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When I first heard word that one of my all-time favorite Studio Ghibli films, Spirited Away, had received a stage adaptation and was coming to theaters, I was ecstatic. I have long desired live stage adaptations from the realms of anime in Japan to be more readily released for enjoyment around the world. As one of the most anticipated events this Spring, I bought my ticket and had been biding my time.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning animated feature film Spirited Away, the film about a little girl entering the world of spirits, fighting with all she has to rescue her parents, recovering her name, and making it back home still resonates with me as a timeless film to always enjoy. Filmed during its acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s historic Imperial Theatre and adapted and directed by Tony Award®-winner John Caird (Les Misérables), Spirited Away: Live on Stage pushes the envelope and creates a familiar but effortless creative explosion on stage that I am so happy that I was able to watch in theaters.
A Familiar Setting
Moving the imaginative setting of Spirited Away to a single stage sounds like an impossible task for sure. Yet, on screen for me and on stage for those who watched it live for the filmed version–it was a task taken on with an amazing result. This was made possible due to the amazing work of the production which included so many different elements. The real magic that stood out for me were the ever-moving stage pieces that were moved around with ease to create new locations. From the bright and populated entrance of the bathhouse to the otherworldly train station, there was great effort in making sure the familiar sights from the film we all love were easily recognizable, just in a different form.
Helping to do that was the superb attention to detail to the smallest of things in Spirited Away: Live on Stage. Some iconic props were small enough to be noticeable and that helped with placing certain scenes from the original film. Think Chihiro’s pink bouquet of flowers that she holds close in the car ride, the brilliant red color of the bath tokens in the bathhouse, or the paper tracker spirit that attaches itself to Chihiro’s back. Other props gained some creative handling like the bowls of rice that Lin picked up for her and her young protégé and unknowingly brought them into the room of the Stink Spirit’s arrival.
In the animated original, the bowls of white rice immediately rot away in hilarious fashion because of the overwhelming stench of this filthy spirit. On stage, the “bowls of rice” look to have maybe a holographic cover as their transformation enlisted laughter and shock from me the same way. Making sure that such moments like this, small as they are, from the beloved original made it to the stage production feels worthwhile and worth mentioning for future possible adaptations. Props in Spirited Away: Live on Stage come to life in more ways than one: from the adorable representation of the train that Chihiro later rides to save a friend to the bouncy, fancy vases that come to life in Yababa’s office.
Familiar Faces
Given that Spirited Away: Live on Stage featured a cast with a few double-casted characters, there is something to enjoy in both versions for sure. I saw the performance on the night of April 27th, and the Chihiro I had the honor of watching in the version was Mone Kamishiraishi, who brought such a lively presence to her role. Kamishiraishi really carried the character of Chihiro in all her courageous spirit to save those she loved and get back home. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the marvelous Mari Natsuki reprises her role as Yubaba, having voiced the character in the original film. In a different performance that I watched, voice and stage actress Romi Park bodied this role. Park was able to translate the larger than life, intimidating character on stage to success, to my delight.
The performances in Spirited Away: Live on Stage continued to shine thanks to the talent on stage including Hiroki Miura, Fu Hinami, Satoshi Hashimoto, Tomohiko Tsujimoto and so many others. Miura as Haku was perfect as the quiet but authoritative right hand of Yababa who commanded those on stage. Hinami brought the same “Big Sis” energy to her role as Lin, being protective of Chihiro. Seeing Hashimoto as grandfatherly Kamaji meant that he brought lots of personality to his complex characters and was well received by the audience. I have to say that my favorite entertainer on the stage was the incredibly aloof and creepy fave No-Face who managed to be a show stealer by way of Tsujimoto.
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
I was expecting a production, and I was NOT disappointed! I likened it to organized chaos–Actors and actresses blended in the background with neutral colored clothing and moved around props, puppets, and other pieces of the sets with ease. This means the actor Kamajî, the elderly multiple-limbed furnace keeper of the bathroom, employed four or five actors to operate and manage his extra appendages. At times to hilarious effect, like when the character creates a heart sign with one of his hands and with one of his “extra hands.” Working in sync they amazingly made it work which made me so glad as this is an important character to the story and the effort to make it as lively as possible feels like a treat.
