Behind the world of men, hidden in the streets of Tokyo and invisible to passersby lies Jutengai, the world of beasts. Peopled by beings with the faces of animals, Jutengai has been booming since the Beast Lord announced he will withdraw to become reincarnated and is seeking a successor. There are two contenders: the popular Iôzen, accompanied by many disciples and the father of two children, and the solitary Kumatetsu, who is very powerful but feared by all. When the Beast Lord asks Kumatetsu to find a disciple before aspiring to become his successor, he goes to the world of men and meets Ren, 9, a runaway who has been living on the streets since the death of his mother. The child follows Kumatetsu to the other side for an extraordinary adventure…

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The Boy and the Beast has its weaknesses: its somewhat coarse plotlines, its somewhat long-winded dialog and a pace that is a little erratic in its second part. But the new film by Mamoru Hosoda, admired by fans of the genre for small delights such as Wolf Children, is above all a great and stunning spectacle, with a mad energy, full of amazing scenes of bravery and whirlwinds of fabulous colors. And because underneath its little stereotypical coming-of-age story, the film has a real heart, with deeply touching characters and special care given to the two heroes, The Boy and the Beast is highly recommended for all ages.