It's not even mid-November, but Christmas has arrived early for Studio Ghibli enthusiasts. Following the BAFTA, Oscar, and Golden Globe-winning success of the iconic Japanese animation studio's 'The Boy And The Heron' earlier in 2024, Hayao Miyazaki's 'My Neighbour Totoro' made a triumphant return to cinemas in the UK and Ireland this summer, igniting calls for more of the studio's classic films to return to the big screen. Well, it seems the Elysian Film Group and Anonymous Content have been paying attention to these requests, as they've announced a collaboration to re-release Miyazaki's 2001 masterpiece 'Spirited Away' in cinemas across the UK and Ireland this Christmas. Accompanying this re-release is a new quad poster — check it out below:
As the first non-Western film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, 'Spirited Away' has introduced an entire generation to the world of Japanese animation over the past two decades and remains the third highest-grossing Japanese film ever made. Drawing inspiration from classics like 'Alice In Wonderland' and 'The Wizard Of Oz' while infused with a distinctly Eastern folkloric and mythological sensibility, Miyazaki's eighth feature follows Chihiro, a young girl who embarks on an epic journey through a supernatural spa, encountering a diverse society of spirits as she strives to free her family — who may or may not have been transformed into pigs. If you've never seen 'Spirited Away' before, the opportunity to experience it on the largest screen possible — with subtitles or dubbed, according to your preference — is an event not to be missed. And if you're already familiar with the film, you'll know that a return to Yubaba's mystical bathhouse is an absolute must.
You can also watch a new trailer for the re-release of 'Spirited Away' just below:
And for Ghibli aficionados, the good news doesn't stop there. The announcement of 'Spirited Away's big-screen comeback also confirms that another major Miyazaki masterpiece, 'Howl's Moving Castle,' is set to return to theatres as well. So, you can catch 'Spirited Away' in British and Irish cinemas from Boxing Day, perfect for shaking off that post-Christmas roast lethargy, and then look forward to enjoying some chocolate-based treats when 'Howl's Moving Castle' arrives at your local cinema this coming Easter. Truly amazing news!
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