Is Spirited Away about child trafficking?

It is said that Miyazaki likes to address political problems and current events in his films. The one that is linked to Spirited Away is the major issue of child prostitution. Throughout the movie, there are also several instances that may serve as proof for this theory, so let's go through them.
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Is Spirited Away based on child trafficking?

However, while this theory is popular, it simply isn't true. Miyazaki has talked about Spirited Away's origins, creation, and themes in many different interviews. For instance, in an interview with Animage magazine in 2001. Miyazaki said the film was inspired by the vacations he took with his family and their friends.
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What does the baby represent in Spirited Away?

Yubaba has a giant baby because everyone has a grating weakness they find difficult to manage. Whatever Zeniba's seal represents, Yubaba wants it because she's greedy and grasping for power. Chihiro falls into the spirit world because she's on a hero's journey, and everything follows from there.
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What is the real message of Spirited Away?

Spirited Away is a manifestation of fears and anxieties as seen through the lens of its young lead female character, Chihiro. How Chihiro chooses to react to the ever-changing circumstances around her, even the most horrifying ones, defines this film's central moral.
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What did Haku symbolize in Spirited Away?

In his guise as a white dragon his appearance suggests a river: flowing and graceful. As Haku, however, he is not always so composed, and he exhibits both bravery and real sadness. The river he once represented, the Kohaku River, was drained and paved over to build an apartment complex, and Haku is truly a lost soul.
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Spirited Away (Human Trafficking)



What does No-Face symbolize?

In an interview, Miyazaki reminded us that Japanese spirits do not have a form, so each spirit, including No-Face, is really just a representation of that god or spirit in a more solid form. "Japanese gods have no actual form: They are in the rocks, in pillars, or in the trees.
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What do the paper birds in Spirited Away mean?

In the film, the Shikigami are portrayed as being emotionless creatures acting under the will of whoever commands them (Zeniba, in the film's only case). They appear to show no signs of human expression, but are incapable of moving after their fragile paper bodies are torn or crushed.
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What does the bath house symbolize in Spirited Away?

Located in the spirit world, the bathhouse is where the spirits come to replenish themselves.
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What do the spirits in Spirited Away represent?

The presence of supernatural beings in the film is a major allusion to the Shinto belief that everything--rivers, mountains, even in things as mundane as vegetables and umbrellas--possess a “spirit.” The presence of these beings serves as a reminder to Sen/Chihiro and ultimately, to the viewers, to value everything and ...
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Is Spirited Away inappropriate?

Not only is it an epic and surreal adventure, but the animation is detailed and visually spectacular. But because of its extremely complex storyline, long length and scary themes, it's better suited to older children. Younger children might find it both disturbing and boring.
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What is Spirited Away based on?

The legendary director of Spirited Away, Hayao Miyazaki, has openly revealed that the movie was inspired by Japanese myths that were once well-known by members of his generation and now forgotten by the younger generation.
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Why are Chihiro's parents so mean?

According to a translation by RocketNews24, Miyazaki turned Chihiro's parents into pigs to represent the greed that took place during Japan's recession in the eighties.
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Is Spirited Away set in a brothel?

Therefore, the bathhouse is rumored to be a metaphor for a brothel in which Chihiro must work to free her parents. Historically, bathhouses in Japan used to have prostitutes working in them and offering their services, until it was banned by the Edo police.
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Is no face a human?

One theory is that No-Face is actually a human being trapped in the Spirit World with no way out. His transparency, along with the see-through nature of Chihiro when she first enters the Spirit World, and the transparency of the passengers on the train, is what people use as evidence to support this particular theory.
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How did Chihiro know none of the pigs were her parents?

Zeniba explained that if Chihiro has ever met them before, everything stays within. Chihiro was able to break the spell on Haku by recognizing that he was the river spirit and calling out his name. By the same token, she was able to recognize that her parents were not among the pigs assembled.
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What does oil mean in Spirited Away?

("Abura" means "oil," and "ya" is the suffix used for a store.) The kanji sign "Aburaya" is seen above the gate of the bathhouse. The flag on the bathhouse also has the kanji character for "abura" (油). So the name of the bathhouse is "Oil store".
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What does flight symbolize in Spirited Away?

Flight. Flight usually has ominous purposes in Spirited Away. Yubaba turns into a bird to keep a close watch on her dominion, and when she flies, she resembles a military plane. Haku flies primarily to carry out secret missions for Yubaba.
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Is Haku Chihiros brother?

It's because Haku is Chihiro's dead brother. That day, Chihiro didn't lose her shoes in the river, she fell into the river. And her brother pulled her hand to save her, but instead, he was swept away and never came back. Because he gave his life for others, he was able to become a god in this river.
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Is Haku a Mizuchi?

Mizuchi (Spirited Away)

Haku is actually short for Nigihayami Kohakunushi, or “god of the swift amber river.” Unfortunately for Chihiro, mizuchi weren't always believed to morph into cute, green-haired, preteen boys who would save you even if it meant crashing headfirst into Yubaba's wall.
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What does the Radish Spirit represent?

The Radish Spirit is often used as an example of how one ought to treasure and revere even the humblest of the elements of our lives. "Even the radish is worthy of veneration."
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What did the water spirit give Sen?

While visiting her parents' pigpen, Haku gives Sen a goodbye card she had with her, and Sen realizes that she had already forgotten her real name. Haku warns her that Yubaba controls people by taking their names, and that if she forgets hers like he has forgotten his, she will never be able to leave the spirit world.
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Why was Chihiro not allowed to look back?

So the very short answer to the question we embarked on in the very beginning, Chihiro doesn't look back because she learned her lessons. ​And we know she's learned her lessons, because we get two shots of the hair band that she got. The first time, she almost turns back but doesn't.
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What did No-Face want from Chihiro?

No-Face becomes obsessed with Chihiro, and wants her to see her and her only. He becomes extremely volatile after being fed the Unnamed River Spirit's emetic dumpling by Chihiro, and, while fleeing from the obviously now-hostile spirit, she calls out to him twice to follow her.
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Is Lin human Spirited Away?

Lin is portrayed as a human being in the film. In the Japanese picture book (The Art of Spirited Away in English) Lin is described as a byakko (Japanese: 白虎), a white tiger, in the draft, which was later changed to byakko (Japanese: 白狐) meaning white fox..
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