Movies

Christian Bale Couldn't Say No to Ghibli Studio After Watching Spirited Away

Christian Bale Couldn't Say No to Ghibli Studio After Watching Spirited Away
Image credit: Legion-Media, Toho

Looks like Christian Bale is a fan of Hayao Miyazaki's work.

Summary:

  • Christian Bale became a fan of Studio Ghibli after watching Spirited Away.
  • Bale previously voiced Howl in the English version of Howl's Moving Castle.
  • He is now set to do the voice acting for a new Studio Ghibli film titled The Boy and The Heron.

Christian Bale, who proved that he can play pretty much any role in Hollywood, is apparently a fan of Hayao Miyazaki 's animation given that he has signed up to do his second voice role for a Studio Ghibli film.

Bale found himself captivated by the world of Studio Ghibli after watching Spirited Away. This enchantment with Hayao Miyazaki's animation led him to a lead role in one of Ghibli's most beloved films.

Bale was cast as the voice of Howl in the English version of Howl's Moving Castle. This 2004 film, adapted from Diana Wynne Jones's novel, resonated with audiences worldwide, grossing $190 million in Japan alone.

Christian Bale Returns with a New Voice Role in a Ghibli Film

Christian Bale Couldn't Say No to Ghibli Studio After Watching Spirited Away - image 1

Nineteen years after the release of Howl's Moving Castle, Bale is set to deliver his voice acting in the upcoming Studio Ghibli movie, The Boy and The Heron.

The Boy and the Heron is an original work, though it draws loose inspiration from the 1937 Japanese YA novel How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino.

Set against the backdrop of the Pacific War in 1943, the film introduces us to 12-year-old Mahito Maki, whose life takes a tragic turn when his mother, Hisako, perishes in a hospital fire in Tokyo.

Bale is set to do the voice-over for the protagonist’s father, Shoichi Maki. Other big-name actors set to do the English voice acting for the film include Robert Pattinson, Willem Dafoe, Dave Bautista, and others.

This film, marking Miyazaki's return to feature filmmaking after a decade, is set to premiere in the US’ theaters on December 8, 2023.

Source: IMDb