Spirited Away: Eat to Survive, Learn to Live
And my first post in a long time.
A mesmerizing journey that demonstrates the importance of remembering who you truly are, Spirited Away is a masterpiece to remember. In addition, it is beautifully woven with a magical tale of friendship between a lost girl and a slave-dragon. Magnificently pieced together by well-known director and animator, Hayao Miyazaki, the show is almost flawless. From the moment the movie opened with a nice country scene, I was gripped. That being said, the artwork is impressive, the music brings delight to your ears, and each character seems to be a hero in his or her own way. Moreover, even the simplest of events can contain the deepest of meanings; I could easily compare some of the happenings in this movie to real life situations (that, or I’ve been paying too much attention to my extra bible-study classes).
In every book and movie, there is always more than one moral to it – and Spirited Away proves to be a fine example of this. This inspiring film started off with a pleasing vibe and ended in exactly the same way, leaving myself, and the lucky few who watched it with me, unable to praise its brilliance because it had simply taken our breaths away. In fact, the idea of a girl running around with a funny-looking dragon didn’t appeal to me when the movie first came out, so at that time, I couldn’t see why so many people seemed to love it. But having finally watched it, I can now understand why even my non-animefan friends are so remarkably fond of it that they can watch it several times over without getting bored.
Chihiro is the main protagonist who finds herself lost in a strange world full of village spirits and a witch of complex power. Chihiro guides the audience through a spectacular journey of self-acceptance and sticking to what your heart tells you even until the end. It’s not so hard to appreciate her simple yet profound character: a little ordinary girl who started off rather pessimistic about settling in a new town, soon willing to accept her new life in a land beyond imagination. Frankly, she’s one of those rare characters that always seem to do the “right” thing, be it fixing her own mistakes in an inspiring and mature way, or lending a hand to others in a just manner.
Out of all the characters in Spirited Away, I find No Face to be the most intriguing and somewhat inspiring. His part in the film reminds me of short-lived replay of a celebrity’s life: they often start off as a ‘nobody’, until a particular someone opens a gate to their new life. It is then that this ‘nobody’ all of a sudden becomes a ‘somebody’ that really matters. Although in time, the spirits tire of No Face and continue feeding him only because their life suddenly becomes more important than the money.
In the end, No Face swallows three staff members of the bathhouse and wolfs on an entire banquet, but what he can only offer in his ugly state (money), Chihiro refuses to accept. While this sub-plot pained me, Chihiro acted in a very mature way; while those ravenous spirits sought for more riches when they are living under Yubaba’s care just fine, Chihiro doesn’t even show up where all the fuss about free money is taking place. Then again, she is only a little girl who probably doesn’t understand that gold could only buy her so much. Even so, she will be the brightest during the darkest times of gluttony (for wealth). Instead of judging No Face or trying to get an explanation out of him, Chihiro tries to understand him on her own and then makes an attempt to help him by leading him outside.
Earlier on in the movie, Chihiro’s parents transform into two hideous pigs after pathetically consuming food that is not meant for them. This scene reminds me that humans unveil their true nature when they are the hungriest. In saying that, I don’t mean that you’re literally a pig when you’re starving, but the way they acted and swallowed the food is certainly similar to that of a famished boar. Quickly moving along, Yubaba seemingly represents an incident that causes you to lose your place in life and wonder who you are. She ‘stole’ people’s names and made them work under her – this is akin to a time when you do so much of one thing that you end up forgetting what you first sought out to do. I think what people need is time to find themselves again, and those patient enough will find it when they least expect it.
Spirited Away is one of the finest anime shows I’ve come across. If you haven’t seen this movie already, I extremely recommend that you do so now because it’s a pleasant film for all ages, and great to watch with your family and friends. Even I could not restrain the tiny feminism I have within me: every time the mouse and fly appeared (which Yubaba’s twin sister had shrunk the baby and crow into), I would squeal in excitement. The characters are so adorable that you can’t help but grin when they are on-screen, and the feeling you obtain after you watch this film is most definitely one extraordinary souvenir.
