This is a live-update article and it will be updated as new details about Spirited Away 2 come our way. This is what we know so far.
It has been two decades since the award-winning film Spirited Away was released, and yet, fans are still hoping that a sequel will be produced soon. The animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli was a phenomenal hit. It grossed $347.7 Million worldwide and remains the first and only hand-drawn, non-English animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. To this day, the events of Spirited Away continue to be cherished, and fans worldwide continue to show active support for the film on internet forums and social media platforms. Everybody's hoping to see that one day, Haku and Chihiro's paths will cross again. Find out what made this film significant and if there is a chance for a follow-up film in the future.
There have been multiple rumors going around the internet regarding a possible sequel to Spirited Away, and we are here to finally set the record straight.
Earlier in 2020, Studio Ghibli announced that Hayao Miyazaki is coming out of retirement and is working on his next big, fantastical story. Unfortunately, this isn't the sequel to Spirited Away but was an entirely different feature film Kimi-tachi wa Dō Ikiru ka (How Do You Live?) or The Boy and the Heron.
The heartbreaking truth is that Studio Ghibli is not known for making follow-ups no matter how successful their film is. Unlike other studios, Studio Ghibli gives utmost importance to its credibility and respect for its masterpieces. They refuse to turn their movies into cash cows, which is really commendable but a little sad, especially when we wanted to see Chihiro and Haku live up to their promise and meet again. There are also no official reports that say a sequel is being planned.
For now, let's just rewatch Spirited Away as much as we can and continue to wish that one day, Chihiro and Haku will reunite. Till then...
Spirited Away tells the story of 10-year-old Chihiro Ogino as she tries to rescue her parent in the world of Kami (spirits). Her parents were turned into pigs by the witch Yubaba after eating food from a mysterious restaurant. She meets Haku, a young boy who can also turn into a dragon. Haku helps and keeps Chihiro safe as she navigates and meets other uncanny characters in the spirit world.
The movie ended with Haku promising Chihiro that they will meet again in the future as Chihiro comes back to the real world with her parents.
Here are the original casts and their Japanese voice actors. The 10-year-old protagonist Chihiro Ogino was voiced by Rumi Hiiragi. Haku .a.k.a Spirit of the Kohaku River was voiced by Miyu Irino. Yubaba or the bathhouse granny and Zeniba were both voiced by Mari Natsuki.
Akio Nakamura gave life to the character, No-Face. Chihiro's father and mother were brought to life by Takashi Naitō and Yasuko Sawaguchi respectively.
Spirited Away was released originally in Japan on July 20, 2001. Walt Disney Pictures dubbed the Japanese film in English, and it premiered at Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2002.
The latest theatrical release of Spirited Away was in China on June 21, 2019, almost 18 years after the film was originally released in Japan.
This article was recently reviewed and is up to date as of January 28, 2024.
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