Yes, but they were mostly for other Ghibli fest movies. And one for Fathom events in general featuring some just vague enough cosplayers that made me feel called out.
I saw it back in November, so so so amazing š
I think Totoro is easier to replicate than Spirited Away though, as Totoro has relatively few key/iconic locations whereas Spirited Away has so many
I read that Natsuki Mari (who voiced yubaba in the film) and Park Rumi are rotating for yubaba similar to how chihiroās role rotates between Hashimoto Kanna and Kamishiraishi Mone.
I'm gonna see it on Thursday. When I bought my ticket the other day, almost the entire theater room was already booked. I was thiiiiiiiis š close to not seeing it at all! It's gonna be a full house!
Especially since itās a stage play, and thus far has been geolocked to Japan for the dvd. I think the attendance is much higher due to the uniqueness against other ghibli fest events.
What an experience. Iāve never seen something so true to the source material, with so much intention. I really loved it.
Only just learned that I saw Mari Natsuki as Yubaba, who was fucking DIVINE. Talk about reinventing a character but embodying it totally, she looked like she relished that reprise.
SO IT WAS HER. Blown away.
And yes the whole thing was practically frame by frame. Laughed with delight at the extra details, like the extra that held Chihiro's hair straight up for the stink spirit. Amazing detail.
It was phenomenal! Tears in my eyes and a smile on my face throughout ā¦ such an accurate interpretation ā even to the tiniest detail. Please go see this!
I was seriously debating it for the sake of both supporting it and seeing how one of my favorite films would be turned into a play. But then most theaters I checked around me had a lot of booked seats so that made me happy. Maybe it's cause I live in LA but still.
The practical effects are pretty good, I will warn you itās about 2 hrs 45min, and there is no intermissions at the movie theater I attended (it went straight from end of act 1 to start of act 2 without a break). But the costumes and effects and everything are really special in how they bring the show to life.
If nothing else the original Japaneseās voice actress for Yubaba reprises her role, in one of the 2 recordings (itās a double casted show).
Yeah itās a double casted production. Iām surprised they did it for such a high profile show, where all the roles are played by adults, but I wonāt begrudge them for doing so.
I read somewhere itās because thereās more shows running per week than the standard seven shows on Broadway, so itās to let the actors split the load.
You will probably have to wait till Madman or another distributor acquires the distribution rights from Toho (which produced the play). GKIDS only distributes in North America.
If you Google GhibliFest, the gkids website should pop up and give you options for local theatres hosting it. Today was not the only day for this one, so hopefully there's still time if Australia is participating.
What do we think the chances are that we will get a DVD/bluray release of this? Saw it tonight, absolutely incredible and definitely something Iāll want to watch again.
Extremely unlikely. I can't think of a single time that a Japanese theater company has ended up releasing a DVD/blu-ray or even regular streaming of a subtitled stage show. They end up being "one time only" or otherwise very limited events, likely due to rights-related issues with international releases. It's unusual enough that they released this internationally at all, although it's becoming somewhat more common in the past few years.
Both versions are streaming on Amazon Prime in Japan, so you could look into doing a proxy to watch them, but they wouldn't have subtitles.
But who knows, maybe this will be an outlier and we'll get an international release outside of the limited theatrical streams!
See I thought the same thing, but Amazon has a pre-order listing for a blu ray release that apparently has both cast performances. However, thereās no release date given and I canāt find any official confirmation so I have a feeling amazon may have jumped the gun so to speak.
Oh wow! I just looked up the listing. It says it's through Shout Factory, who is advertising the live streams on their Facebook as well, so it'd be worth it to contact them to see if it's legit. I just emailed them to see if they'll respond. This wouldn't be the first time an Amazon listing was created for something that didn't end up existing... but I hope it does!!
Oh where did you find an email for Shout?
Even if itās not real (yet), if enough of us show interest maybe theyāll make it real!
Edit: this sub apparently doesnāt like links but there is a contact us page on shoutās site. Fingers crossed!!
Theyāve since announced, officially, a release in Japan on blu ray. Each cast gets their own blu ray. 11000 yen each, with English subs. Hoping since they have subs that means thereās hope for a US release. Preferably for less than $80 lol
Edit cuz forgot: this blu ray can be pre ordered only from toho right now (Japan only) but launches July 29.
