‘Spirited Away‘ is a popular film by Hayao Miyazaki. It’s been over 20 years since this mystifying movie made its debut. Inspired by Miyazaki’s close friend’s 10-year-old daughter, this film shows the progress from a child to an adult while portraying how the world is. The world is a scary place – this message has been one of the core messages of this story. It also shows how one can overcome these fears and challenge themselves to be a better version of themselves. Interestingly the film drew a reference to Japan’s regression in the 80s by showing how the protagonist’s parents turn to pigs for their greed.
The main themes that surround the story are greed, loss of identity, isolation, and loss of the past. These themes teach a meaningful lesson in life and have thus successfully found their place in the movie. One can easily breeze through the movie, but the deeper meanings attached to it make it stand out from the rest.
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‘Spirited Away’: Behind The Doors
‘Spirited Away‘ is a movie focusing on the main character Chihiro. Chihiro is a 10-year-old girl who travels across the country to settle in a new place. And you can bet she’s not happy about it in the least! Like other kids, she is quite grumpy about her situation. While on their journey, her parents reach a dark tunnel on their way into the forest. Despite Chihiro’s fear and reluctance, they venture on the path, losing themselves to the spirit world.
There her parents stumble upon delicious food stalls and start eating vigorously with no signs of stopping. Despite Chihiro, ’s plead, they can’t seem to overcome their greed for more and get turned into pigs. Horrified with the whole situation the girl tries to run away from the place, only to release that she’s stuck in the new reality.
Haku, a river spirit (dragon) comes to the rescue of Chihiro and helps her get the proper space to cool her mind, strategize to save her parents (before they are sold as pork), and leave the spirit world behind. But not everyone is like Haku. The witch that controls the world, Yubaba assigns Chihiro to work at a bathhouse and earn her sake.
Before getting this opportunity she gets a new name from Yubaba. Her new identity stops her from returning to her past world and working for this world instead. This was also an opportunity for Sen (Chihiro’s new name) to find and rescue her parents. Here in the spirit world, if no one works they’ll turn to pigs.
This focuses on an important message to never let greed win. Chihiro’s journey faces many obstacles, but she overcomes each of them with new-found confidence and people who unconditionally help her after seeing her sincerity and focus on her goal. Saying thank you and being polite to strangers set as important keys in the story. Because of her politeness, and sincerity, she makes allies and even befriends Yubaba’s sister Zeniba.
Being separated from her parents is the worst nightmare a child can face, especially considering being stranded in an unknown world with spirits and specters. Though at first confused and scared, Chihiro successfully finds her parents, rescues them, and returns back to her world. Throughout her journey, two characters play a major role – Haku, and No-Face.
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The Ways Of The Spirit World
There’s a rule in the spirit world, that if Chihiro spends more time than needed there, she’ll start to forget her identity (including everything), and remain stuck there as a person named “Sen”. An urgency of time was beautifully portrayed through this message. Just like Chihiro, Haku has been in that world for far too long and has forgotten about his identity.
Through the help of Chihiro, he remembers being a river spirit of the Nigihayami Kohakunushi. The river got destroyed with the passage of time and left with no home, Haku was stranded in the spirit world, slowly losing his memories of his past self. He even remembers that once as a child, Chihiro fell into that river and it was he who rescued her it. Their love for each other turn into power, releasing Haku from Yubaba’s curse.
No-Face has also a great significance in the story. In the beginning, we have seen specters with faces and personalities, but it was only he who had no identity or face. Even after missing important aspects, Chihiro doesn’t rudely behave towards him and politely greets him each time they meet. She even allows him in the bathhouse where he was rudely shut out (without knowing though).
Looking at her kindness, No-Face attaches himself to Chihiro. He follows her everywhere and tries to offer her gold to satisfy her. But she has already faced what greed can do to people. She rejects free food or gold, making the specter a bit dangerous for her own good. In the movie No Face represented, Chihiro’s loss of identity, fear of abandonment, and loneliness.
Later when No-Face gets a job at Zeniba, he dedicates himself to it, leaving Chihiro to finish her journey. Having faith in what she did becomes the key aspect of her rescue. In the end, as Chihiro leaves the spirit world with her parents, Haku advises her not to look back. This can be because he wanted her to leave the place without further getting emotionally invested. The movie is a must-watch. It’s a rollercoaster of life lessons, actions, and love.
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