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The Boy and The Heron became a worldwide sensation at the time of its release. There were many characters in it, who caught fans’ attention, but the Great Uncle stood out for his headstrong beliefs and his domineering presence. The character wouldn’t have been nearly as convincing without Shohei Hino, the actor who played him in the film.

Mahito and the Great Uncle in The Boy and The Heron | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Unfortunately, Hino passed away on November 14th at the age of 75. While his performance as the Great Uncle undoubtedly left an indelible mark, it was not all he was known for. Hino had dabbled with everything from acting and music to theater and voice acting. Fans knew him from his different creative endeavors in life. There was no limit to his talents and he brought various characters and art forms to life with brilliance.

Shohei Hino Passes...

Exclusive: Here’s first-footage of Paris-set chef drama Grande Maison Paris, the standalone feature spinoff from the world of Japanese hit series La Grande Maison: Tokyo.

Set in the high stakes world of Parisian culinary excellence, the film is led by Japanese star Takuya Kimura (Blade of the Immortal) reprising his lead role from the series, and popular Korean actor and rapper from band2PM Ok Taec-yeon (Hansan: Rising Dragon).

Three Michelin star Japanese chef Kei Kobayashi (of Paris restaurant Kei) created the film’s cuisine. Pic gets its world premiere at the upcoming San Sebastián Film Festival.

Toho will release in Japan. Sony Pictures International Productions will release in France, with London and Paris-based finance, production and sales company Film Constellation handling international sales.

The official synopsis reads: “Famous Japanese chef Obana (Takuya Kimura) opens a new restaurant in Paris in the quest for his elusive third Michelin star.

Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia’s high-anticipated “The Platform 2,” the Basque director’s follow-up to Netflix mega-hit “The Platform,” will world premiere this September at the San Sebastián film festival, closing its culinary section.

Subject of a high-profile acquisition by Netflix at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival, engineered by CAA Media Finance, XYZ Films and Latido Films, “The Platform” has gone on to shoot to the near top of Netflix’s chart of non-English film hits on record, now featuring as No. 5 with 82.8 million views, thanks to its terrorific mix of futurist dystopian sci-f and redolent social allegory wrapped in a brutal survival thriller. That comes from the set-up: a vertical prison, with hundreds of floors, with every day a stone dumbwaiter descending with food left over from tenants above. Higher-level inmates gorge themselves; those below face starvation, suicide or cannibalism.

That structure looks to be retained in “The Platform 2,” set for release on Netflix on Oct.