She confronts an engorged No-Face, who reveals he is very lonely. ", highest-grossing film in Japanese history, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train, National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Film, Directing in an Animated Feature Production, Annie Award for Writing in a Feature Production, Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production, The Making of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" Part 1, "Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Overtakes Your Name to Become 2nd Highest-Grossing Anime Film of All Time Worldwide", Shinto Perspectives in Miyazaki's Anime Film 'Spirited Away' (PDF), "15 Fascinating Facts About Spirited Away", "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Film Is 1st Since Spirited Away to Earn 30 Billion Yen", "Toho Updates Spirited Away Lifetime Japanese Box Office Gross as Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Inches Closer to #1", Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Very Miyazaki-esque on Pixar's part. Likewise, a comparison scene where Chihiro is crammed into an elevator next to the Radish Spirit, and in My Neighbor Totoro where Satsuki is standing next to Totoro. Spirited Away is, amongst many things, a journey. Haku reveals he is also working for Yubaba, and takes her back downstairs. The animation is some of the best ever made but its also a solid, culture crossing story line. Plenty of Japanese speakers have pointed out the visual clues in the film that non-Japanese speakers wouldn't know. Boh means "little boy" or "son," Kamaji means "old boiler man," Yu-baaba means "bathhouse," "old woman," or "witch," and Zeniiba means "money witch. - Haku. In the United Kingdom, the film was watched by 670,000 viewers on BBC2 in 2010. Her careful thinking and determination quickly reward her when she realizes a stinky spirit was actually a polluted river spirit who needed to be freed from all the junk surrounding it. Broadly speaking, Spirited Away is a movie about coming of age in a time when the world is becoming less caring. Understanding the Japanese language a little better can help you better appreciate certain aspects of the film. A lot of people are giving you shit for comparing SA and Alice in Wonderland, which came out in the fifties, but as another animation geek, I'd like to submit my two cents. In, Yang, Andrew. Who is the new host of Dancing with the Stars? [131] Writer Jonathan Clements, whose published works revolve around East Asian culture, anime, and Japanese television dramas, emphasized that the film's Oscar win was "a wake-up call for a lot of people in the film business who had been disregarding Japanese animation for years". Spirited Away had very little marketing, less than Disney's other B-films, with a maximum of 151 theatres showing the film in 2002. The main appeal of Spirited Away is that it is loved both by younger and by older generations. Read our extensive list of rules for more information on other types of posts like fan-art and self-promotion, or message the moderators if you have any questions. No-Face is given large amounts of food, but soon begins eating more workers. This can be compared to deforestation and desertification; humans tear down nature, cause imbalance in the ecosystem, and demolish animals' homes to satisfy their want for more space (housing, malls, stores, etc.) HBO Max to Stream All Studio Ghibli Films, For First Time Ever in US. There are other films who touch it, but spirited. Factory re-issued the film on Blu-ray and DVD on 17 October 2017 following the expiration of Disney's previous deal with Studio Ghibli in the country in North America. The opposite of balance is excess, and as seen in the parents gorging themselves until they become pigs or the greed and wealth displayed in the bath house, nothing positive can come of it. After the release of the movie, he asked her to make a score for his upcoming movie Rin and the Chimney . On April 13, 2002, The Walt Disney Company acquired the Taiwanese, Singapore, Hong Kong, French and North American sale rights to the film, alongside Japanese Home Media rights. Chihiro starts the story off acting a bit immature and not taking kindly to the whole ordeal. [70] It topped the Chinese box office with a $28.8-million opening weekend, beating Toy Story 4 in China. On Chihiro's first night, a stink spirit shows up at the bathhouse. Spirited Away (when I was a kid) scared the bejesus out of me and I felt like I was In some sort of nightmare where I had lost my parents and couldnt find them, was honestly horrible for 7 year old me. Miyazaki shows her slowly forcing herself to adapt to her environment and be open to the tasks ahead, quietly tackling them as best she can. And when it ended I just felt empty inside, even though what happens towards the end is happy. The mud monster isn't actually terrible but underneath it all is a kama no kami, a "god of the river." [81] The attention brought by the Oscar win resulted in the film becoming a strong seller. last man standing&& Have a nice day . It exemplifies storytelling in a way that only Ghibli movies can. Please logout and login again. Traffic has noticeably slowed over the last year, so not entirely surprising. Haku finds Chihiro and leads her toward the bathhouse. He also edits and writes articles for the IronSet blog where he shares his experiences. Spirited Away is one of the most fantastical films ever made but it's also one of the most realistic. Part of "Spirited Away" is about Chihiro realizing this herself. Miyazaki worked on his previous movie Princess Mononoke while he listened to Youmi Kimura's music on the radio. The museum made Miyazaki feel nostalgic, "especially when I stand here alone in the evening, near closing time, and the sun is setting tears well up in my eyes. Miyazaki says of this:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, In my grandparents' time, it was believed that kami existed everywhere in trees, rivers, insects, wells, anything. It is a beautiful ending for a lonely spirit. 