Please logout and login again. 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. She gets lost alongside her parents in a forest, where she is separated from them. I want my young friends to live like that, and I think they, too, have such a wish. [7] The film features the voices of Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takeshi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi, Tsunehiko Kamij, Takehiko Ono, and Bunta Sugawara. How much equity should I give away in seed? He demands food from the bathhouse and begins giving away extensive amounts of gold to its workers. There is also this one, and although this may be a stretch, but it is a house on an island with a red roof and a single palm tree during the train scene. I just finished watching Spirited Away and I just feel really sad and I don't know why. Spirited Away is a Miyazaki classic. . Some (all?) Spirited Away is an anime movie from Hayao Miyazaki, one of the greatest Japanese animation directors. Spirited Away might actually be overrated. But when done right, it is highly admired because he gives credit to a child (and adult) to imagine along. The first time, she almost turns back but doesnt. Sen only escapes the Spirit World and regains her name by conquering her fear of the adult world. When Curtis, an American pilot recruited by the sea pirates, attempts to woo Gina, she rebuffs his advances by telling him she only has eyes for Porco, and that she waits every day in her garden for him to come take her away. The backgrounds are all flawless and hold their own against the best stuff Disney has ever done. Spirited Away will always remain a special film in our hearts. Not everything lines up perfectly to share a concise message. 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. Peeling back that level the film opens up to two other interpretations. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [2] Walt Disney Pictures financed ten percent of the film's production cost for the right of first refusal for American distribution. So the very short answer to the question we embarked on in the very beginning, Chihiro doesnt look back because she learned her lessons. 2004. The company's logo features the character Totoro (a large forest spirit) from Hayao Miyazaki's film "My Neighbor Totoro". The main appeal of Spirited Away is that it is loved both by younger and by older generations. [56] Its gross at the Japanese box office has since increased to 31.68 billion, as of 2020[update]. She has to navigate the spirit world she gets trapped in by working in a bathhouse run by an overlord called Yu-baaba. This leads to him eating them. In a comment that was upvoted more than 5000 times, u/SilentRansom described it as having "such a specific feeling of happy sad nostalgia. [18] In 2021, the Writers Guild of America ranked Spirted Away's screenplay the 67th greatest of the 21st century so far. Haku appears in dragon form, and Sen, Boh, and Haku leave for the bathhouse, leaving No-Face with Zeniba. How depressing," she says, only to be reminded by her mom that her dad bought her one for her birthday. [40] In an interview, Miyazaki has commented on this nostalgic element for an old Japan. 1. Boh means "little boy" or "son," Kamaji means "old boiler man," Yu-baaba means "bathhouse," "old woman," or "witch," and Zeniiba means "money witch. The Last Unicorn from the 80s hits all those points. But then again, it appeals to the action movie fan in me. When Chihiro and her parents find the abandoned theme park, theres an eerie wind blowing and the place feels unsafe or even haunted. 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. 'one thousand') can be thought of as symbolic of capitalism's single-minded concern with value.[41]. I feel like this is the best place to discuss specific topics. Just as Spirited Away's boiler man, Kamaji, uses his arms to navigate his surroundings, so too does The Janitor in Little Nightmares. 2d animation just boggles my mind. Because I saw the gods as mostly murderous slavemasters who kill and eat those who find themselves in the abandoned theme park. 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". Despite the animation similarities, Spirited Away is not Totoro, the beloved feel-good classic, but an edgy portrayal of what a young girl needs to do to grow up and take responsibility for more than herself. [68], About 18 years after its original release in Japan, Spirited Away had a theatrical release in China on 21 June 2019. Disney's most detailed movies, from an animation perspective, were made in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards,[15] making it the first, and to date only, hand-drawn and non-English-language animated film to win the award. [55] It also set the all-time attendance record in Japan, surpassing the 16.8 million tickets sold by Titanic. It makes him turn dirt into gold and eat the workers, keeping himself in a perpetual loop of food that never