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The Boy and the Beast

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description The Boy and the Beast Overview

Two souls, living very different lives, wander alone and isolated in their respective worlds. For nine-year-old Ren, the last person who treated him with any form of kindness has been killed, and he is shunned by what is left of his family. With no parents, no real family, and no place to go, Ren escapes into the confusing streets and alleyways of Shibuya. Through the twists and turns of the alleys, Ren stumbles into the intimidating Kumatetsu, who leads him to the beast realm of Shibuten.

For Kumatetsu, the boy represents a chance for him to become a candidate to replace the lord of the realm once he retires. While nearly unmatched in combat, Kumatetsu's chilly persona leaves him with no di...

help The Boy and the Beast FAQ

Why does Ren become Kyuta in The Boy and the Beast?

Ren runs away in Shibuya after his mother's death and enters the beast world of Jutengai. Kumatetsu takes him in as a disciple and gives him the name Kyuta because Ren is 9 years old when they meet.

Who directed The Boy and the Beast?

The Boy and the Beast was written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda and produced by Studio Chizu. It was released in Japan in 2015, after Wolf Children and before Mirai.

How long is The Boy and the Beast?

The film runs about 120 minutes. That gives it room to be both a martial arts mentor story with Kumatetsu and a coming-of-age drama about Ren reconnecting with the human world.

Is The Boy and the Beast connected to Belle or Wolf Children?

It is not a story sequel to Belle or Wolf Children, but all three are Mamoru Hosoda films from Studio Chizu's feature run. The shared connection is Hosoda's focus on family, identity, and young people crossing between ordinary life and a heightened world.

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