Spirited Away by Studio Ghibli is a cult animated classic and it was recently recreated in a stage adaption. Even more recently, the show will be traveling to North America as fans highly anticipate this to happen. Last year, it was reimagined as a live stage play and now the production prepares to make its way over to America.
GKIDS, which is an animation producer and distributor has acquired the rights to broadcast the stage adaptation theatrically in North America. Audiences are to expect two filmed performances that star Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi, who were double-cast to play the main character Chihiro. Notably, Mari Natsuki, who voiced Yubaba and Zeniba in the animation will reprise her role on stage.
Animated Series Stage Adaptations
Studio Ghibili's Spirited Away Gets a New Theatre Show
Trend Themes
1. Stage Adaptations of Animated Series - The success of Spirited Away's stage adaptation presents an opportunity for other animated series to be adapted for the stage, creating new revenue streams for production companies.
2. Cross-media Adaptations - The trend of adapting animated series from one medium to another (e.g. film to stage) presents opportunities for innovation in storytelling and marketing strategies.
3. Reboots and Remakes - The popularity of Spirited Away's stage adaptation may lead to an increase in Hollywood reboots and remakes of cult classic animated films as studios look for new revenue streams.
Industry Implications
1. Animation Production - Animation production companies can capitalize on the trend of stage adaptations by exploring the potential for adapting their own properties to the stage, creating new revenue streams and expanding their audience.
2. Theatre Production - The trend of adapting animated series for the stage creates new opportunities for theatre producers to collaborate with animation studios, bringing new audiences into the theatre and challenging traditional notions of what theatre can be.
3. Film Production and Distribution - The success of Spirited Away's stage adaptation and its broadcast by GKIDS shows there is potential for film production and distribution companies to expand their revenue streams by partnering with theatre producers to bring their films to the stage.