I still remember the first time Chihiro’s parents turned into pigs. I was a kid, sitting way too close to the TV, and I genuinely didn’t know what kind of movie I was watching anymore. Twenty-five years later, Spirited Away is getting the kind of anniversary treatment it deserves, and this time, it’s coming to theaters twice.
First up is Spirited Away: Live on Stage, a filmed Japanese stage production screening for two nights only, October 1 and October 8, as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2026. Then, from October 17 to 21, the original animated film returns to the big screen where it belongs. I’ve been looking forward to both.
What Spirited Away Is Actually About
Chihiro is ten, sullen, and not thrilled about her family moving to a new town. On the way there, her dad takes a wrong turn, and the family ends up wandering into what looks like an abandoned amusement park. It isn’t abandoned. It belongs to spirits, and Chihiro’s parents make the mistake of eating food that isn’t theirs, which turns them into pigs on the spot.
Alone and terrified, Chihiro has to survive in a world run by gods, witches, and a bathhouse owner named Yubaba who takes her name and puts her to work. Her only real ally is a mysterious boy named Haku, and slowly, she has to find a way to undo the curse and get her parents home before she forgets who she even was to begin with.
The Stage Version Bringing Chihiro to Life
What makes this year’s release different is the stage adaptation joining the lineup. Filmed during its acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s Imperial Theatre, the production was adapted and directed by John Caird, the Tony-winning director behind the original stage production of Les Misérables. That’s a serious pedigree for a story this strange to hand off to.
The production uses two different actresses in the lead role, and Fathom Entertainment is screening both filmed performances separately: Kanna Hashimoto on October 1, and Mone Kamishiraishi on October 8. Mari Natsuki, who voiced Yubaba in the original animated film, returns to play her here too, alongside puppetry built to bring No-Face, the soot sprites, and the rest of the spirit world to life on a physical stage. I’m genuinely curious how they pull off a giant baby and a dragon boy without CGI.
Why the Animation Still Holds Up
Going back to the original film, what gets me every time isn’t just the story, it’s how confidently it’s told. Hayao Miyazaki never rushes anything here. There’s a scene where Chihiro just sits in a garden, eats breakfast, and cries for a full minute with barely any dialogue, and somehow that quiet stretch tells you more about her fear than any big speech could.
The animation itself still looks stunning nearly a quarter-century later. Little details, like Chihiro’s hair puffing up when she’s startled, or the way nighttime spirits are drawn as shadowy blobs to make it clear she doesn’t belong there, add up into something that feels genuinely alive rather than just well-drawn.
The Themes I Keep Coming Back To
I’ve watched this film more times than I can count, and I still find something new in it. Yubaba’s bathhouse is basically a stand-in for toxic work culture, a place that strips people of their names and their sense of self in exchange for a paycheck. It’s not subtle once you notice it, but it never feels forced either, because the film lets you find it rather than spelling it out.
What I love most, though, is that Chihiro doesn’t fully “grow up” by the end. She’s braver, sure, but she still walks out of that world holding her mother’s hand, just like she walked in. It’s a small, honest touch that most stories wouldn’t bother making. Real growth doesn’t erase who you were before it, and this film seems to actually understand that.
Which Version You Should Catch First
If you can only make it to one of these two events, that really comes down to what you’re after. The stage production is a genuinely rare chance to see this story built physically, with puppets and live actors standing in for a world that’s usually only ever existed in animation. The animated re-release, on the other hand, is simply the best version of the story there is, back on a big screen the way it deserves to be seen.
Honestly, I’m planning to go to both. Twenty-five years feels like a good enough excuse.
Watch the Trailer
Quick Facts
- Title: Spirited Away: Live on Stage
- Based on: Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away (2001), Studio Ghibli
- Stage direction: John Caird
- Starring: Kanna Hashimoto / Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro, Mari Natsuki as Yubaba
- Language: Japanese with English subtitles
- Filmed at: Imperial Theatre, Tokyo (2022 production run)
- Presented by: GKIDS and Fathom Entertainment, as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2026
- US screening dates: October 1 and October 8, 2026
- Animated film’s own Ghibli Fest run: October 17–21, 2026
Where to Watch
Spirited Away: Live on Stage screens in US theaters on October 1 and October 8, 2026. The original animated film follows with its own Ghibli Fest theatrical run from October 17 through October 21, 2026. Tickets and showtimes are available through GhibliFest.com and Fathom Entertainment’s site.
Have you seen Spirited Away on stage or on screen? I’d love to hear which version hit you harder — drop your thoughts in the comments.
