在伊哈特卜北部某座大森林中,古斯柯布多力(小栗旬 配音)和父亲(林隆三 配音)、母亲(草刈民代 配音)以及妹妹妮莉(忽那汐里 配音)过着幸福宁静的生活。某一年,严寒席卷森林,饥饿让此地的生灵们倍受煎熬。布多力的父母相继消失在森林深处,只剩下他和年幼的妹妹相依为命。某个不祥的夜晚,神秘的黑猫(佐佐木藏之介 配音)抢走妹妹。孤独的布多力行走天下,在天蚕丝工厂、红胡子的农田饱经历练,并辗转来到一座繁华的城市求学。他师从癫狂博学的古伯博士(柄本明 配音),并在伊哈特卜火山局谋得职位,这一事件由此改变了布多力的一生…… 本片根据宫泽贤治带有自传性质的同名童话改编。Gusuko Budori lives happily with his little sister, father and mother. When the cold hits the Ihatobu Forest they are invaded and, with his family killed, he is left alone. He begins working in a geological laboratory and attempts to move forward, but with another spell of cold coming he knows he has to make sure what happened before is not repeated.