8 What is the moral of Princess Mononoke? "The only time I got a bouquet and it's a goodbye present. 2010. When she journeys to return a special golden seal to the witch Zeniba, she discovers something unexpected. Upon gaining employment at the bathhouse, Yubaba's seizure of Chihiro's true name symbolically kills the child,[40] who must then assume adulthood. There are several hints that Haku is a river spirit/dragon. Just as Spirited Away's boiler man, Kamaji, uses his arms to navigate his surroundings, so too does The Janitor in Little Nightmares. 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. Torii gates are signs placed in front of sacred shrines, temples, or other hallowed grounds. Sen only escapes the Spirit World and regains her name by conquering her fear of the adult world. [130], According to Time, Spirited Away "arrived at a time when animation was widely perceived as a genre solely for children, and when cultural differences often became barriers to the global distribution of animated works" but it "shattered preconceived notions about the art form and also proved that, as a film created in Japanese with elements of Japanese folklore central to its core, it could resonate deeply with audiences around the world". In "Spirited Away," that feeling is what it's like to be a young child in a strange, foreign, and ultimately adult world characterized by excess and greed. The way the imagery married the score, allowing the notes to carry a surreal story through the movie was inspiring. She shrugs this off, understandably. [24], Toshio Suzuki, the producer of the film, also cites European inspirations and influences in the production of Spirited Away. After all the things shes experienced up to that point, Chihiro simply knows that her parents arent there. But in reality, Miyazaki made the movie for young girls rather than making it for everyone. [33], John Lasseter, Pixar animator and a fan and friend of Miyazaki, would often sit with his staff and watch Miyazaki's work when encountering story problems. What anyone of any age can take away from Spirited Away is the importance of balance. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. These people are the ones saying, "We are in a recession and don't have enough to eat." Food is very important to this movie. Meanwhile, Yubaba orders that Sen's parents be slaughtered, but Haku reveals that Boh is missing. I got so invested in the world and characters that when it was over, I felt sad. [23] The Dgo Onsen is also often said to be a key inspiration for the Spirited Away onsen/bathhouse. It is the farthest thing from a child-friendly environment there is. [30], The closing song, "Always With Me" (, "Itsumo Nando Demo", lit. So much to take in, it kinda makes me feel sick. Another reason could be the spiritual content of Spirited Away, since China's official regulator prohibits films that "promote cults or superstition" because such ideas are not compatible with. No-Face, despite his foreboding nature, is not the antagonist of Spirited Away. Someone says that the moment when Chihiros hairband which Zeniba gave her shines, its the tears of Haku when he dies. So the very short answer to the question we embarked on in the very beginning, Chihiro doesnt look back because she learned her lessons. [109] In 2017, The New York Times ranked it as the second best film of the 21st Century so far. At the very moment Chihiro says there is something odd about this town, her parents turn into pigs. Its not happy or uplifting, its not varry sad either but is like most Miyazaki movies is melancholy at times. It is also a longstanding theme that many spiritual stories have of always being careful about what you do. At least that's what many of them might say. Does anybody else feel what I'm talking about? Miyazaki said he'd decided to make it based on the ten-year-old daughter of friend, associate producer Seiji Okuda, who came to stay with him every summer. It was the co-recipient of the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival (shared with Bloody Sunday), and is within the top ten on the British Film Institute's list of "Top 50 films for children up to the age of 14". Never be motivated by your greed. A shikigami stows away on her back. "It's not me who makes the film. Lin takes Sen to the station to see Zeniba, and Sen invites No-Face to follow, despite Lin's protests. Most animes and all American television cartoons can't touch what Spirited Away does in the background. "[19], Miyazaki based some of the buildings in the spirit world on the buildings in the real-life Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan. The park turns out to be inhabited by spirits. Then again, considering the spirit world is considered a magical realm where folks of all manner, from fae to frog to even incoporals roam, the smell of humans is probably anthemia to spirits, especially with the harm humans have done to the world. What sets her story apart is that Chihiro isn't forced to triumph over great evil and turn from a "sullen" creature to a good girl. Pixar animator John Lasseter, a fan and friend of Miyazaki, convinced Walt Disney Pictures to buy the film's North American distribution rights, and served as executive producer of its English-dubbed version. Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation film studio founded in June 1985 by the director Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and the producer Toshio Suzuki. [31] The lyrics were written by Kimura's friend Wakako Kaku. gemini and scorpio parents gabi wilson net worth 2021. why is spirited away so sad. Just watched the movie yesterday. The film makes itself, and I have no choice but to follow." Everyone has a good side or the potential for goodeven Yu-baaba, as seen in her twin sister. [I]t's not a story in which the characters grow up, but a story in which they draw on something already inside them, brought out by the particular circumstances []. For instance, upon their entry into. [14] It held the record for 19 years until it was surpassed by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train in 2020. For inspiration, he read shjo manga magazines like Nakayoshi and Ribon the girls had left at the cabin, but felt they only offered subjects on "crushes" and romance. Chihiro thinks its a creepy place. In the same way some movies are amazing from a cinematography perspective, SA is amazing because of the detail in the animation. I watched it recently because of the high praise it has gotten. Spirited away hit so many people on so many different levels. Someone says that the moment when Chihiros hairband which Zeniba gave her shines, its the tears of Haku when he dies. Her parents literally gorge themselves on food not meant for them before being invited to eat. But it's more than that. 1. After taking a wrong turn down a wooded path, Chihiro and her parents discover an amusement . Why is spirited away considered a masterpiece? TUCKER CARLSON: You always imagine in your mind's eye that it's evil men who destroy society: wild-eyed, spit-flecked dictators pounding the podium to demand the annihilation of their enemies. "Once you've met someone, you never really forget them. Advertising was limited, with Spirited Away being mentioned in a small scrolling section of the film section of Disney.com; Disney had sidelined their official website for Spirited Away[34] and given the film a comparatively small promotional budget. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Spirited Away basically set the bench mark for Animate Films to have Themes that are out of this world, to create journey from perspective that provokes an individual and set a across a story line that very much be true if thats what youre looking for, so it isnt that hard for anyone to consider it a Masterpiece, we . The company's logo features the character Totoro (a large forest spirit) from Hayao Miyazaki's film "My Neighbor Totoro". M agical is a word used casually about films like this, films about fantasy and childhood. The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. haha. Chihiro also stands outside societal boundaries in the supernatural setting. ", As with any film that has quickly reached a cult status, you can fall down a hole of Spirited Away theories. His movies are full of imaginations, thoughtful messages, and they always have a happy ending. At the end of the film, Zeniba decides to take care of No-Face so he can develop without the negative influence of the bathhouse. She only lived with her grandfather and attended a rundown school in the country. But there is also everyone commenting on Chihiro having a certain smell about her. After starting their own detective agency, Nick and Audrey Spitz land a career-making case when their billionaire pal is kidnapped from his wedding. "Watch This: Top fifty films for children up to the age of 14". Haku dies after Chihiro exits the spirit world. wondrous and fearful children's movies over the years. It's surely part of the reason that anime fans across the world will testify that Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away is the best animation film of all time. [90], In the United States, the 2015 Blu-ray release grossed $9,925,660 from 557,613 physical units sold as of 21February2021[update]. This alludes to human pollution of the environment, and how people can carelessly toss away things without thinking of the consequences and of where the trash will go. Later that night, when Yubaba leaves, Haku finds Sen and shows her her parents, who are being held in pigpens. Each character was mostly hand-drawn, with Miyazaki working alongside his animators to see they were getting it just right. Or, God, Dumbo? It's fun to move to a new place, it's an adventure." -Spirited Away. Outlast In the extreme Alaskan wild, 16 survivalists compete for a chance to win a massive cash prize but these lone wolves must be part of a team to win. [11], The