The popular anime “The Boy and the Beast” premiered an English dub of the acclaimed film ahead of its release on March 4. The film is an anime original by Mamoru Hosoda, telling the story of 9-year-old Ren, who becomes a runaway after the death of his mother. Ren is filled with a pent-up hatred for society, but finds solace after accidentally escaping the human world to a place known as “Jūtengai” or the beast kingdom. Ren then takes on the apprentice role of Kumatetsu, a potential successor to the lord of the beast kingdom realm.

Almost instantly, the film tackles multiple themes and subjects that cater to humanity as a whole, sometimes juggling more than they bargained for. A major plot line throughout “The Boy and the Beast” is the concept of family. After his mother’s death and a distant father, Ren struggles growing up without that essential parental figure. When Kumatetsu comes into the story, it provides potential to show a familial bond that strays from a standard blood relative. It spends a majority of the film dealing with the inner turmoil of the two, while building a bond that strongly resembles a father and son. Ren begins to struggle with this connection and an unpredictable return of his father, but isn’t an entirely effective reveal. This is a central problem for “The Boy and the Beast” by introducing issues with grieving or coping, but missed opportunities to spend time following through with those plans.

Something that can divide viewer’s reactions is the drastic shift in direction at the film’s midpoint. The first half could be described as a comedy with dramatic subtleties until completely shifting to a strictly dramatic film. Had there been innuendos to lead to the alternative second act, “The Boy and the Beast” would achieve more success in its execution. The most jarring angle that the anime film takes is the villain’s debut so late into the plot. Not only is Ren’s rival unexpected, but additionally feels unnecessary for the final product. On a more positive note, Kumatetsu’s easily the most well written character of the film as the introverted and determined beast. Seeing his over-protective parental traits develop was the most believable and charming inclusions to the anime. Ren was regarded as the film’s protagonist, but his consistent ungrateful attitude made Kumatetsu the true MVP.

The films animation both managed to hinder and enhance the overall quality of Hosoda’s newest project. The design of the human world was a strong perk of the anime, however the designs of most creatures weren’t particularly satisfying to the wavering artistic direction. The English voice cast captured the genuine emotions that the film hopes to depict, and can’t be faulted for its noteworthy production value. “The Boy and the Beast” may have included structural flaws, but the depth of human emotion and focus on family made the film worth seeing when it hits theaters next month!