PS. Sorry no bunny comic yet, but it’s harder than you think since all these news just suddenly come up.
I’m completely off topic here, but the girl in the last caption looks an awful lot like ranka.
Anyway, spirited away is one of those great anime movies that I haven’t had the privilege to see yet. All in good time I guess
Ezs last blog post..Allison To Lillia – 14
Ah I like Spirited Away; watched it at least thrice so far. It’s amazing how the boundaries between fantasy and reality are blurred and an alternate reality is introduced. I first thought that the food in the flick was rather appetizing but my opinion of food changed soon after I see humans turning into pigs and a monster that eats everything; including the other characters.
Hynavians last blog post..Strike Witches Anime Vs Manga
@Ez
That’s a boy, or a trap to you at least.
@blissmo
It’s a great movie, though I’ve only seen it once, due to my nature of not watching anime/movies I like again unless I have the DVD’s. It’s nice how the flowing animation can adapt to be beautiful and disturbing at different times.
Omisyths last blog post..Mission-E First Impressions: At Long Last A Sub! And Skintight Battlesuits
Probably the first of the few anime movies they brought over here, I watched this long ago at the cinemas. Awesome stuff.
Shins last blog post..Nogizaka Haruka Goes To Comiket 74
Man… this brings back so many good memories. I think this was what made me realise that anime was from Japan. Back then I thought Pokemon, DBZ etc were actually from the US. T_T
Yitzas last blog post..Pancakes for dinner
This was one of the few anime movies to get a wide release in the US (dubbed of course, but by Hollywood actors instead of ADV yahoos) during a brief case of Miyazaki-lust that Americans found themselves afflicted with not that long ago. It was surreal, not going to the tiny indie theaters where they show things like Satoshi Kon flicks, but to a massive megaplex cinema, and to see Billy Bob Thornton’s voice or some shit coming out of an anime.
That said, I own it, like 90% of Miyazaki movies, because it is absolutely awesome. Might be my favorite one.
I absolutely love this move, along with most other Miyazaki and Ghibli productions. The only downside to this movie to me is how whiny Chihiro is, but I suppose the movie wouldn’t really be what it was without that.
I’ve noticed that people tend to like Miyazaki works even if they aren’t into anime. In fact, my little brother and sister love this movie. I think it may have actually been the first anime movie of mine that I had them sit down and watch with me; that or The Cat Returns (not Miyazaki, but still Ghibli). I also invited a girl who isn’t into anime over to my friend’s and my regular anime viewing get together and she watched Princess Mononoke with us and loved it.
So, pretty much everyone loves his work. I mean, he even had a Thursday night slot on Turner Classic Movies for a while.
Good movie… but geared mostly for family and kids. Definitely lacks the more mature themes found in Princess Mononoke and Nausicaä.
FFVIIKnights last blog post..Hoshi no Koe – Chapter 2
Shit, I am going to the rental store and picking this up to watch again.
C.I.s last blog post..Sighh…I hate myself for not being able to sympathise the fanservice-ness of ZnT.
Ghibli and Miyazaki always guarantee an entertaining movie. Spirited Away was and still is visually stunning and enthralls the viewer with its atmosphere but lacks greatly in the story department. That’s not to say it’s a bad movie, far from it. It’s still better than most animated movies from other studios (Japanese or American). Though if given a choice of Miyazaki movies to watch, Spirited Away is near the bottom for me.
This is not only my favourite animated film, but it is also my favourite film of all time in general! The story is something that you never come across and it just sweeps its audience into a new world that’s guaranteed to entertain! I wouldn’t know where to begin on how much I love this film! It’s just too good!
losttys last blog post..And…I’m gone!
