Studio Ghibli Thoughts: Spirited Away

 

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is one of my favorite films ever. It was a favorite since I watched it with my family way back in 2003 in cinemas for the first time by mistake; my parents were only open to watching an anime film because it had Disney’s illustrious release credentials on the title. Only years later did I discover that it wasn’t ever a Disney film, and learned about the true majesty of Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki’s work. To this day, this is easily one of my most-watched films, and the movie still feels fresh every time I watch it.

This is a big reason why writing these thoughts may prove to be challenging if I want to keep them the same length as my previous ones. Just like watching every time watching Spirited Away seems to reveal new things, I feel like every time I write will focus on different things. That’s because the film is flooded with ideas, with every screen meticulously filled with details that are impossible to catch in a single viewing, but let us try anyway.

Spirited Away’s story is the adventure of a 10-year-old girl, Chihiro, who finds herself stranded in the spirit world after her parents are cursed and turned into pigs. In the spirit world, Chihiro is guided to a giant bathhouse where the spirits and gods of the realm come to bathe. To survive her ordeal and save her parents, Chihiro must be able to find strength within herself and a will to live and survive that may be alien to children of modern upbringing, but the film argues is something that may be innate in all of us. Separated from the trapping of modernity, Chihiro finds strength in kindness, the ability to connect with others, and the value of simple hard work.

While this simple synopsis is Miyazaki’s own interpretation of the movie, it doesn’t account for its biggest strengths:


First, the universe lore as presented in the bathhouse is simply breathtaking. There are hundreds of creatures and spirits that Studio Ghibli created for this film, showcasing a spirit realm that is filled to the brim with possible storylines. Each spirit visiting the bathhouse, just like in the Stink Spirit scene, suggests an expanded narrative possibility.


Second, the film is filled with iconic characters who each steal much of their scenes. From the formidable bathhouse mistress Yubaba with her giant head, to the unassuming lamppost guide in the swamp, there is a wealth of personality and creativity shown here.

Both these elements are best presented by the character of No Face, who is a fascinating cipher for the audience to load as many theories into as they can. Is No Face the spirit of modern Japan, whose fixation on material wealth leads to gluttony, over-exuberance, and bloat? Or is No Face simply a mirror of his environment, such that the greed present in the bathhouse turned him into a greedy spirit? I have seen more than these two theories, and I have a different thought every time I watch the film.

It doesn't hurt that he has some of the most memorable scenes (and designs) in any Ghibli film. 

In conclusion, Spirited Away is a masterpiece and an obvious top-tier Ghibli film. It is filled to the brim with personality, ideas, and character such that it restates its claim every time I rewatch it with no hint of boredom. Despite the film dripping with symbolism, it also works as a simple adventure film where an unlikely hero emerges in Chihiro, simply in finding her own inner strength and finding the meaning of living.