The way I viewed The Boy and the Heron is as a contemplation on the legacy of Studio Ghibli and the irreplaceable visionary touch of Hayao Miyazaki. As potentially Miyazaki’s final project, the film subtly displays fears of Ghibli losing its enchanting touch post-Miyazaki, connoted by the movie’s own themes of transience and legacy. This melancholic connotation is a meditation on the irreplaceability of visionary leadership and the deep personal imprint Miyazaki has on his creations. The story holds onto the Ghibli tropes and charm and is very visually pleasing. Despite it being Miyazaki’s final project, it isn’t amongst his strongest as many people with weak insight won’t be able to comprehend the overarching message of the movie in their first viewing. But a very enjoyable watch nonetheless.