Spirited Away
As a child, we all grow up with a sense of awe and willingness to discover the world around us. It’s a fantastically free feeling that allows us to reach out and not look back, something that as adults we wouldn’t be as easily accepting of. Somewhere along the way, we decide to stop discovering and stop seeking to know the things around us, but to learn who we are and what defines us. Self-discovery isn’t a sprint, it’s most certainly a marathon that reaches through the entirety of our time in this life. For almost everyone this journey begins at a young age, and that’s often when it is the most terrifying. Miyazaki’s exploration of self-discovery shows growing up doesn’t have to be scary, in fact there can be fun had along the way. Not only that, it even goes as far as to show us that when we aren’t actively seeking out the person we want to be, our actions define the person we are, and who we have always been.
Traveling through the vast greenery of the countryside, we are introduced to the main character of Spirited Away: Chihiro. A young girl struggling with her roots being uplifted, and everything she knew being changed in the blink of an eye. Clinging to the last item in her possession that connects her to the friends of her past, a bouquet of dying flowers, Chihiro is frightened of starting over and just wants to be back in the life she knew and was happy with. Unfortunately, destiny has a different plan for her as her father barrels through forested back roads and across narrow causeways after making an incorrect turn. Upon discovering an abandoned and decrepit tunnel leading into a vast corridor of darkness, her parents decide to make the most of the situation by exploring what lies in front of them. Challenging her own fears and seeking to not be left alone, Chihiro enters the unknown, only to begin a journey she never expected to undertake.
As a story on it’s own, there’s some elements of Spirited Away that are fairly normal structure for a story of this kind, making it one of Miyazaki’s more familiar films from that standpoint. What makes it stand out though is the individual moments that allow the world to grow with it’s characters. Make no mistake, this story is Chihiro’s alone, it’s her journey through the world of the spirits; but the characters that surround her are what make it truly come to life in front of you. Yubaba, the proprietor of the bathhouse at the center of this story, reflects as more than just a simple villain character. She represents multiple themes meant to be tackled such as capitalism’s view of the world as nothing more than a group of assets. She also is the catalyst for Chihiro’s rite of passage, essentially forcing her to be put to work, removing the last few pieces of innocence from our heroine. There’s something eerie but familiar seeing this young girl scratch and claw her way through this world to get the thing she most desperately wants, even when it makes her uncomfortable.
Outside of Chihiro’s job at the bathhouse, she has a connection with a young boy who helps to protect her and give her guidance, Haku. Another traditional element of this story, Haku appears at first glance to be simply a love interest, but his purpose is much more deeply connected to our hero than at that original face value. Spirited Away in fact is a film full of characters with more than meets the eye. No-Face, a spirit seemingly just as lost as Chihiro has a quietly intense story throughout the film, but mirrors her struggles so much that they are perfect match to travel through this world together. For myself, this character didn’t come together for me until half way through the film, but once he does the film is much better for it.
Whether it’s the interiors of the bathhouse, the diverse looks of the multitude of spirits traveling through this mystical land, or even something as simplistic as a never-ending ocean; there’s always some sort of eye candy on screen for the viewer to enjoy. Miyazaki has truly reached into the minds of every child around the world and found something or another to really make this film unique from a visual standpoint. In fact, sometimes the visuals impact the storytelling, resulting in quiet moments of reflection that for some may go under the radar. There’s a specific moment on a train that even I upon first viewing didn’t recognize the power of, but when reflecting on the film, really stood out to me and evoked emotions that I didn’t even realizing I was having.
Seeing Spirited Away this past week, I saw how it impacted everything that came after it. Animation was truly made better by techniques and story-beats presented throughout this magical two hours of film-making. Chihiro while facing a rather generic journey at the onset of the story, ends up traveling through a condense version of life: growing up and learning to be the person she was meant to be with the help of her friends and even some unexpected allies. It’s a story that seems familiar, but manages to surprise at every turn. A story that touches your heart and soul, and takes you back to those times of childlike whimsy, and discovery who you are. A place filled with memories and bonds that last through this life and the next.
