The Boy and the Beast

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The Boy and the Beast

PG-13

2016

1h 59m

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Anime

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Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

90%

Tomatometer

67 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Kyuta slips into an alternate universe where he is raised by a bear-man, Kumatetsu. Kyuta is eventually thrust into an adventure which spans both worlds.

Critics Consensus

The Boy and the Beast combines familiar parts to create a gripping, beautifully animated adventure with inventive storytelling to match its visual appeal.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

Aug 15, 2017

4/5

[Its] familiar beats cunningly coalesce into an elaborate plot, set to Takagi Masakatsu's bustling score.

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Johanna Schneller

Globe and Mail

May 27, 2016

2.5/4

The soundscape is rich, and the beast-battles well executed. But the characters never develop beyond their two-word descriptors: Conflicted Boy, Lonely Girl, Angry Son, etc.

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Sandra Hall

Sydney Morning Herald

Mar 10, 2016

3/5

The whole thing displays that combination of visual flair and wildly inventive storytelling that distinguishes Japanese animation from the rest of the field.

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Douglas Davidson

Elements of Madness

Aug 18, 2025

... not only are there stories beyond our borders worth seeing, but that not all animation is strictly for young children. Sometimes they’re for mature audiences ready to go on a fantastical adventure that may just heal the hole in your heart.

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MaryAnn Johanson

Flick Filosopher

Nov 30, 2020

A few instances of gorgeous and magical imagery cannot make up for the lack of genuine emotion or a fresh story.

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Rachel Wagner

Rotoscopers

Feb 11, 2019

4/5

The martial arts sequences look very bold and captivating, and all the animation is rendered beautifully.

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Goose R.

@rodrigug Apr 6, 2026

Kyuta is a young orphan boy that runs away and lives in the street until he is found by a anthropomorphic bear that’s a king fu master and takes him as an apprentice to the world of the beast. Where there seems to be all kinds of anthropomorphic beasts that appear to have a pesciteraan diet. It’s a feel good story with a good message. Good animation sequences too 🍿🍿🍿🍿/5 on Hulu

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Alessandro A

@RT14928326 Oct 20, 2025

Great visuals, compelling story. I can only recommend it.

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Dave H

@GridGlory Aug 27, 2025

User reviews on this site, are useless. What do you think Stephen C’s deal is? Stick with the critic reviews!

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Chief B

@YouKnowImRight Aug 24, 2025

I read it too fast and thought it was The Boy And The Priest. I just started laughing.

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Stephen C

@bob25009 Aug 6, 2025

Success in 1 hour and 59 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG-13 for Some Violence and Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $446,100.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Feb 8, 2021

I expected more magic things from an anime like this with a director like that.

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Mamoru Hosoda

Director

Kumiko Asô

Kyuta's Mother

Rirî Furankî

Monk Momoaki

Suzu Hirose

Kaede

Haru Kuroki

Young Ichirohiko

Mamoru Miyano

Ichirohiko

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Synopsis

Kyuta slips into an alternate universe where he is raised by a bear-man, Kumatetsu. Kyuta is eventually thrust into an adventure which spans both worlds.

Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Producer: Atsushi Chiba, Takuya Itô, Genki Kawamura, Yuichiro Sato
Distributor: Funimation
Production Co: Nippon Television Network, Studio Chizu, Kadokawa Pictures, Inc.
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Language)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Anime
Original Language: Japanese
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 4, 2016, Limited
Rerelease Date (Theaters): Aug 18, 2025
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 7, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $446.1K
Runtime: 1h 59m

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