Two decades since the original anime film came out, Studio Ghibli’s ‘Spirited Away’ will be adapted into a stage play, set for a tour in Japan next year. More recently, the live play’s official site posted two new posters for the ‘Spirited Away’ play.
Kanna Hashimoto, an acclaimed actress who will be making her stage debut, and Mone Kamishiraishi are taking on the role of Chihiro, the main character. The stage play will be shown at the TOHO’s Imperial Theatre from February to March 2022. After that, a tour of Osaka (April), Fukuoka (May), Sapporo (June), and Nagoya (June and July) will begin.
John Caird, an honorary associate director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, is directing the stage play. His past works include the adaptation of the theatrical play ‘Les Misérables’.
The beloved 2001 anime film classic is directed by renowned animator and director Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film, distributed by Toho, went on to reel in US$395.8 million at the worldwide box office. It has also been Japan’s highest-grossing film (total earnings of ¥31.68 billion (US$305 million)) for 19 years, until ‘Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train’ took that place in 2020.
The film remains the only hand-drawn and non-English-language animated film to win the ‘Academy Award for Best Animated Feature’ at the 75th Academy Awards in 2003.
The film is currently streaming on Netflix.
Chihiro wanders into a magical world where a witch rules – and those who disobey her are turned into animals
via Netflix
Source: ‘Spirited Away’ Live Play Official Site, Ghibli Studio Official Twitter, Official Site
©Toho Co., Ltd.
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