Films The Boy and the Beast

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The Boy and the Beast poster

Film · 2015

The Boy and the Beast

Original titleBakemono no Ko (The Boy and the Beast)

Directed by Mamoru Hosoda · starring Koji Yakusho, Aoi Miyazaki and Shota Sometani

  • 1 h 59 min
  • PG
  • Animation · Fantasy · Family
  • Japan
  • Released in the UK 6 July 2017
  • 7.3 AverageMovieNCo
  • 7.3 Users5 votes
  • 7.3 Critics10 reviews
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Synopsis

Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Mamoru Hosoda, director of films like 'Summer Wars',' Wolf Children' and 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time'. The great Japanese filmmaker follows his trail to tell a fable full of action and adventure. Kyuta is a lonely boy who lives in Tokyo, Kumatetsu is a creature with supernatural powers who lives completely isolated in a world of fantasy. As fate, one day the little boy gets across the border that separates the two worlds and he meets Kumatetsu, which he befriends and becomes a faithful pupil who sees the creature a spiritual guide and an almost paternal figure. With Kametatsu, Kyuta learns martial arts and the art of good living for themselves. New film directed by Mamoru Hosoda became the first animated film to compete in the Official Selection of San Sebastian Film Festival.

Where to watch The Boy and the Beast

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Available now in the UK:

Availability checked on 8 November 2026.

The essentials

Runtime
119 min1 hour and 59 minutes
Rating
PGParental guidance
How long is The Boy and the Beast?
1 hour and 59 minutes (119 minutes).
When was The Boy and the Beast released in the UK?
It was released in the UK on 6 July 2017.
Who directed The Boy and the Beast?
Mamoru Hosoda.
Who is in The Boy and the Beast?
It stars Koji Yakusho, Aoi Miyazaki, Shota Sometani and Suzu Hirose.
Where can I watch The Boy and the Beast?
In the UK it is available to rent on Apple TV and Prime Video.
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Cast

Full cast (22)
Director
Mamoru Hosoda
Writers
Mamoru Hosoda
Producers
Shin'ichirô Inoue, Minami Ichikawa, Takuya Itô, Daisuke Kadoya

Videos and trailers

See the video
'The Boy and the Beast' English sub Official Trailer 1:3425 November 2015

Photos and posters

All 19 photos

Reviews

All 10 reviews
7.3 5 votes
  • 1020 %
  • 90 %
  • 840 %
  • 720 %
  • 60 %
  • ≤520 %

What the critics say average 7.3 from 10 outlets

  • 9.0 Los Angeles TimesCharles Solomon Hosoda brings emotional depth to what could easily have become a formulaic martial arts saga. Instead, 'The Boy and the Beast' is a bracing tale of two flawed individuals who find the love and… Read
  • 8.0 VarietyPeter Debruge Though it piles all sorts of emotional baggage onto a series of already-tired believe-in-yourself cliches, Hosoda?s over-complicated script has the virtue of expressing itself less via words than it… Read
  • 6.3 The Washington PostPat Padua Despite the film?s fantastical elements, his choice is easy: The human conflicts are more resonant. In ?The Boy and the Beast,? man must overcome his natural impulses of darkness and vengeance Read

Soundtrack

See the song
  1. Starting OverArranged, Mr.Children Spotify

Trivia

  • 'The Boy and the Beast' is an Oscar contender for best animated feature in 2016.

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