I sincerely had no clues on a headcount of how many persons were involved on stage until getting to the credits afterwards and seeing the miraculous work involved. It wasn’t uncommon for talent to have multiple roles! (The production featured 32 performers and more than 50 puppets designed by Toby Olié as reported by Playbill.com.) I was stunned: A soot spirit “handler” carried on several other roles like the (human hand) door knocker in the elevator, handler of one piece of the kanji of Chihiro’s name, and so on. Dancing, rolling, gliding across stage joined high jumps, cartwheels, frenzied running, and a simple but funny stage interpretation of flying are all pieces of the action that you can find in the arsenal of the performers of Spirited Away: Live on stage.
An Added Touch
What would an adaptation of Spirited Away be without the iconic music of Joe Hisashi who composed the music of the original? I was overjoyed to hear the familiar score that made my first viewing of the original film and very viewing since then, a heartfelt journey to tag along with. I delved into a certain interview after wanting to confirm my thoughts on a few elements of the stage adaptation that I had watched and experienced in regard to the music. There are a few songs in this adaptation and while they are short and sweet, they don’t don’t turn the production into a musical. The snippets of songs do add to the overall ambience of what makes Spirited Away. I wasn’t alone, this interviewer, Steven Blackburn thought that it added “more Japanese folklore and culture…”
John Caird, the Tony Award-winning stage director perhaps best known for his work on Broadway, found his way to adapting anime by way of Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning masterpiece Spirited Away. Caird did not hesitate to reach out to Joe Hisashi who was happy for his work to be used again, even in a different way, to be adapted for the stage. Caird also found luck on his side in finding Brad Haak, the arrangement orchestrator for this adaptation who simply adored Hisashi and wanted to honor the soundtrack. Perhaps the most wholesome fun fact that I learned about Spirited Away: Live on Stage after watching is the inclusion of some very special pieces of inspiration that did not make it into the original animation film.
The interviewer learns through Caird that the live stage productions of Spirited Away “features poems that were initially written by Hayao Miyazaki himself to help influence and inspire what would later become the film’s iconic soundtrack.” Caird goes on to talk about how he asked permission from Miyazaki and Hisashi to use these as lyrics on the show which they agreed to. I am incredibly blown away by the level of love, respect, and consideration of this adaptation but also this glimpse into the inspiration behind the original film that I love so much
Now knowing that these short poems were originally just offered as guidelines for the composer when he was writing the score, were never used in the film, and were brought to life during the stage adaptation feels like the best type of Easter egg that I am happy to share. It really feels like the best illustrative example of not just impressive collaborative work, but the right way to honor the original film and its creatives. Overall, I was really impressed by the way the impossible was made possible in this stage adaptation. As we all know that the original film is an animated one and it has some incredible visuals that were creatively reborn on stage in such creative ways thanks to superb cast and staff.
Spirited Away: Live on Stage is a bold adaptation of a now classic Studio Ghibli that is full of heart and added surprises that will fascinate audiences young and old. I sincerely hope you can catch the last showing on May 2 if tickets are available in your area and one day hope that it is available for streaming, even if for a limited time. Distributor GKIDS has done us all a great service in making this available for North American audiences to watch, honoring the beloved film of the past, and creating an adaptation that is familiar but a creation of its own.
Tonight, Mone Kamishiraishi takes the spotlight as Chihiro in SPIRITED AWAY: Live On Stage! Experience the show with a whole new cast both tonight and May 2.
Get tickets at https://t.co/WypU4nOEZu pic.twitter.com/9sPoENpCpS
— GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) April 27, 2023
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The post ‘Spirited Away: Live on Stage’ is a Bold, Stunning Adaptation of a Beloved Classic appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
When I first heard word that one of my all-time favorite Studio Ghibli films, Spirited Away, had received a stage adaptation and was coming to theaters, I was ecstatic. I have long desired live stage adaptations from the realms of anime in Japan to be more readily released for enjoyment around the world. As one of the most anticipated events this Spring, I bought my ticket and had been biding my time.
Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award®-winning animated feature film Spirited Away, the film about a little girl entering the world of spirits, fighting with all she has to rescue her parents, recovering her name, and making it back home still resonates with me as a timeless film to always enjoy. Filmed during its acclaimed 2022 run at Tokyo’s historic Imperial Theatre and adapted and directed by Tony Award®-winner John Caird (Les Misérables), Spirited Away: Live on Stage pushes the envelope and creates a familiar but effortless creative explosion on stage that I am so happy that I was able to watch in theaters.
A Familiar Setting
Moving the imaginative setting of Spirited Away to a single stage sounds like an impossible task for sure. Yet, on screen for me and on stage for those who watched it live for the filmed version–it was a task taken on with an amazing result. This was made possible due to the amazing work of the production which included so many different elements. The real magic that stood out for me were the ever-moving stage pieces that were moved around with ease to create new locations. From the bright and populated entrance of the bathhouse to the otherworldly train station, there was great effort in making sure the familiar sights from the film we all love were easily recognizable, just in a different form.
Helping to do that was the superb attention to detail to the smallest of things in Spirited Away: Live on Stage. Some iconic props were small enough to be noticeable and that helped with placing certain scenes from the original film. Think Chihiro’s pink bouquet of flowers that she holds close in the car ride, the brilliant red color of the bath tokens in the bathhouse, or the paper tracker spirit that attaches itself to Chihiro’s back. Other props gained some creative handling like the bowls of rice that Lin picked up for her and her young protégé and unknowingly brought them into the room of the Stink Spirit’s arrival.
In the animated original, the bowls of white rice immediately rot away in hilarious fashion because of the overwhelming stench of this filthy spirit. On stage, the “bowls of rice” look to have maybe a holographic cover as their transformation enlisted laughter and shock from me the same way. Making sure that such moments like this, small as they are, from the beloved original made it to the stage production feels worthwhile and worth mentioning for future possible adaptations. Props in Spirited Away: Live on Stage come to life in more ways than one: from the adorable representation of the train that Chihiro later rides to save a friend to the bouncy, fancy vases that come to life in Yababa’s office.
Familiar Faces
Given that Spirited Away: Live on Stage featured a cast with a few double-casted characters, there is something to enjoy in both versions for sure. I saw the performance on the night of April 27th, and the Chihiro I had the honor of watching in the version was Mone Kamishiraishi, who brought such a lively presence to her role. Kamishiraishi really carried the character of Chihiro in all her courageous spirit to save those she loved and get back home. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that the marvelous Mari Natsuki reprises her role as Yubaba, having voiced the character in the original film. In a different performance that I watched, voice and stage actress Romi Park bodied this role. Park was able to translate the larger than life, intimidating character on stage to success, to my delight.
The performances in Spirited Away: Live on Stage continued to shine thanks to the talent on stage including Hiroki Miura, Fu Hinami, Satoshi Hashimoto, Tomohiko Tsujimoto and so many others. Miura as Haku was perfect as the quiet but authoritative right hand of Yababa who commanded those on stage. Hinami brought the same “Big Sis” energy to her role as Lin, being protective of Chihiro. Seeing Hashimoto as grandfatherly Kamaji meant that he brought lots of personality to his complex characters and was well received by the audience. I have to say that my favorite entertainer on the stage was the incredibly aloof and creepy fave No-Face who managed to be a show stealer by way of Tsujimoto.
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
I was expecting a production, and I was NOT disappointed! I likened it to organized chaos–Actors and actresses blended in the background with neutral colored clothing and moved around props, puppets, and other pieces of the sets with ease. This means the actor Kamajî, the elderly multiple-limbed furnace keeper of the bathroom, employed four or five actors to operate and manage his extra appendages. At times to hilarious effect, like when the character creates a heart sign with one of his hands and with one of his “extra hands.” Working in sync they amazingly made it work which made me so glad as this is an important character to the story and the effort to make it as lively as possible feels like a treat.
