Anime: Live-Action ‘Spirited Away’ is Coming to Hulu
The live-action stage production of Spirited Away looks gorgeous, and if you’re getting FOMO, Hulu has some good news for you!
Critically acclaimed and universally beloved 2001 Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away recently branched out, taking its beautiful story and visuals to a live-action medium. But it’s not quite live-action anime the way you’re used to. This is a stage play adaptation and it looks gorgeous.
Unfortunately, as is the nature of live theater, if you don’t live in a city where the show will be playing or can’t get tickets, it can be nigh impossible to watch. This has been an issue with live theater for years, leaving many of us to wish for more accessible releases of shows. After all, Hamilton and Shrek‘s Broadway experiences made it onto streaming service, why can’t everything?
Streaming Soon On Hulu!
Well if you’ve been hoping for an opportunity to watch live action Spirited Away, your hopes have been answered. Hulu has confirmed that it will stream Spirited Away this summer. The streaming performances will coincide with the show’s final two live performances at the Misonoza Theater in Nagoya on July 3rd and July 4th. Each performance will start at 12:00 pm JST or 11:00pm EST. At this time we’re not sure if the performances will remain on Hulu for future viewings. So if you’ve dreamed of a way to watch Spirited Away on stage, be sure to tune in on one or both of those two days.
If you’re wondering why there are two viewings, it’s because Spirited Away uses a “double cast” system. In short, the entire cast of actors changes from performance to performance. The cast on the 3rd will be entirely different from the cast on the 4th.
July 3 cast:
Chihiro: Kanna Hashimoto
Haku: Kotaro Daigo
No Face: Koharu Sugawara
Lin/Chihiro’s Mother: Miyu Sakihi
Kamaji: Tomorowo Taguchi
Yubaba/Zenibaba: Mari Natsuki
July 4 cast:
Chihiro: Mone Kamishiraishi
Haku: Hiroki Miura
No Face: Tomohiko Tsujimoto
Lin/Chihiro’s Mother: Fu Hinami
Kamaji: Satoshi Hashimoto
Yubaba/Zenibaba: Romi Park
This isn’t the first time a Studio Ghibli film has gotten the stage production treatment. In 2013 Whole Hog Theatre brought another favorite, Princess Mononoke, to life at theAiiA Theatre in Tokyo and the New Diorama Theatre in London. And both shows have some of the most beautiful and unique visuals imaginable.
Live Action Spirited Away is being directed by Tony and Olivier Award Winning director John Ciard. His impressive resume include the Royal Shakespeare Company, Les Mis, and years of work with various Japanese stage productions.
About Spirited Away
Spirited Away follows Chihiro as she wanders into a hidden world of magic, spirits, dragons, and witches where she learns to be more mature and less selfish. Studio Ghibli’s signature style of animation and storytelling work together to make their worlds immersive and dreamy at the same time with characters and situations that remain relatable even when they’re highly fantastical and food that looks so good that we all collectively want to pull it right out of the screen. First premiering in 2001, Spirited Away – or Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi in Japanese – has won many, many awards as well as critical acclaim from almost everyone who watches it.
Will you be tuning in for live action Spirited Away? Do you enjoy live theater or do you prefer other forms of story telling? Which Studio Ghibli movie should make its way to the stage next? Let us know in the comments!
Ja Ne, Adventurers!
