Entertainment giant The Walt Disney Co. on Thursday said it had acquired the U.S. rights to "Spirited Away," a movie by famed Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki that was Japan's highest-grossing film ever.
Disney said its rights under the deal cover the U.S. theatrical, home entertainment and television releases. It said it also acquired video distribution rights in Japan, as well as theatrical, home entertainment and television rights in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and France. The movie, called "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" in Japanese, has grossed 29.3 billion yen ($222 million) in Japan and won the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival.
The U.S. theatrical release of "Spirited Away," which will be dubbed in English, is set for this fall, said Dick Cook, in one of his first major announcements since being named chairman of Disney Studios two months ago.
The film, which was first released in July 2001, follows the fanciful adventures of 10-year-old Chihiro, a girl who discovers a secret world when she and her family get lost and venture through a hillside tunnel.
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