# Will Miyazaki's new animation "Spirited Away" succeed in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 15, 2002, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507 "2002-09-15T03:44:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/21 "2002-09-27T07:08:05Z")
I’d like to think the total absence of quality films at the moment (again, Swimfan #1 in its week? Ecks vs. Sever?) will help its spread. Of course Disney’s going to have to hurry if it wants to beat (or possibly join) the November/December Oscar rush. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/22 "2002-09-27T07:33:53Z")
I think the two interesting comparison points for Spirited Away are Big,Fat, Greek Wedding and Crouching Tiger both of which had very limited releases but ended up grossing more than 100 million. Wedding started at about 100 theatres and grossed about 5000 per theatre in its first week. This was enough to get it into more and more theatres in subsequent weeks. That may be be a good sign for Spirited since it has grossed much more per theatre. Crouching Tiger started in even fewer theatres than Spirited but grossed an amazing 40,000 per theature in its first week. Still it is a good example of a foreign film building up good box-office if it has the right appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2002, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/23 "2002-09-27T16:22:59Z")
I saw it last night and I loved it. I’m not a huge anime fan but I have seen PM. At the theatre I saw it at they had two prints. ONE of them was advertised as digital. They did not tell you that the digital was ENGLISH and the non-digital was subtitled. Thankfully the subtitled was showing at the time I wanted to go. (Although Susan Egan should be pretty good at this the dubbing in PM was annoying) The thing that suprised me the most is how many laugh out loud funny moments the film has. The trailer and other ads don’t really bring that out. I’m definatly going to tell my friends to see it and I’m sure I’ll see it again. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/24 "2002-09-30T06:46:38Z")
The new figures for the last week are out. Spirited Away is now playing at 53 theatres but it’s per theatre figures have dropped to just below 10,000 which is still respectable though. [http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2002/39.htm](http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2002/39.htm) In comparison Greek Wedding was at 5,700 in its second week from 141 theatres. Overall I think that despite the drop Spirited Away is still doing well enough that it will get more theatres next week. The key is whether it can hold a per theatre average of above 5,000 as it gets a wider and wider release which is what Greek Wedding managed to do for several months. [http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2002/39.htm](http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2002/39.htm) ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2002, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/25 "2002-09-30T07:11:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > \*\*I saw it last night and I loved it. I’m not a huge anime fan but I have seen PM. > > At the theatre I saw it at they had two prints. ONE of them was advertised as digital. They did not tell you that the digital was ENGLISH and the non-digital was subtitled. Thankfully the subtitled was showing at the time I wanted to go. (Although Susan Egan should be pretty good at this the dubbing in PM was annoying)\*\* Well, I already mentioned it but I think it deserves repeating: the dub job on this release was phenomenal. I usually hate to watch anime dubbed, and I really _really_ hated the dub of _Princess Mononoke_, but there wasn’t a single moment in _Spirited Away_ where I thought the voices weren’t appropriate. And as I mentioned, Suzanne Pleshette as Yu Baba in particular was really good. I appreciated the dub because there was so much going on visually I was glad not to be distracted by subtitles! ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/26 "2002-10-01T04:12:06Z")
I agree wholeheartedly with what Sol said about the SA dub (though there was one moment I would have had redone). Wanted mostly to pop in and tell **Osiris** that Spirited Away is scheduled for a release in Hawaii next month. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@The\_Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tim)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/27 "2002-10-01T05:01:24Z")
Stupid Disney release it somewhere near Boulder. Maybe I should placate Mickey with a sacrifice, but what would be appropriate? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@The\_Tim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tim)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/28 "2002-10-01T05:08:23Z")
Stupid Disney release it somewhere near Boulder. Maybe I should placate Mickey with a sacrifice, but what would be appropriate? ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/29 "2002-10-01T05:14:57Z")
