The Boy and the Beast is the story of an orphan boy named Ren who stumbles into 'Jutengai', the mystical world inhabited by beasts. He soon undergoes training from Kumatestu, a surly and sloppy but strong beast warrior who is in competition with another warrior, Ioza, for the title of lord following the retiring of the current lord. Despite getting off to a rough start, over the next few years Ren (renamed Kyuta by Kumatestu) trains under Kumatestu and both form a unique bond as they learn how to conquer each other's negative qualities and learn about true strength and love.This movie was stunning visual feast. It reminded me of Studio Ghibli's works in the sense that this movie is reminiscent of some of Ghibli's finest like Spirited Away and The Cat Returns. The sense of magical realism is in play as Ren crosses between the world of beasts and Shibuya in Tokyo, Japan. This movie, like some of Studio Ghibli's output, has a lot of heart and you will love the characters. The story is well told, as Ren goes through the struggle to overcome the darkness and hate he experienced as a boy and with the help of the beasts and people in his life, he is able to emerge victorious. As the film states, we are all capable of feeling darkness, and the fact that you can overcome the darkness and come out better because of the hardships life throws at you shows that there is always hope, and where we find strength. This was a fantastic movie, and one you should recommend to friends and family!!