized for some of the film’s weirder elements, like his character! “He said, ‘Sorry for giving you such a weird role,'” Suda says. “But it wasn’t a problem at all.”

A strange role indeed. The Boy and the Heron The story follows a young boy named Mahito, who mourns the death of his mother as his father takes him to live with his new stepmother. While acclimating, he encounters a mysterious grey heron, who begins to talk to Mahito and even taunt him. Soon, the creature draws him into another world shared by the living and the dead.

The original Japanese version of the film stars Soma Santoki as Mahito alongside the Heron played by Suda. The English voice cast includes Luca Padovan as the boy and Robert Pattinson as the bird.

To succeed in his role, Suda studied the sounds of real herons… only to discover that they make “really strange sounds, or rather noises.” So he tried a few different vocal accents and left it up to the master to decide.

“I didn’t really know how to go about it. I tried different voices and had discussions with the other woman in the production,” recalls Suda. “Hayao Miyazaki himself had not spoken until then. But there was some tension, because he was listening. And then, as I was trying out different voices, I heard him say, “That’s it!” »

“Like the voice of God from above?” Yonezu asks.

“Yes exactly!” Suda responds. “From that moment on, everything was quick.”

Yonezu also spoke about working with the animation legend. “Honestly, I thought I was going to die,” he says of the creative process. “I got to the point where I didn’t know what was right anymore. I have always worked alone at home, in my studio, composing songs on my own. Like a crane weaving, I have always worked alone. This time I was so lost. »

The musician and composer calls it “so overwhelming” to see all the elements that had to come together for the music, but adds: “Seeing (Miyazaki) sitting right there in front of me, listening to him… He even cried . »

The boy and the heron opens in select theaters in New York and Los Angeles on November 22 and premieres on December 8. Watch the full clip above.

Want more information about cinema? Register to Weekly EntertainmentThe free newsletter of to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, movie reviews and much more.

Related content:

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly.