The Boy and the Heron (2023)

Luca Padovan: Mahito Maki

Photos 

Quotes 

• Kiriko : A gray heron once told me that all gray herons are liars. Is that a lie, or is it the truth?

  Mahito Maki : A lie.

  The Grey Heron : The truth.

• Noble Pelican : Young one... put me out of my misery. My wing is broken. I cannot fly.

  Mahito Maki : That's what you get for trying to attack the Warawara!

  Noble Pelican : We did not choose this life. My kind were brought to this hellscape so we could eat the Warawara. This sea... has few fish we can eat. **gasps** My kind... were all starving... We flew as high as we could, as high and far as our wings could carry us... but it always ended the same way. We could only reach this island. Now... our newborns are forgetting how to fly. We eat the Warawara... The Fire Maiden burns us...

  [Blood spills from his beak] 

  Noble Pelican : This sea here... is... cursed...

  [He dies] 

• The Grey Heron : [Mahito's mother has just dissolved into slime]  Oh, that was one of my better creations! Such a shame, really. It would have lasted longer if you hadn't touched her.

  Mahito Maki : How could you do something so cruel?

  The Grey Heron : If you like, I can always remake her.

  Mahito Maki : Stop it! You defy her memory!

  [aims at the Heron] 

  The Grey Heron : Shoot me! My heart is right here, but you've only got one arrow. So don't miss! Then it's *my* turn. And when it is, I'll take your arrogant, lying soul and heart and RIP IT OUT!