Spirited Away returns: Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, The Boy and the Heron to enchant cinemas once again

Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki’s beloved classic Spirited Away is set to return to cinemas this autumn, giving fans a rare opportunity to revisit the magic of Studio Ghibli on the big screen.

Originally released in 2001, the Academy Award-winning animated fantasy will be re-released across the US from 18 to 22 October as part of GKIDS and Fathom Events’ Studio Ghibli Fest.

Directed by Miyazaki, Spirited Away follows the story of Chihiro, a young girl whose family is moving to a new home. When they stop en route to explore an abandoned village, her parents undergo a mysterious transformation. Chihiro is suddenly thrust into a supernatural world ruled by the sorceress Yubaba. Forced to work in a magical bathhouse for spirits and demons, Chihiro must summon all her courage and wit to survive, rescue her parents and find her way back to the human world.

The re-release would include screenings in both English-dubbed and original Japanese versions with subtitles.

Upon its initial release, Spirited Away became a global phenomenon, earning critical acclaim and going on to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 2003 Academy Awards.

Also featured in the festival lineup is Miyazaki’s 2023 film The Boy and the Heron, which is scheduled for a theatrical re-release in November 2025.