“Spirited Away” (千と千尋の神隠し), Original Japanese Home Video Promotional Poster 2002, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q2

This is an original Japanese B2 promotional poster issued in 2002 for the first-ever home video release of Spirited Away (千と千尋の神隠し), Hayao Miyazaki’s landmark Studio Ghibli masterpiece. Rather than promoting the original theatrical run, this poster was created to advertise the film’s historic VHS and DVD launch on 19 July 2002, making it a distinct and highly collectible piece of early-release Ghibli home media ephemera.

Film background
Released theatrically in 2001, Spirited Away quickly became a cultural phenomenon in Japan and one of the defining animated films of its era. Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli, it follows Chihiro as she enters a mysterious spirit world and must find the courage to survive, work, and reclaim her identity. By the time this poster was issued in 2002, the film had already become an enormous success, and this home video campaign marked the moment it moved from the cinema into Japanese homes for the first time.

Poster design
This is a beautiful and highly recognisable design built around the quiet, iconic encounter between Chihiro and No-Face (Kaonashi). Set against a warm, golden interior background, the composition has an unusual stillness that perfectly reflects the film’s emotional and visual atmosphere. The top copy reads “千と千尋を家に呼ぼう。”—roughly, “Let’s invite Sen and Chihiro into our home.” That line makes the poster especially appealing, because it directly ties the imagery to the significance of the 2002 home video release.

The lower section advertises the 19 July launch of the VHS and DVD editions, complete with images of the packaging and discs, and identifies the release as part of the “Ghibli ga Ippai Collection”. As a result, this is not just a promotional poster, but a document of one of the most important home media launches in Studio Ghibli history.

Rarity and significance
While not a theatrical one-sheet, this is a very desirable original Japanese promotional poster because it marks the first home video release of what was then Japan’s biggest modern animated phenomenon. Posters of this kind were produced for a specific retail and promotional purpose, and many were discarded after use. For Ghibli completionists, this is an especially attractive piece because it captures a key moment in the film’s release history rather than simply repeating the original cinema campaign.

Condition
Excellent. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale.

It is over 20 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.