satisfies. Lin leads her to the top floor to find the witch. It is creepy the first time you see it, but the second time, when you know a little about No Face, its changes to something less dark and more mysterious which I find really hard to do with music. He is further emancipated when Chihiro remembers something sudden and coincidental. Meanwhile, No-Face imitates the gold left behind by the river spirit and tempts a worker with it before swallowing him. Broadly speaking, Spirited Away is a movie about coming of age in a time when the world is becoming less caring. He is also the films moral center, demonstrating quiet honour as he struggles to create balance between the forces of nature and humanity. The bathhouse workers dislike Sen, but give her work as Lin's assistant. How many deaths are caused by flu each year. [18] In 2022, it was ranked as the 75th greatest film of all time by the Sight & Sound critics poll. So much to take in, it kinda makes me feel sick. Or, God, Dumbo? He had to delete many scenes from the story, and tried to reduce the "eye candy" in the film because he wanted it to be simple. [60], Disney's English dub of the film, supervised by Lasseter, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 7 September 2002[61] and was later released in the United States on 20 September 2002. Lasseter obliged by agreeing to serve as the executive producer for the English adaptation. 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. 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. After Chihiro saves No-Face with the emetic dumpling, he becomes timid once more. Later, the suspect was handed over to the Sadar police and sent to four-day police custody . Despite having a rich plot with developed characters, Spirited Away was not made with a script. It only became clean again when Chihiro pulled out a huge amount of trash, including car tires, garbage, and a bicycle. [21], The major themes of Spirited Away, heavily influenced by Japanese Shinto-Buddhist folklore, centre on the protagonist, Chihiro, and her liminal journey through the realm of spirits. [30], The closing song, "Always With Me" (, "Itsumo Nando Demo", lit. [82] The bonus features include Japanese trailers, a making-of documentary which originally aired on Nippon Television, interviews with the North American voice actors, a select storyboard-to-scene comparison and The Art of Spirited Away, a documentary narrated by actor Jason Marsden. It gets special attention because it was the first Miyazaki movie that Disney marketed out the ass and actually gave a relatively wide release for. [26] The soundtrack received awards at the 56th Mainichi Film Competition Award for Best Music, the Tokyo International Anime Fair 2001 Best Music Award in the Theater Movie category, and the 17th Japan Gold Disk Award for Animation Album of the Year. 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. Yes, the forest spirit dies. "The Two Japans of 'Spirited Away'. There are multiple scenes going on like that. As sentimental as that is, it's also astute. Because of humans' need for development, they destroyed a part of nature, causing Haku to lose his home and identity. [53][54] It went on to gross 30.4 billion to become the highest-grossing film in Japanese history, according to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan. [89] The then-renamed StudioCanal UK released the movie on Blu-ray on 24 November 2014, A British 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition, similar to other Studio Ghibli anniversary editions released in the UK, was released on 25 October 2021. [21] Marc Hairston argues that this was a justified response to Studio Ghibli's retention of the merchandising rights to the film and characters, which limited Disney's ability to properly market the film. 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. I think its because there is so much to take in. [83] The movie was released on Blu-ray by and North America by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on 16 June 2015. [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. [97] Combined, the film drew a 970,000 UK television viewership on BBC2 between 2010 and 2011. haha. The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Keep your eyes peeled for these 10 things watchers only get after watching Spirited Away twice. Others, like Princess Mononoke and Pom Poko, will have you second guessing the future of our planet and human civilization. No-Face, despite his foreboding nature, is not the antagonist of Spirited Away. It symbolizes giving in to one's temptations and emotions. [90], In the United States, the 2015 Blu-ray release grossed $9,925,660 from 557,613 physical units sold as of 21February2021[update]. Animation Adventure Family 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. You Are Here: what happened to calista flockhart zta password zip why is spirited away so sad [113][failed verification], Spirited Away is frequently regarded as one of the best films of the 21st century as well as one of the greatest animated films ever made. It ultimately grossed around $10 million by September 2003. 