Spirited Away is one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli movies. It highlights the beauty of Hayao Miyazaki’s art, brings us a compelling array of characters, and ties it all together with a touch of magic. This is why we were so excited when a stage play adaptation of the movie came to life in Japan. And even though those of us in North America won’t yet get to see the show live, we will finally get to watch the Spirited Away play. Two filmed performances of Spirited Away: Live on Stage will head to screens in North America.
GKIDS, a producer and distributor of animation, has acquired the rights to distribute the show in North America. As mentioned, two filmed performances of the production will become available for our viewing pleasure. This will let us get a full taste of the Spirited Away play. Each performance will star a different lead actress for Chihiro, who was double-cast.
For now, GKIDS plans to release the Spirited Away stage production in theaters. And the projected release date is spring 2023. No stated streaming plans are available at this time. But hopefully, after a theatrical release, the play will arrive on more platforms.
Additionally, according to a release, “character actor Mari Natsuki, who voiced the sorceress Yubaba and her twin sister Zeniba in the original motion picture, returns to her original role.” The Spirited Away stage play was also adapted and directed by Tony Award-winner John Caird, “who gained international acclaim for adapting and directing the world premiere of the landmark production Les Misérables.”
We absolutely love seeing our favorite movies in a new way. And if the pictures from the Spirited Away stage play reveal anything, it’s that we’ll love this rendition. We’ll keep this post updated as more details about how and when you can watch the Spirited Away play emerge. For now, we’ll flip on the original and let it carry us into a magical world.