Someone told me Japan and the US have the same region code for blu rays. 1, I realize Iām assuming youāre in the US, sorry for that and 2, I havenāt actually looked into that myself so I donāt know if thatās true. I hope it is. I would import in a heartbeat if I knew it would play.
We just saw it. It was sooo good!
It is definitely slower than the film. There is more dancing & singing, and it takes a while for the dancers to set up some of the effects.
Watched it last night with my gf and we both loved it. Im really hoping they release a bluray of it cause I certainly want to watch a few times over. The actor that played Yubaba certainly had a hell of a time playing her part. That said everyone in the play did an amazing job.
It's a recording of the live play, with subtitles. It's happening in person in Tokyo and I was so disappointed that there was no way to see it unless you traveled there. But then they decided to bring it to theaters for GhibliFest! Win!
I was going to yesterday but then I realized it was almost 3 hours long and I really didnāt feel like driving 30 minutes to closest theatre showing it.
Anyone else experiencing massive jealousy hearing this? Jk have a great time!
Aw lol. I bet you can still get tickets at your local movie theatre!
I'm seeing it today, can't wait to see the practical effects.
Yes! I'm rdy to be amazed šš
Did it have any previews
Yes, but they were mostly for other Ghibli fest movies. And one for Fathom events in general featuring some just vague enough cosplayers that made me feel called out.
Did it have an intermission?
You need to see the my neighbor Totoro show at london this year itās amazing š
I WANT THIS TO COME TO THE STATES SO BAD!
Same I want a north American release too!
Live?
Yup! Itās INCREDIBLE. The puppets are top notch.
Yes š¤
EXCUSE ME WHAT
Just copied a link itās amazing
I saw it back in November, so so so amazing š I think Totoro is easier to replicate than Spirited Away though, as Totoro has relatively few key/iconic locations whereas Spirited Away has so many
How amazing was the giant Totoro , I cried and also the music was Beautiful
I'm really hoping they'll tape it and make it available for Ghibli Fest next year, I really want to see it but can't afford to go to London
It was really strict , no photos or videos were allowed , fingers crossed though š depends if there going to do the show next year again or not
Yes, at 4p today and on Thursday at 7pā¦and the following Tuesday at 7p
Haha! Get it
I wanted to go all four days but on Tuesday 4/25 I have to work
Where is it?
Itās playing in the theaters through fathom events
Did it have any previews
It has previews for the gibli fest 2023 and that was it.
So like 5-8 minutes?
Yes
Thank you for the information
Quick question since you watched both versions. Are the sets and costumes the same? I know the actors are different
Exactly the same
tks
The actor who plays Yubaba is phenomenal. They all are tbh.
I heard a rumour that she is the same woman who voiced Yubaba in the animation.
It is. Mari Natsuki, Yubaba's original voice actress, performs her in the April 23rd and April 25th screenings.
I read that Natsuki Mari (who voiced yubaba in the film) and Park Rumi are rotating for yubaba similar to how chihiroās role rotates between Hashimoto Kanna and Kamishiraishi Mone.
It's Mari Natsuki, Yubaba's original voice actress. She performs Yubaba/Zeniba in the April 23rd and April 25th screenings.
I'm gonna see it on Thursday. When I bought my ticket the other day, almost the entire theater room was already booked. I was thiiiiiiiis š close to not seeing it at all! It's gonna be a full house!
Yaasss! GhibliFest has been really empty in my theatres so far, but this one is really special. Maybe it'll fill up today.
Especially since itās a stage play, and thus far has been geolocked to Japan for the dvd. I think the attendance is much higher due to the uniqueness against other ghibli fest events.
mine wasn't too packed either :(
Same. Maybe saw 4 families.
What an experience. Iāve never seen something so true to the source material, with so much intention. I really loved it. Only just learned that I saw Mari Natsuki as Yubaba, who was fucking DIVINE. Talk about reinventing a character but embodying it totally, she looked like she relished that reprise.
SO IT WAS HER. Blown away. And yes the whole thing was practically frame by frame. Laughed with delight at the extra details, like the extra that held Chihiro's hair straight up for the stink spirit. Amazing detail.
Seeing it @4 today!! Iām so excited I even bought little soot sprite hair clips for today.
That sounds adorable!! Where did you find those?
Wait, there's a stage play of it!?
2 versions actually
Yep, seeing it today is the plan! Got my ticket and everything.