cast of the film consists of Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette (in her final film role before her death in January 2008), Michael Chiklis, Lauren Holly, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers and John Ratzenberger (a Pixar regular). With this in mind, he made the movie for ten-year-old girls. There's a quote on Tumblr somewhere that says "Disney movies touch the heart, but Studio Ghibli films touch the soul." Haku appears in dragon form, and Sen, Boh, and Haku leave for the bathhouse, leaving No-Face with Zeniba. Sen sees paper shikigami attacking a dragon and recognizes the dragon as Haku metamorphosed. They serve as signs that visitors enter where spirits reside, where one can give thanks and show respect to the gods or kami of the natural world. He has the ability to fly in his true form, which is a dragon. why is spirited away so sad. The other characters' names also have literal connotations. Spirited Away is often hailed as being the greatest animated movie in history or Studio Ghiblis best movie or Hayao Miyazakis most notable creation. There were 2 versions of the play available for rental: For the concept in Japanese folklore which the film refers to, see, Boyd, James W. and Tetsuya Nishimura. Spirited Away is an Oscar winning Japanese animated film about a ten year old girl who wanders away from her parents along a path that leads to a world ruled by strange and unusual monster-like animals. Haku's freedom is granted when Chihiro breaks the spell midway through the film. San is Moros third cub, and this is why the name was chosen. The Last Unicorn from the 80s hits all those points. Caught in the flow of narrative are some of the most beautiful stills in modern cinema, let alone animation. Now known as Sen, she is employed to cater to the needs of the bathhouse's insatiable guests. Haku has no home to go to since the river he is named after was filled so many years ago. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It grossed a record 1.6 billion ($13.1 million) in its first three days, beating the previous record set by Princess Mononoke. During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts. I always thought that Princess Mononoke was a superior film. Be the first one to comment on this story. What really matters is the underlying emotionsthat you never let go of those." Sen is ostracized by the other workers. The website's critics consensus reads, "Spirited Away is a dazzling, enchanting, and gorgeously drawn fairy tale that will leave viewers a little more curious and fascinated by the world around them. She sees several animals and creatures visiting the bathhouse, as well as No-Face (Kaonashi ), a masked spirit. Mid-flight, Sen discovers Haku's identity as the spirit of the Kohaku River ( , Nigihayami Kohakunushi). [51] After 22 weeks of release and after grossing $224 million in Japan, it started its international release, opening in Hong Kong on 13 December 2001. "Nothing that Happens is ever Forgotten." Registered User. [41] Just as Chihiro seeks her past identity, Japan, in its anxiety over the economic downturn occurring during the release of the film in 2001, sought to reconnect to past values. They are very un-american in this regard. She further explained that cartoons in the West have often been seen as "childish, vulgar, things that you didn't take seriously" but after the film took home the Academy Award, people were starting to see animation as "a real art form". Spirited Away is a Miyazaki classic. Soooo much of anime is lost in translation, but SA isn't. The central theme symbolized and represented in Spirited Away is humanity's inhumanity towards nature. In this case, the moral of the story is that, like Chihiro, Japan should learn that both past and present worlds can exist alongside each other but must adapt and change. The river had since been destroyed, leaving Haku homeless and stranded. How many deaths are caused by flu each year. Liz said at the beginning of the final scene that Charlie is dying . She has to navigate the spirit world she gets trapped in by working in a bathhouse run by an overlord called Yu-baaba. And while it definitely is a masterpiece, animated or otherwise, Spirited Away has its problems as well. Although dream-like and foreign, the feelings painted by the music and characters leap off the screen and grab hold of us, which is all we need to be able to follow and relate. Rather than another bitter old hag like Yubaba (Zeniba's twin who runs the bathhouse), Zeniba is more of a kindly grandmother, offering insight to the frightened Sen that shatters the conception that adulthood is just materialism. When folklore and myths have characters entering the underworld, or dealing with spirits in general, there is usually a dire warning to not look back. | Tenkai-japan:Cool Japan Guide-Travel, Shopping, Fashion, J-pop", "Focus Newspaper: Hayao Miyazaki, 72-year-old Mischievous Youngster (from 3:00 mark)", "()/ (The name of life/late summer)", " (Joe Hisaishi Spirited Away Image Album)", The Making of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" Part 3, "Beyond Wonderland: 'Spirited Away' Explores The Significance of Dreams in the Real World", "Studio Ghibli letter sheds new light on Spirited Away mysteries", "What does "Spirited Away" say about Environmentalism?