Masterpiece

Without a doubt, Miyazaki’s “Spirited Away” is one of the greatest films of all time. The
surprise twists and the way how the story develops make the viewers keep interested. In addition,
the animations that are presented in the movie are unremarkably different from any other
animated movies. The spirit world that they are in is very well created thinking of the
circumstances that characters had to go through and many viewers really liked the way Miyazaki
introduced the Japanese culture in it. Miyazaki Hayao has created a world where creativity and
realism combined and blended together into a piece of art.

One reoccurring theme in the film was greed. Throughout the film, there is always a
reward for generosity and a punishment for greediness. This is seen in the beginning of the film
when Chichiro’s parents were turned into pigs because they cannot control themselves not to eat
the buffet, in the scene when no-face starts swallowing the workers in the bathhouse, and in the
end when Yubaba sends Haku to steal something that belongs to her sister. Each actions met
consequences and shown in the film.

Another reference to world’s greed is the scene where a stinky creature shows up and
everyone is pushing it away but it is later revealed that it is the river spirit who is very powerful
and respected. This could be an analogy to the pollution humans make to the earth. There is also
an article about which characters were which animals in the movie. Yubaba is a crow/vulture
because she survives of the unwanted part of the world. Yubaba also acts like a crow that keeps
her baby away from the outside world and brings everything that he wants, like keeping him in a
nest. Kamji, being a spider makes sense because spider works in the dark corners and unseen
places like it was portrayed in the movie.

To put it all together, the film “Spirited Away” is a reflection of our current society. All
the characters and scenes symbolize many things in the world that is victim of greediness.
Chichiro represent all the youth especially young women. The film shows how people not value
these things in the society. And the youth are the key of bringing compassion, generosity, and
solutions to these issues that will bring back humanity.
Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Tohokushinsha Film and Mitsubishi present a Tokuma
Shoten, Studio Ghibli, Nippon Television Network and Dentsu ; producer, Toshio Suzuki ;
written & directed by Hayao Miyazaki. Spirited Away. [United States] : Burbank, CA :Walt
Disney Home Entertainment ; Buena vista Home Entertainment, 2003.

Lu, Alvin, and Hayao Miyazaki. The Art of Miyazaki's Spirited Away. San Francisco, CA: Viz
Communications, Inc, 2002. Print.

Prepared by:

Am Gabriel P. Añez

STEM 12 – St. Phoebe