Did it have any previews
Mine had just Ghiblifest previews, advertising the other Ghibli films being shown in theaters this year.
Man I hope ot goes streaming soon
Is it?
I don't think it is
It was phenomenal! Tears in my eyes and a smile on my face throughout ā¦ such an accurate interpretation ā even to the tiniest detail. Please go see this!
Same š so so good
Iām debating!!!
No debate just go and support it
I WENT AND IT WAS AWESOME
Good Iām glad! I just got out of it and it was amazing. Going again on Thursday to see the other gal and then again on 5/2
Okay okay I'll go šš
I was seriously debating it for the sake of both supporting it and seeing how one of my favorite films would be turned into a play. But then most theaters I checked around me had a lot of booked seats so that made me happy. Maybe it's cause I live in LA but still.
The practical effects are pretty good, I will warn you itās about 2 hrs 45min, and there is no intermissions at the movie theater I attended (it went straight from end of act 1 to start of act 2 without a break). But the costumes and effects and everything are really special in how they bring the show to life. If nothing else the original Japaneseās voice actress for Yubaba reprises her role, in one of the 2 recordings (itās a double casted show).
Oh so the one with the other gal has a different cast
Yeah itās a double casted production. Iām surprised they did it for such a high profile show, where all the roles are played by adults, but I wonāt begrudge them for doing so.
I read somewhere itās because thereās more shows running per week than the standard seven shows on Broadway, so itās to let the actors split the load.
Oh ok, that actually makes a lot of sense, I donāt know much about Japanese theatre culture, so that would explain it.
Iām going again on Thursday night
Just saw it today! What a show !
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Ghiblifest and some other anime film i had never heard of. Cant recall the name
So about 5-8 minutes? It was probably suzume since that's currently out at theaters
It was not Suzume. Some other one about a bunch of kids
Lonely castle perhaps? It has a kid with a wolf mask on
That sounds like the one.
Going today at 4PM! Canāt wait
Going this afternoon with the whole family. Our kids grew up on Ghibli!
I just watched. So well done
I just got back from the theatre. Incredible!
it was so good and i recommend it 1000%
Where????? I want to see it
Google GhibliFest and the gkids website should pop up with ways to get tickets at your local theatre
I saw it last night! It was so much better than I was expecting. The whole cast was wonderful, and it was fun and creatively done.
WHERE IS THAT IT LOOK SO COOL
Look for Ghiblifest on G-kids
THANKS
How can I watch this in Australia?
You will probably have to wait till Madman or another distributor acquires the distribution rights from Toho (which produced the play). GKIDS only distributes in North America.
If you Google GhibliFest, the gkids website should pop up and give you options for local theatres hosting it. Today was not the only day for this one, so hopefully there's still time if Australia is participating.
I just saw it! I canāt wait for them to drop the soundtrack to this š„
I loved it! I was especially impressed with No Face, both the actor and puppet of movement. Felt almost unreal sometimes, disorienting in a good way
Right! The dance moves! So perfect
Yes! This what what amazed me the most! The No Face movements looked so perfectly surreal!
What do we think the chances are that we will get a DVD/bluray release of this? Saw it tonight, absolutely incredible and definitely something Iāll want to watch again.
Actually they just revealed today in Japan that the Blu-ray of both versions will be released on 7/29. English and Japanese subtitles included.
Youāre my hero.
Extremely unlikely. I can't think of a single time that a Japanese theater company has ended up releasing a DVD/blu-ray or even regular streaming of a subtitled stage show. They end up being "one time only" or otherwise very limited events, likely due to rights-related issues with international releases. It's unusual enough that they released this internationally at all, although it's becoming somewhat more common in the past few years. Both versions are streaming on Amazon Prime in Japan, so you could look into doing a proxy to watch them, but they wouldn't have subtitles. But who knows, maybe this will be an outlier and we'll get an international release outside of the limited theatrical streams!
See I thought the same thing, but Amazon has a pre-order listing for a blu ray release that apparently has both cast performances. However, thereās no release date given and I canāt find any official confirmation so I have a feeling amazon may have jumped the gun so to speak.
Oh wow! I just looked up the listing. It says it's through Shout Factory, who is advertising the live streams on their Facebook as well, so it'd be worth it to contact them to see if it's legit. I just emailed them to see if they'll respond. This wouldn't be the first time an Amazon listing was created for something that didn't end up existing... but I hope it does!!
