Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
Kyuta, a boy living in Shibuya, and Kumatetsu, a lonesome beast from Jutengai, an imaginary world. One day, Kyuta forays into the imaginary world and, as he's looking for his way back, meets Kumatetsu who becomes his spirit guide. That encounter leads them to many adventures.
The Boy and the Beast is a visually inventive anime from Mamoru Hosoda with rich world-building between Shibuya and the beast realm. The animation and cinematography are genuinely exceptional, with vibrant action sequences and striking creature design. The father-son surrogate relationship at its core is emotionally resonant but follows a fairly familiar coming-of-age arc. The ending rushes its resolution and introduces a somewhat awkward third-act antagonist involving a 'darkness within' that feels underdeveloped and abrupt compared to the stronger character work earlier. Voice performances are solid throughout. Novelty sits in the middle — the dual-world concept and beast society are imaginative but the overall premise treads well-worn Hosoda territory of family and belonging.