I sincerely had no clues on a headcount of how many persons were involved on stage until getting to the credits afterwards and seeing the miraculous work involved. It wasn’t uncommon for talent to have multiple roles! (The production featured 32 performers and more than 50 puppets designed by Toby Olié as reported by Playbill.com.) I was stunned: A soot spirit “handler” carried on several other roles like the (human hand) door knocker in the elevator, handler of one piece of the kanji of Chihiro’s name, and so on. Dancing, rolling, gliding across stage joined high jumps, cartwheels, frenzied running, and a simple but funny stage interpretation of flying are all pieces of the action that you can find in the arsenal of the performers of Spirited Away: Live on stage.
An Added Touch
What would an adaptation of Spirited Away be without the iconic music of Joe Hisashi who composed the music of the original? I was overjoyed to hear the familiar score that made my first viewing of the original film and very viewing since then, a heartfelt journey to tag along with. I delved into a certain interview after wanting to confirm my thoughts on a few elements of the stage adaptation that I had watched and experienced in regard to the music. There are a few songs in this adaptation and while they are short and sweet, they don’t don’t turn the production into a musical. The snippets of songs do add to the overall ambience of what makes Spirited Away. I wasn’t alone, this interviewer, Steven Blackburn thought that it added “more Japanese folklore and culture…”
John Caird, the Tony Award-winning stage director perhaps best known for his work on Broadway, found his way to adapting anime by way of Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award-winning masterpiece Spirited Away. Caird did not hesitate to reach out to Joe Hisashi who was happy for his work to be used again, even in a different way, to be adapted for the stage. Caird also found luck on his side in finding Brad Haak, the arrangement orchestrator for this adaptation who simply adored Hisashi and wanted to honor the soundtrack. Perhaps the most wholesome fun fact that I learned about Spirited Away: Live on Stage after watching is the inclusion of some very special pieces of inspiration that did not make it into the original animation film.
The interviewer learns through Caird that the live stage productions of Spirited Away “features poems that were initially written by Hayao Miyazaki himself to help influence and inspire what would later become the film’s iconic soundtrack.” Caird goes on to talk about how he asked permission from Miyazaki and Hisashi to use these as lyrics on the show which they agreed to. I am incredibly blown away by the level of love, respect, and consideration of this adaptation but also this glimpse into the inspiration behind the original film that I love so much
Now knowing that these short poems were originally just offered as guidelines for the composer when he was writing the score, were never used in the film, and were brought to life during the stage adaptation feels like the best type of Easter egg that I am happy to share. It really feels like the best illustrative example of not just impressive collaborative work, but the right way to honor the original film and its creatives. Overall, I was really impressed by the way the impossible was made possible in this stage adaptation. As we all know that the original film is an animated one and it has some incredible visuals that were creatively reborn on stage in such creative ways thanks to superb cast and staff.
Spirited Away: Live on Stage is a bold adaptation of a now classic Studio Ghibli that is full of heart and added surprises that will fascinate audiences young and old. I sincerely hope you can catch the last showing on May 2 if tickets are available in your area and one day hope that it is available for streaming, even if for a limited time. Distributor GKIDS has done us all a great service in making this available for North American audiences to watch, honoring the beloved film of the past, and creating an adaptation that is familiar but a creation of its own.
Tonight, Mone Kamishiraishi takes the spotlight as Chihiro in SPIRITED AWAY: Live On Stage! Experience the show with a whole new cast both tonight and May 2.
— GKIDS Films (@GKIDSfilms) April 27, 2023
Get tickets at https://t.co/WypU4nOEZu pic.twitter.com/9sPoENpCpS
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram!
The post ‘Spirited Away: Live on Stage’ is a Bold, Stunning Adaptation of a Beloved Classic appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
The Bryant family has a permanent spot in the world’s hearts and minds, and since the tragic passing of Kobe and Gigi, that love has only deepened.
Vanessa Bryant took time today to honor her daughter on what would have been her 17th birthday.
“Happy Birthday, baby girl. I love and miss you so much, sweet Angel,” she said. “Te Amo Mambacita,” she added in a post on Instagram. “We love you to the moon and back infinity +1. Forever & Always.”
