The Boy and the Beast 4K 2015

“The Boy and the Beast” is a heartwarming yet spectacular film by Hosoda about finding a family. A boy who ran away from Tokyo after his mother’s death finds himself in a world of beast-people and becomes the apprentice of Kumate, a rough but lonely warrior—their constant bickering gradually gives way to a genuine “father-son” bond. The first half is pure joy: humor, training, a fantastical city of beasts, and beautiful fight animation; the second half offers more drama about growing up, the choice between the human and “beast” worlds, and the hero’s inner darkness. The film looks fantastic in 4K: the detailed rendering of the city backgrounds and the rich colors in the scenes set in the world of beasts really come to life, making this a very worthy release for fans of anime and Hosoda’s work (Wolf Children, Summer Wars).