“The Boy and the Heron” will be screened at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Tuesday.

The Cinema Series at the 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center continues with the “The Boy and the Heron.” Nominated for the Best Animated Feature Oscar, it will be screened on Saturday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.

From the legendary Studio Ghibli and Academy Award-winning director Hayao Miyazaki comes a new critically-acclaimed animated fantasy adventure. After losing his mother during the war, young Mahito moves to his family’s estate in the countryside. There, a series of mysterious events lead him to a secluded and ancient tower, home to a mischievous gray heron. When Mahito’s new stepmother disappears, he follows the gray heron into the tower, and enters a fantastic world shared by the living and the dead. As he embarks on an epic journey with the heron as his guide, Mahito must uncover the secrets of this world, and the truth about himself.

RogerEbert.com calls the film “gorgeous, ruminative, and mesmerizing, one of the best of 2023.” AARP Movies for Grownups calls it “a visually thrilling story that represents the very best in bold contemporary animation and popular art.” Rated PG-13 for smoking, bloody images, and some violent content, “The Boy and the Heron” runs two hours, four minutes.

Tickets are available at the door for $7 (adults), $6.50 (seniors & Opera House members) and $5 (students) the night of each screening. The Opera House is equipped with assistive listening headsets for the hearing-impaired. Simply request one from any usher or staff member.

The Opera House Cinema Series is generously sponsored by Lake Shore Savings Bank. In addition, Opera House programming is made possible by the United Arts Appeal of Chautauqua County.

The 1891 Fredonia Opera House Performing Arts Center is a member-supported not-for-profit performing arts center with a mission to “present the performing arts for the benefit of our community and region … providing access to artistic diversity … and high quality programming at an affordable price.” It is located in Village Hall in downtown Fredonia. For a complete schedule of events, visit www.fredopera.org.