Today we saw another classic movie translated to the theatre stage: Spirited Away. A truly magical experience that was so much better than I would have imagined!
A true Japanese classic made it’s way to the London West end this year: Spirited Away. The incredible animation brought to live with live actors, puppets and masks.
SPIRITED AWAY
Studio Ghibli released Spirited Away back in 2001 and was written and directed by Hauo Miyazaki. Spirited Away follows the journey of Chihiro “Sen” Ogino, a ten-year-old girl who, while moving to a new neighborhood, accidentally stumbles into the world of kami—spirits from Japanese Shinto folklore. When her parents are transformed into pigs by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro must find a way to save them. To do so, she takes a job in Yubaba’s bathhouse, navigating this mysterious and magical world as she searches for a way to free her parents and return to the human world.
Over the past year, my wife and I have watched Spirited Away along with other Miyazaki films, and we’ve completely fallen in love with the animation style. So, when I saw there was an adaptation on the West End with an all-Japanese cast, I knew I had to get a ticket.
REVIEW
Wow, where do I even start? Spirited Away was an incredible experience. It’s so different from any musical I’ve ever seen. Being in the London Coliseum while this Japanese production played out in front of me felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event. Seeing the animated characters come to life on stage was surreal. The acting was phenomenal, and even though the show was in Japanese, the subtitles were easy to follow. Honestly, there were so many moments when I forgot to keep up with the subtitles because I was so focused on what was happening on stage.
Everything about this production was remarkable. The actors looked like they had stepped straight out of the animated movie, which really enhanced the experience. The puppetry and how it interacted with the live actors was mesmerizing. I was especially captivated by the frog, the dragon, Kamaji, and of course, Kaonashi. The way it was all beautifully executed brought the story to life in ways I hadn’t imagined.
The moving stage that revealed different aspects of the movie made it feel like you were always in the right place, and the depth of the set due to the size of the stage was amazing. A massive thank you to the entire cast, the live orchestra, and the crew for bringing such an amazing experience to London. I can’t recommend this production enough—it was an incredible experience, and I’m so glad to have seen it. It was truly a magical night!