Bryant posted the touching caption alongside various photos of the smiling teenager. The world stood still on the day a helicopter crash claimed the lives of Kobe, Gigi, and seven other victims on their way to a youth basketball game.
Gigi’s older sister, Natalia Bryant, also paid tribute to her sibling via Instagram, posting a photo of the two embracing with the caption, “Happy 17th Birthday Sweet Gigi. I love you forever and always.” She continued, “You are the dancing Queen, Young & Sweet, Only Seventeen.”
Gigi’s legacy has echoed loudly throughout the world of sports and entertainment in the years since her untimely passing, with “Play Gigi’s Way” becoming a rallying call for everyone with a passion to be the best at what they do. Sportswear giant NIKE has dedicated the new Kobe IV Protro “Mambacita” to the memory of Gigi, which will benefit the Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation. In a post on Twitter, the sneaker brand said, “We dare you to #PlayGigisWay, to be competitive, joyful, and curious and never take any opportunity for granted, just like Gigi.”
The matriarch of the Bryant family also celebrated her wedding anniversary on April 18th. Vanessa Bryant and the late NBA icon were married for 19 years before his death. “Happy anniversary, baby. I love you @kobebryant 
#22,” she said in a post honoring their love.
Serena Jameka Williams was Gucci down at the Met Gala. The darling of tennis served in a black and bedazzled two-piece ensemble with white tulle that cascaded to the ground and into a train. On her head, she wore a blinged out headpiece by Lelet NY. Layers of Tiffany & Co. pearls dropped from her neckline. On her arm was her bearded hubby Alexis Ohanian. On her midsection, she donned a baby bump that indicates the tennis royalty is with child and expanding her brood with baby number two. Serena announced the pregnancy, subtly, in an Instagram post:
“Was so excited when Anna Wintour invited the 3 of us to the Met Gala,” the caption read above a rundown of glam credits and below a slideshow of five images.
A litany of congratulations erupted in the comments sections from a number of followers and celebrities, including actress and Instagram influencer Tabitha Brown, tech titan Bozoma St. John, Ciara, Michael B. Jordan and Boris Kudjoe. Even Barbie by Mattel sent a “Glowing 
Congrats!”
View this post on Instagram
Certainly, the public can say we didn’t see this coming, particularly when Serena endured the horrors of being a Black woman navigating maternal health, and was one of the more vocal celebs that spoke up and advocated for Black women’s experience of medical neglect and postpartum depression. The three-time Olympic winner was candid about almost losing her life after delivering her daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. by C-section—and developing a pulmonary embolism. She penned an article for CNN, detailing her ordeal in 2018. BLACK ENTERPRISE is wishing Serena a healthier birthing experience and an even healthy newborn baby
Black women succumb to childbirth at higher rates than white and Hispanic women. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention produced a report in 2021 that revealed “the maternal mortality rate for non-Hispanic Black (subsequently, Black) women was 69.9 deaths per 100,000 live births, 2.6 times the rate for non-Hispanic White (subsequently, White) women.”
Organizations such as National Birth Equity Collaborative (NBEC); Sista Midwife Productions and the Sista Midwife Directory and Black Mamas Matter Alliance are working to address racial disparity and foster healthier maternal outcomes from Black women.
RELATED CONTENT: Moving On: Serena Williams Opens Up About What’s Next After Retiring From Tennis
Fifteen years ago this week, the Marvel Cinematic Universe launched with the arrival of Iron Man in theaters. A decade and a half later, the MCU is the biggest live-action movie and TV franchise in history. Its success, as well as the success of the earlier non-MCU Marvel-based films like X-Men and Spider-Man, took many in Hollywood by total surprise. It took years to get Iron Man and the rest to go from comic to screen, and studio after studio passed on what now seem like no-brainer ideas. But the groundwork for a successful media of shared Marvel heroes happened nearly two decades before Tony Stark said the words “I am Iron Man.” And it all happened on Saturday morning and weekday afternoon TV with ’90s Marvel cartoons.
