DVD Corner

The Boy And The Beast 4K UHD Steelbook Review

“The Boy And The Beast” is lacking in the emotion department. 

Written and directed by Mamoru Hosoda (best known for “Belle,” “Summer Wars,” and “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”), 2015’s “The Boy And The Beast” is a Japanese anime film. The story begins with a 9 year old boy named Ren who runs away from home after the passing of his mother and his no show father. While on the streets, Ren meets the bear like Kumatetsu who is from another world entirely (the Beast Kingdom to be exact). Kumatetsu is trying to become the Lord of the Beast Kingdom and is in need of an apprentice. Ren follows him to the Beast Kingdom and is initially resistant to becoming his apprentice, Ren begins to form a bond with the warrior Kumatetsu. Ren begins to train with him and winds up staying in the Beast Kingdom for years. Now, in his teenage years, Ren returns to the human world and meets a student (Kaede), finds his father, and finds himself being torn between two worlds and not knowing who he really is. Ren soon discovers that he is not the only human who suffers similar turmoil when he learns about a human (Ichirōhiko) who also resides in the Beast Kingdom. Can Ren find peace? Will Kumatetsu become Lord? Will  Ichirōhiko pose a threat?

As a fan of Hosoda’s work (especially “Belle”), I was looking forward to checking out “The Boy And The Beast” which I had not previously seen before. Alongside filmmakers like Hayao Miyazaki, Hosoda has become one of the most celebrated anime directors who has a real penchant for world building. Indeed, ‘Beast’ contains a fully realized world full of detailed buildings, intricate character designs, and satisfying action thanks to Hosoda’s direction and Studio Chizu’s masterful animation work. Unfortunately, what ‘Beast’ really lacks is captivating characters.

On paper, “The Boy And The Beast” looks to have plenty of characterization and depth as the coming-of-age fantasy story explores subjects about family, connections, maturity, control, etc. For some folks out there, the story really might grab you and resonate with you, but for me, I couldn’t quite invest in the characters or their quests. In addition to the constant bickering between Ren and Kamatetsu, the story succumbs to all too familiar tropes involving powers, adversaries, master-apprentice dynamics, multiple worlds, and so forth. Any originality the story may have had is covered up by things we’ve all seen before in the world of anime. It’s a shame because there’s real potential within this tale. 

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? Expect a stunning transfer that features vibrant colors.

Audio Track: English and Japanese 5.1 DTS-HD MA. How do they sound? The English dub is average at best while the crisp original language Japanese track is clearly the best option.

Extras (On The Blu-ray):
* Blu-ray copy
* 2 trailers, 3 teasers and 3 TV spots
* Promotional video collection
* The Making Of The Boy And The Beast- 43 minute featurette with film clips, behind-the-scenes footage, Q&A footage and more.
* Key Staff Commentary by Ryusuke Hikawa (anime researcher/Professor), director Mamoru Hosoda, animation director Yamashita, and animation director Nishida.
* Cast commentary by moderator writer Ko Furukawa, voice actress Aoi Miyazaki, and director Mamoru Hosoda.

March 14, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Anime Film, Mamoru Hosoda, Steelbook, The Boy And The Beast 4K UHD Steelbook Review, The Boy And The Beast Movie