Spirited Away is one of the best Miyazaki films
Kitsunes last blog post..Bōnen no Xamdou – Episode 3
I must be the only person on Earth who didn’t like this movie. It was too slow moving and the plot seemed to go nowhere. All the elements just seemed too random. The visual were nice but often grossed, like the mud monster and the pig mom and dad. It’s like an Alice-in-wonderland wannabe but without the characters are nowhere as charming as what made AiW successful.
bakanekos last blog post..Next Gantz target sighted: Aya Hirano
@Ez: YOU ARE TOO FUNNY! That’s Haku, and it’s a boy :3
@bakaneko: I suppose it was slow and the pig versions of the parents were definitely a turn-off lols, but I think I just couldn’t stop squealing over the mouse and fly, and the characters were just too cute!
I said it before, but Miyazaki is at his strongest when he stops hating and bashing (for example, all things military). Remove the hate and he blossoms.
just to share something? — The dragon’s movement were patterned from an eel (Miyazaki did)
By the way blissmo, just finished watching it? I just don’t get why its ratings are so high. I already watched it and I didn’t appreciated it. I don’t know whats with me but I just didn’t like… But it’s really weird because many people liked it… o_O Oh man, I don’t know why …
jitenshas last blog post..Wild ARMs 5 – Sad
This is a really nice review, blissmo. I wonder, what did you make of the “train scene” with No-Face? It’s my favourite part of the movie.
bateszis last blog post..You call yourself human?
@jitensha: Haha, I know I just finished since my teacher made us, but I really liked it! Despite it being rather of a family thing etc, it was just too cute.
@bateszi: I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite lols, and it was draggy kinda, but yes, I thought it was still nice and sweet, and it made me feel at peace. My favourite scene would be all the scenes involving the fat mouse XD
jitenshas last blog post..Wild ARMs 5 – Sad
I’ve always found this movie to be entertaining (the bodyless heads amused me no end) but always thought of it as a movie intended for younger viewers – I appreciate its beauty and innocence but never really thought of it as being one of his best. I know his eco-fable theme has been done repeatedly but Spirited Away felt a bit lacking in anything solid, or any complex storytelling. But then, it does have a simpler, fairytale feel to it than anything he’s done before, apart from Totoro. And it is still the prettiest film he’s done.
After reading this though, some aspects that I thought were too random or too steeped in Japanese tradition for ignorant Westerners like me to appreciate make a bit more sense now. I’ll bear this post in mind when I rewatch it because things like No-Face baffled me a bit. Did anyone else interpret Haku’s true nature as a jibe aimed at industrialising the countryside or similar? I felt quite a wave of sadness when his background was explained, but it was a nice way to end things.
Damn, I really do need to rewatch this! A great post. ^_^
Martins last blog post..Allison to Lillia and the train arc: the wedding cake is a lie
@jitensha: It was last semester for the last day of school. Kinda like a party, but we had no choice but to watch it or do homework lols
@Martin: I appreciate your long comment! They’re so rare these slacking days lols. At first, I thought Spirited Away was just a childish show with no particular meaning as well, and No Face was sort of random, but then I thought about it and wondered a bit more, you know, if there was any real significance in adding that sort of character in besides killing time, and then I found it lols. I haven’t seen Totoro yet, but I heard it was just cute things being done by cute things, so it’s not a show I’ll be looking forward to when watching it. I didn’t notice anything about Haku simply because I didn’t really like him lols. And you really should re-watch this lols
Didn’t this come out years ago 0.o? It was showing on my high school’s anime week thingy years ago too:o
I did remember getting bored from watching naruto movie no(who cares) 
Didn’t really get to watch it all(missed some of the middle bits)…I forgot why though..some distraction come up.
Makotos last blog post..Birdy The Mighty Decode 02:Afromania 4eva
My first memory of this film was that I rented it and my brother got up early in the morning and watched it without me, the bastard!
Then I saw it in its entirety later on, and loved it.
Great movie indeed, this. I loved the soundtrack.
Leave your response!
Navigation
Comments
Categories
Poll
Authors
Links
Meta
Affiliates
Recent Posts
Most Commented
Most Viewed