More Images of Miyazaki’s ‘The Boy and the Heron’ [Updated]

UPDATED: We have some official images of the film (below). I’m hearing a U.S. release date will be announced this week …

EARLIER: And here are the first images —finally — of Hayao Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron.” The promotional booklet was released today in Japan, these images were taken by Catsuka.

There are only a handful of them, but it’s better than nothing. The film has been in Japanese theaters for four weeks now and we’re finally getting these images.

Earlier this summer, Studio Ghibli presudeng Toshio Suzuki made the decision decision not to promote “The Boy and the Heron” in Japan — with no poster, image or trailer released.

Suzuki spoke about the production costs of Miyazaki’s “The Boy and the Heron,” which, it turns out, is the most expensive Japanese movie ever produced:

"I think this movie probably cost the most to produce than any movie made in Japan so far."

This would exceed the $53 million it took to produce 2013’s "The Tale of Princess Kaguya". Mitazaki’s film took about seven years to complete. ‘Kaguya’ was actually a box office failure in Japan, netting about half of its budget.

So far, “The Boy Has Made has made about $50 million in Japan, and we don’t really know how much it’s budget was, but it will probably recuperate back its budget as I doubt it cost much more than ‘Kaguya’

There have been mixed reactions in Japan for, supposedly, Miyazaki’s final film — some are calling it his masterpiece while others whined because Miyazaki didn't give them a simple, easily digestible film.