The Boy and the Beast: HOSODA Mamoru’s animated tale follows a nine-year-old boy who, after losing his mother, runs away from home, only to discover a hidden world inhabited by demi-human beasts. There, he meets a gruff warrior who takes him as his apprentice. The protagonist is a proud and angry kid. Still, his interaction with his master (as well as two other companions) is delightful, a showcase of how two wounded and flawed individuals can offer each other support. MIYAZAKI Aoi and SOMETANI Shoota play the protagonist at 9 and 17 years old, respectively, both quite well. YAKUSHO Kooji plays the gruff master with a good, well-projected gruff. The animation is excellent: character design is relatively simple, but all characters are detailed and distinctive, while the environments (both the recreation of Shibuya and other real-life locations, as well as the creation of fantastic Jutengai, the beast city) are amazingly detailed, colourful, and attractive.