Spirited Away
The classic Ghibli film is hailed sacred by many, so I finally watched it for the first time. *Disclaimer: spoiler light, but not spoiler free*
Brief synopsis: Chihiro is a young girl who stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park with her parents as they’re moving to a new town on the countryside. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets a boy named Haku, who explains the park is a ryokan, or bathhouse, for yōkai who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm. Spirited Away follows Chihiro’s wild journey as she tries to save her parents and get back home. It’s nightmare-fuel enshrouded in a disorienting whirlwind of sparkling magic. And I love it. Writer and director, Hayao Miyazaki (宮崎 駿), as well as film company Studio Ghibli, are essentially gods in the world of animation. Spirited Away lays out gorgeous scenes while maintaining the raw, occasionally uncomfortable, aspects of reality. The film specifically tackles the blur between good and evil, mirroring the Shinto belief that, while humans are fundamentally good, all are capable of doing bad things. It’s a rare theme to be featured in Western media, but it plays out seamlessly in Spirited Away. The film is a visual masterpiece, on one hand, simply because it’s pleasing to look at. The level of detail is keen, and the setting is carefully unraveled piece by piece, rather than rushing through. The color palette is filled with vivid brights and pastels alike, all blending and artfully exercised. These elements build a digestible yet stimulating environment. Moreover, the film employs values of traditional Japanese painting to convey different moods, specifically the function of empty space in scenes to slow the pace and allow for calm moments of peace or contemplation. These instances in the movie break up the often-chaotic action sequences, which I find almost provides an episodic feel overall. However, as mentioned before, the movie can also take nightmarish turns, with humans turning into animals and characters being chased after to be eaten. The yōkai (spirits) also tend to originate from darker areas of inspiration. The main character even ugly cries into onigiri. I think there’s something to be said about the execution in these aspects of the film, as it’s obvious the imagination and depth of the visuals truly stands alone. Of course, characters themselves tend to make or break movies, and Spirited Away approaches that with an indifferent nonchalance I appreciate. Again, the film isn’t afraid to portray palpable aspects of realism to spare comfort. None of the characters are perfect, even the ones you’re rooting for. While I could go through them all, I want to talk about the iconic No-Face, or Kaonashi (lit. Faceless in Japanese). It’s a strong character despite contributing very little to the dialogue, and proves to be a great example for English teachers to use when explaining that “antagonist” doesn’t necessarily mean “bad guy” (even if No-Face is technically listed on the villain wiki as a tragic yōkai). The creepy-cute and gentle aura it's given is a refreshing find in animation. It’s no surprise to me that, with a deeper look, the creature represents the fundamentals of the Shinto religion. Through various facets of the movie, Miyazaki depicts what he’s described as the consequences of Japan turning away from their Shinto roots, including the belief in altruism for the sake of the kami (gods) and nature. No-Face embodies this as it learns kindness and patience, despite its initial greed and compulsive tendencies. Overall, I understand the hype Spirited Away has always gotten. I love it. It offers great teachings for kids that are unique to its dazzling, fantastical story, but the unapologetic attention to detail, in both the visuals and composition, render it worth watching at any age. Make this your movie of the month, and you won’t regret it. Thanks for reading! Be sure to check back in September, or subscribe for email notifications! Dedicated to my sister, Samantha, who loves Miyazaki’s work and the magnificent Studio Ghibli films she’ll kill me for not having seen xoxo
