What is the main 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.

What was the moral of Spirited Away?

1 Never Forget Who You Are

In Spirited Away, one message holds itself above all others, and that is to never forget who you are.

What is the main theme of Spirited Away?

There are themes of identity, greed and isolation, and loss of past that are specific to the film Spirited Away in addition to the larger films' themes.

What does the ending of Spirited Away mean?

Part of "Spirited Away" is about Chihiro realizing this herself. Compared to her time in the bathhouse, moving away becomes much more manageable and she ends the film with a more optimistic outlook on it. This idea of recontextualizing the past is hammered home by another character named Haku.

What does Haku represent 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.

Hidden Meaning in Spirited Away (Miyazaki) – Earthling Cinema

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.

Why did No-Face want Chihiro?

No-Face becomes obsessed with Chihiro, and wants to see her and her only. He becomes extremely volatile after being fed the 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.

What is the meaning in Spirited Away?

In Japanese folklore, spiriting away (Japanese: Kamikakushi (神隠し), lit. 'hidden by kami') refers to the mysterious disappearance or death of a person, after they had angered the gods (kami).

Is Spirited Away a love story?

It's not a love story exactly — Sen is only ten, but Sen has shown she cares for others. And her caring has resulted in tangible benefits for the people in her life. When Sen/Chihiro leaves the sprit world, all of the employees of the bathhouse, who had been putting her down when she first arrived, cheer for her.

What does No-Face in Spirited Away represent?

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.

Why did Haku tell Chihiro not to look back?

In my vantage point, Haku told Chihiro not to look back because she would've been somehow stuck between the two dimensions. If not that, Haku just probably didn't want her to remember looking back at his face while she was leaving the spiritual world.

Did Haku like Chihiro?

He has the ability to fly in his true form, which is a dragon. Over the course of the movie his relationship with Chihiro becomes stronger, especially after she learns he is a dragon. This bond eventually leads to them falling in love, for it was their love for each other that broke Zeniba's spell on Haku.

Why is the baby so big 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.

Does Chihiro forget?

Well, according to Miyazaki himself, Chihiro did not recall her experience after leaving the spirit world at the end — but added that it doesn't mean completely forgetting it, and how there's a likely chance she'll eventually remember what happened.

Is Spirited Away based on a true story?

Miyazaki's 'Spirited Away' Is a Fantastic Animated Fairytale Based on True-Life Events. Be first to like this. Japanese auteur Hayao Miyazaki was supposed to be retired, but he just couldn't stay away from animation.

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.

How old is Haku in Spirited Away?

Appearance. Haku appears to be around 12 years old in physical age. He has straight, dark green hair in a bob haircut and slanted, green eyes.

Did Haku and Chihiro ever meet again?

So when one fan asked if Chihiro and Haku ever reunited, they learned it was possible. "Haku was the spirit of the river that runs near the house where Chihiro used to live. If Chihiro ever visits that river...," Suzuki wrote. So, there you have it.

What were the paper things chasing Haku?

Shikigami, in traditional Japanese folklore, are either invisible or appear in the shape of neatly-folded paper manikins. However, in the film's adaptation, the Shikigami are portrayed as fully-visible, semi-humanoid paper creatures with the ability to fly at extremely high speeds (on par with Haku in his dragon form).

Does Chihiro remember Haku?

Chihiro doesn't remember Haku but Haku, as the older sibling, remembers Chihiro and even knows her name without her having to tell him, saying he's known her since she was little.

What happens to Haku after Chihiro leaves?

Haku is already dead at the start of Spirited Away - he is a river spirit and 'dies' when his river is filled in/redirected. That's how he ended up with Yubaba in the first place. However, death is different for spirits. Chihiro releases Haku from Yubaba's service, which releases his soul.

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.

Are they dead in Spirited Away?

Spirited Away, the main character is dead and on a journey through the afterlife towards redemption a la Dante's Inferno.