Thank KK. It’s probably going to be at the arthouse. I’m sure my mom will go with me. She really enjoys foreign films. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/30 "2002-10-01T06:22:24Z")
I don’t think you can really compare this movie to MBFGW. What I would wager is driving MBFGW is the same thing that drove Titanic, only slightly older and wiser. I think Spirited Away’s audience is and will be more different and diverse. I would say right now there’s no really successful model to be followed in the US for Disney. Sadly I’d be surprised if this went over 10 million in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/31 "2002-10-01T06:33:31Z")
Here’s Princess Mononoke’s numbers. Sounds familiar I’m afraid. 8@18k 38@10k 47@5k ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2002, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/32 "2002-10-01T07:29:44Z")
Yeah you are right that MBFGW is a different film with a different audience. I was just using it as a rough comparision for what a limited release film has to do to succeed. But probably you are right that Spirited Away won’t go much further unless there is more aggressive marketing from Disney. Still even if it only reaches close to 10 million dollars that will be a new standard for anime in the US. ---
**Author:** ![fader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@fader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fader)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/33 "2002-10-04T18:49:09Z")
I’m really looking forward to seeing this gem. I predict that this movie will get some legs once the buzz starts really building. I heard that this movie is actually better than Princess Mononoke. Which to me is beyond belief. I’m still trying to decide whether or not to see the dubbed version so I don’t get distracted from the art. Ah…fuggit…i’ll watch it 2xs then. ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/34 "2002-10-05T05:54:55Z")
**fader** , as you could probably gather, I liked Spirited Away better than PM for the reasons I cited above. And while I don’t know if those make it a _better_ movie (eyes, beholders, etc.), I think it makes it more accessible to John Q. Public. And don’t sweat seeing the dubbed version. As has been noted above, the dub is phenomenal. Oh and, **Osiris** , I’m having an off month, what are those numbers? ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/35 "2002-10-05T14:45:24Z")
The numbers are screens and box office per screen for each week for PM. Spirited Away has also dropped from week 1 to 2 (but has somewhat more screens than PM). It should be interesting to see if it drops to 5000 in the third week like PM. The numbers will be out tomorrow. **fader** , Check out the yahoo link in one of my posts above for several clips from the film. That should give a rough idea of what the dub is like. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/36 "2002-10-05T15:04:12Z")
Saw it last night and loved it. And that’s saying a lot, given that I have hated every other anime film I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/37 "2002-10-05T17:23:50Z")
Loved it. Wonderful children’s(and adult’s) classic. Great dubbing. ---
**Author:** ![CyberPundit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@CyberPundit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CyberPundit)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/38 "2002-10-06T23:38:56Z")
The new weekend figures: [http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2002/40.htm](http://boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2002/40.htm) SA is 16 with 630,000 from 97 screens for an average of 6,500. This is significantly better than PM in its third week. However if SA wants to stay around, the per screen will have to stabilize at around 5,000 pretty soon ,as the number of screens increases. The next couple of weeks could be crucial. ---
**Author:** ![dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorkusmalorkusmafia/32/7266_2.png) [@dorkusmalorkusmafia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorkusmalorkusmafia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/39 "2002-10-07T14:21:26Z")
I saw this movie last Tuesday alone because none of my friends wanted to see it for some reason. I loved it. I doubt they would have liked it as well as me. A lot of the religious subtext would go over their heads. The animism relevant to the Shinto religion really reached me, not because I practice Shinto but because my religion is animistic. This made the movie that much more enjoyable for me. I loved it. I definately want to see it again. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507/40 "2002-10-08T06:06:25Z")
I saw it here in Toronto last week. Amazing and excellent movie. All the Toronto reviewers apparently gave it an excellent grade. My friends who have seen it keep wanting to come back, and bring _their_ friends. And these are people who are not “anime fans” by any means. When I saw it the theatre was packed. I hope it has a chance… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-miyazakis-new-animation-spirited-away-succeed-in-the-us/128507.md?page=3)