Ghibli officially responds to rumors of a secret sequel to Spirited Away: it's just an urban legend

Recently, a Japanese TV station announced that it will rebroadcast "Spirited Away" on the popular program "Friday Blockbuster Screening". Another viewer asked about the legendary "Phantom" secret sequel of "Spirited Away". This time, the official Ghibli responded officially that there is no such thing and it is purely an urban legend.

·The Ghibli masterpiece "Spirited Away" once occupied the top spot in Japan's film and television box office for decades until it was surpassed by "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" last year. Its dreamy and inspiring storyline plus beautiful and fantastic pictures have always been regarded as one of the best representative works of the "Hayao Miyazaki" style. Of course, there are also many rumors circulating in the market.

The rumor that is closest to the truth is that there is a secret sequel to Spirited Away, which was only quietly shown in some cinemas. However, Ghibli officials officially responded that this is not true and is purely an urban legend.

The official also mentioned an idea that was abandoned in the early stages of the planning of "Spirited Away", which was about how the protagonist would enter the "Spirited Away" world. It was planned that Chihiro would open a mysterious dimensional door from her room to reach the monster bathhouse. As for why it was abandoned, it was because this idea easily reminded people of the European and American fantasy masterpiece "The Chronicles of Narnia" with the same method, which would slow down the pace of the film.