The Fox Kids Marvel Revolution
Of course, it all really began with the comics. In the ‘80s and early ‘90s, Marvel Comics was the king of comic book publishers. For much of that decade, Marvel’s two biggest sellers were consistently Uncanny X-Men and The Amazing Spider-Man. These titles were so huge, that in 1990 and 1991, Marvel relaunched both Spider-Man and X-Men with new #1 issues, which collectively sold 10 million copies. So one would think this success would lead to animated shows. Well, not so fast there.
Regardless of this runaway comic book success, it was a battle for X-Men to make it to air. Margaret Loesch, a veteran TV executive, saw X-Men’s hit potential with kids. But not one executive at Fox believed in it. They just didn’t get it, thinking comics were too confusing and esoteric to translate to children’s TV. Eventually, Loesch staked her reputation on X-Men being a hit, and the network reluctantly agreed. They told her if X-Men didn’t click, it would be the end of her tenure at Fox. Not only did it click, but X-Men also helped push Fox Kids from fourth place in the ratings to first place almost instantly.
X-Men Launches the MAU: Marvel Animated Universe
X-Men: The Animated Series premiered on Halloween in 1992 as an instant smash. The characters became household names. X-Men sold everything from action figures to pizza. Fox wanted more Marvel, and two years later, Spider-Man debuted on weekday afternoons. And from that very first episode, Spidey let viewers know that he existed in a larger universe. He name-dropped the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. By season two, he met his Fox Kids compatriots the X-Men in a two-part episode event. Even though an entirely different animation studio produced Spider-Man, the voice actors from X-Men reprised their roles, cementing the notion of a unified continuity between both shows. But that was just the beginning.
We should note that the 1994 Spider-Man was not the first Spidey show to feature the X-Men and other Marvel heroes. The 1981-1984 cartoon series Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends had Peter Parker partner with two former X-Men, Iceman and Firestar. And the X-Men guest starred several times, marking their first animated appearance. But Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends didn’t lead to any spinoffs, despite Marvel Entertainment hoping to create an X-Men show. But now, back to the ‘90s.
Iron Man and the Fantastic Four Expand the Universe
With the success of the two Fox Kids Marvel shows, Marvel Entertainment wanted more. When Fox passed on Iron Man and Fantastic Four, they went the syndicated route for these two shows. The fall of 1994 saw the premiere of the Marvel Action Hour, featuring Iron Man and Fantastic Four. Stan Lee himself was the host. The first seasons were not particularly well received, but the two shows still got second seasons, slightly revamped to reflect the tone of X-Men. An Incredible Hulk series and a Silver Surfer show followed them, although the Silver Surfer’s only lasted one season. The Hulk’s show in particular had ties to the MAU, as Robert Hays once again voiced Iron Man.
While the other Marvel cartoons weren’t as huge as the two heavy hitters of X-Men and Spider-Man, they all tied into one continuity. Both Iron Man and the Fantastic Four appeared on Spider-Man after their shows ended, in the epic 1997 Secret Wars event, and the original voice actors returned to reprise their roles. This settled any dispute of whether or not Iron Man and Fantastic Four were of a single continuity with the Fox Kids Marvel shows. Despite minor continuity issues here and there, this connected universe basically worked across all these series. However, by the time Avengers: United They Stand and Spider-Man Unlimited came out in 1999, the MAU fizzled out. But at its peak, it proved an interconnected Marvel universe could work outside the niche comics audience.
’90s Marvel Kids Become 2010’s MCU Adults
The wild popularity of Iron Man shocked Hollywood executives when it hit theaters in 2008. It was the same when X-Men exploded in 2000. There was no general awareness that an audience this big existed for characters studio heads likely considered B-list. They were equally flabbergasted when the first Avengers made box office history. But they shouldn’t have been; the kids who watched the interconnected Marvel cartoons of the ‘90s had become adults. They were ready for live-action versions of the universe they watched on TV with their bowl of cereal. Warner Bros. later did an interconnected DC animated universe of their own with Justice League (and they did it with higher quality). But Marvel beat them to the punch. Without a doubt, the MCU ultimately did this interconnected Marvel universe better too. But the often crudely animated ‘90s Marvel cartoons all walked so the MCU could run.
The post How ’90s Marvel Cartoons Paved the Way for the MCU appeared first on Nerdist.