'The Boy and the Heron' is coming to Netflix

Good news for Studio Ghibli fans! The Boy and the Heron, the latest film in Studio Ghibli's repository, will be streaming on Netflix later this year.

While a specific date is yet to be announced, The Boy and Heron is an addition to Netflix's impressive Studio Ghibli library: the streaming platform is home to many gems from the Japanese animation studio's collection, from Spirited Away to Kiki’s Delivery Service to My Neighbor Totoro.

Netflix has extended its streaming rights to the studio's works, which are available to watch across countries in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America. The films are not present, however, on Netflix in the U.S. or Japan — but you could always use a VPN. Max has bagged the streaming rights for the film in the U.S., with a date also set for later this year.

The Boy and the Heron, depicted in creator Hayao Miyazaki's signature hand-drawn style, won major praise and critical acclaim following its release in December, bagging awards at this year's Academy Awards and Golden Globes. The Oscar-winning Best Animated Feature Film is Miyazaki's comeback after a 10-year hiatus from feature films, once again exploring loss, childhood, adventures, and the fantastical. As Mashable's Kristy Puchko wrote, the film is "visually lush" and a "heady exploration of grief and acceptance", ultimately leaving viewers to enjoy what is "lovingly layered, visually riveting, and ruthlessly sincere."

Fans clearly haven't gotten enough — post its initial theatrical run, the film is also returning for a re-release in theatres across North America, as announced by New York-based distributor GKIDS.