Hollywood and the global animation community continued to mourn the loss of Daveigh Chase on Friday, one day after news broke that the actress — beloved for voicing Chihiro in Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away, Lilo in Disney's Lilo & Stitch, and Samara in The Ring — had died at the age of 35. Social media platforms were flooded with tributes from fans who grew up with her voice defining some of the most iconic animated characters of the early 2000s.

Studio Ghibli's North American distributor GKIDS issued a formal statement Friday morning expressing deep condolences to Chase's family, calling her performance as Chihiro 'one of the most cherished voice performances in the history of animated film.' Disney Animation also released a brief tribute acknowledging her contribution to Lilo & Stitch, whose live-action remake has been a box office success in 2025, bringing renewed attention to the original film and Chase's foundational work.

Chase had reportedly been battling health issues earlier in June, with sources close to her family noting she had suffered from malnutrition. The circumstances of her death prompted renewed discussion in entertainment circles about the mental and physical health pressures faced by child actors, with several advocacy organizations calling on studios to strengthen support structures for young performers.

Fellow voice actors and alumni of both the Spirited Away and Lilo & Stitch productions took to Instagram and X to share personal memories. Tara Strong, Grey DeLisle, and several other prominent voice acting figures posted heartfelt messages, with many noting Chase's rare ability to convey emotional depth that resonated across languages and cultures. The hashtag #ThankYouDaveigh trended internationally through Friday afternoon.

Chase's death arrives during a period of heightened visibility for the properties she helped define. The Lilo & Stitch live-action film's ongoing success has introduced a new generation to the original animation, and streaming numbers for the 2002 classic reportedly spiked significantly overnight. Industry observers noted the bittersweet timing, as the actress's foundational contributions were being rediscovered by younger audiences even as the world learned of her passing.