The Walt Disney Studios has acquired all domestic theatrical, home entertainment and television rights to Hayao Miyazaki's animated blockbuster SPIRITED AWAY, Japan's all-time top grossing film with a total to date of 29.3 billion yen ($234 million). The film, which recently received the coveted Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival, is scheduled to be released theatrically in the U.S. fall 2002. Pixar's John Lasseter will serve as creative consultant for the newly dubbed version. Under the terms of the deal, Disney will also acquire the video distribution rights to the film in Japan, as well as all theatrical, home entertainment and television rights in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and France. AIN'T IT COOL NEWS reports possible voice talent for the English dubbed version includes Daveigh Chase (LILO & STITCH) as the young girl Chihiro, Jason Marsden (Disney's HOUSE OF MOUSE) as the boy Haku and David Ogden Stiers (BEAUTY AND THE BEAST) as the Boiler Room Man.
Kumi Kaoru discusses Anime master Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away-- from its background to its meaning and whether or not Miyazaki succeeds at creating another masterpiece.