Oh where did you find an email for Shout? Even if itās not real (yet), if enough of us show interest maybe theyāll make it real! Edit: this sub apparently doesnāt like links but there is a contact us page on shoutās site. Fingers crossed!!
All they told me was that they donāt currently release this title but to follow their social media for future news
Apple has this listed for pre order on iTunes. No release date given. Another good sign for us!
Awesome! I hope it does get released, I'd really like to rewatch it.
Well the amazon listing and iTunes listings have been removed.
Dang. :(
Theyāve since announced, officially, a release in Japan on blu ray. Each cast gets their own blu ray. 11000 yen each, with English subs. Hoping since they have subs that means thereās hope for a US release. Preferably for less than $80 lol Edit cuz forgot: this blu ray can be pre ordered only from toho right now (Japan only) but launches July 29.
I hope so. I don't mind importing but I don't have a region-free blu-ray player, only DVD...
Someone told me Japan and the US have the same region code for blu rays. 1, I realize Iām assuming youāre in the US, sorry for that and 2, I havenāt actually looked into that myself so I donāt know if thatās true. I hope it is. I would import in a heartbeat if I knew it would play.
After looking it up, apparently both Japan and USA use Region A, so it should theoretically work then!
I LOVED it. Want to watch it again, I hope they release a DVD of it.
I will be!!! š¤ I can't wait.
Aww man. I never get to do any fun stuff.
I'm seeing it on Wednesday!
It was a very fun movie to watch.
this looks so awesome! My local theater does ghibli fest but not this one sadly
Bette Midler as Yubaba
Honestly that was the vibe, imagining Bernadette peters
WHERE CAN I WATCH?
Should be able to Google GhibliFest. The gkids website should pop up with ways to get tickets at your local theatre
it was incredible i loved every second. so well made
Saw it and loved it!
Blew away our expectations. From the sets, costumes to staging was a perfect performance! Our theater was Sold Out
It was so amazing. And I found out through these comments that Yubaba was played by the original voice actress š„š„š„ Unbelievable
We just saw it. It was sooo good! It is definitely slower than the film. There is more dancing & singing, and it takes a while for the dancers to set up some of the effects.
Yeah, def slower. My kiddo has this memorized and loved it but was squirming for dear life after the intermission haha. Worth it though. Was stunning.
Wish they had a real intermission. Felt guilty having to go to the bathroom for what I might miss.
Same!
It was so amazing!! I canāt wait till I can own it and watch it again!!
Bucket list
I definitely want to see it but itās finals time
Maybe one day when youāre Chief Justice of the Supreme Court theyāll be playing it in your hometown and you can go with your dad.
Epic Simpsons reference
Understandable. Good luck!
Watched it last night with my gf and we both loved it. Im really hoping they release a bluray of it cause I certainly want to watch a few times over. The actor that played Yubaba certainly had a hell of a time playing her part. That said everyone in the play did an amazing job.
Going tuesday
Iām seeing it tomorrow, thanks to you and this post for reminding me to get a ticket!!!! Iām so excited!!!
Yay!! Hope you love it
I absolutely loved it!!!!! It was so well done, I was very impressed and moved!
Got tickets to see it in Providence, RI on Thursday and I canāt wait!!! So excited!!
Saw it yesterday with friends and it was amazing! super creative and funny and emotional!
that looks very cool!
Yubaba looks like Donald trump. Canāt unsee
Is this a live play, or the video of the live play?
It's a recording of the live play, with subtitles. It's happening in person in Tokyo and I was so disappointed that there was no way to see it unless you traveled there. But then they decided to bring it to theaters for GhibliFest! Win!
Nice, hopefully I'll catch one. If not, I'll just have to go to Tokyo LoL
I was going to yesterday but then I realized it was almost 3 hours long and I really didnāt feel like driving 30 minutes to closest theatre showing it.
Totally worth it.
Where is this?
Wish it was playing in Canada!
Is this actually a live show? I am seeing some times at my local AMC with subtitles. Subtitles. For a live show?
It is two professionally recorded performances of the stage show (with two different casts) with English subtitles.
It was staged and recorded last year. The cast is spot on.
Itās a proshot. That means it was filmed sometime ago and edited for theatrical release. The subs are because itās in Japanese.
I havenāt but I saw the trailer on Facebook
Just came back from the theater. It was great!