The Boy and the Heron S01

During the Pacific War in Tokyo, 11-year-old Mitsuo loses his mother, Hisko, in a hospital fire. Mitsuo's father, Shuichi, who owns an aircraft munitions factory, marries his sister-in-law, Natsumi, and they move to their rural property. Mitsuo, alongside pregnant Natsumi, encounters a gigantic, gray, and eerie fish-eating bird that leads him to a sealed tower, the last known location and legacy of Natsumi's uncle, an architect. After a fight at school, Mitsuo intentionally injures himself. The bird, now speaking, tempts Mitsuo with the promise of finding his mother. Despite his doubts and skepticism, Mitsuo feels compelled to find out if the strange bird is telling the truth. Mitsuo's efforts lead him and his stepmother to the depths of the forest, transporting them to a fantastical realm where dreams and reality are intertwined.