The Boy and the Beast

In this captivating animated film directed by Mamoru Hosoda, a young boy named Ren stumbles into a fantastical world inhabited by anthropomorphic beasts. He becomes the apprentice of a gruff warrior named Kumatetsu, and together they embark on a journey of self-discovery and growth. The film beautifully explores themes of family, identity, and the challenges of growing up. Notably, it was nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Animation of the Year. For those interested, the movie can be viewed on Soap2day for free.