DVD Corner

Spirited Away: Live On Stage Blu-ray Review

“Spirited Away: Live On Stage” soars.

After a brief theatrical stint via Fathom Events, GKIDS/Shout Factory is bringing “Spirited Away: Live On Stage” to Blu-ray. Directed by John Caird of “Les Miserables” fame, this stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s anime classic “Spirited Away” was filmed live at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo. 

The story is the same as its animated counterpart in that it revolves around an angsty young girl (Chihiro) who is traveling with her parents to a new home. The trio encounter an abandoned theme park and that is where things go sideways. Chihiro’s parents are turned into pigs, she becomes swept up into a world with spirits, yokai, magic, and creatures, and she ends up working at a bathhouse run by a witch (Yubaba). As Chihiro tries to find a way to save her parents and return back to the normal world, she befriends a bathhouse worker (Haku) who aids her in her quest. 

Clocking in at 2 hours and 40 minutes, “Spirited Away: Live On Stage” is a faithful retelling of Miyazaki’s modern classic. It may be short on story, but “The Wizard Of Oz” esque fantasy tale is filled with imagination, memorable characters and poignant themes about growth, greed, selflessness, and friendship. While lacking Studio Ghibli’s animation artistry to be sure, this is an impressive production that boasts colorful and sometimes extravagant costumes, towering sets, screenwork, puppets, and props. The staging is a little odd at points and there’s a clear “The Lion King” musical influence, but the entire production team does an exemplary job at bringing the story to life. It’s especially rewarding to see how the team handles certain characters ala the giant baby and dragon.

Note: This set contains 2 different versions of the stage play featuring different casts. Monie Kamishiraishi and Kanna Hashimoto play Chihiro in the 2 versions respectively. While both are well worth seeing, the Kanna Hashimoto has the edge for me personally.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.78:1 1080p. How does it look? Expect a glossy filmed stage production.

Audio Track: Japanese 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? From the music to the dialogue, this is a potent 2.0 track. 

No extras have been included. 

November 13, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away, Spirited Away: Live On Stage Blu-ray Review, Stage Show, Studio Ghibli