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. Like Chihiro, he too has lost part of his name and is stranded in the bathhouse. it'd be really cool if she realized that i could actually be the cool uncle instead of just the bum-guy that's their parents little brother. Haku is letting Chihiro know to move on and forward, rather than to stay and become endlessly lost. It was later officially released on DVD in the UK on 29 March 2004, with the distribution being done by Optimum Releasing themselves. ", This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:58. Regardless, the ending is more of a symbol for maturity and moving on since Chihiro only looks back once away from the spirit world. With a budget of US$19 million, production of Spirited Away began in 2000. Its not sad at all. He often visited the museum for inspiration while working on the film. The central theme symbolized and represented in Spirited Away is humanity's inhumanity towards nature. Yubaba takes away the second kanji of her name (), renaming her Sen (). Kiki leaves home because of witch tradition, but unlike other Ghibli heroes, she jumps at the idea even skipping a planned camping trip with her father because she's so excited. [41] Chihiro has been seen as a representation of the shjo, whose roles and ideology had changed dramatically since post-war Japan. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Food is very important to this movie. Yubaba, determined to see Chihiro fail, assigns the little girl to help the very smelly customer. Most Animes and all but the best Disney movies (every direct to dvd disney movie) will cheat on the backgrounds in short scenes. Major Conflict. One suggests that the whole thing is an allegory for child prostitution, with the bathhouse taking on more sinister undertones. When No Face is running amok every single member of the crowd is a unique hand drawn character. It is the same dialogue, the same movements, but in reverse. While everyone else runs away in horror, Chihiro serenely attends to him, getting covered in muck in the process. Disney sticks with simple broad lines for style, but also because simple characters take less time and effort to draw. Therefore, don't begrudge /u/Dojodog for referencing an old Disney film. I think that from watching this film, I learned that sometimes when things get tough, you just have to be a little brave. In Studio Ghibli parlance, childhood is a time of freedom. But before he does, he probably undoes all the destruction he committed in his wrath. He specifically invokes the structure of the film as European-inspired due to Miyazaki's own influences by European films such as The Snow Queen and The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep. He has the ability to fly in his true form, which is a dragon. Factory issued a North-America-exclusive Spirited Away collector's edition, which includes the film on Blu-ray, and the film's soundtrack on CD, as well as a 40-page book with statements by Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki, and essays by film critic Kenneth Turan and film historian Leonard Maltin. It's beautifully animated, full of great imagery, complex, has many different emotions/themes, deceptively dark, and a great score. [31] The lyrics were written by Kimura's friend Wakako Kaku. It exemplifies storytelling in a way that only Ghibli movies can. Edit 2: Thanks for the gold fellow Spirited Away lovers! Ebert also said that Spirited Away was one of "the year's best films", as well as adding it to his "Great Movies" list. Cant really give it a judgment. The river had since been destroyed, leaving Haku homeless and stranded. I think its a sign that your mind knows how much sheer astonishment you missed. How did Chihiro know the pigs werent her parents? In addition to the violent scenes mentioned above, Spirited Away has some scenes that could scare or disturb children under five years. Although the overall atmosphere of the film endures, "Spirited Away" is deeply rooted in Japanese culture, so something gets lost in translation for viewers who miss out on the sounds of Japanese in the original Japanese dialogue. "The people who make the movies are scared of silence, so they want to paper and plaster it over," he said. [91] In the United Kingdom, the film's Studio Ghibli anniversary release appeared several times on the annual lists of best-selling foreign language film on home video, ranking number six in 2015,[92] number five in 2016,[93] and number one in 2019. On the train are some travelers, somewhat "see-thru", black colored, each with a bag or two (like they've been away a while), and sort of sad or tired looking. In the anime Spirited Away (2001) there is a train scene towards the end. The use of the word kamikakushi (literally 'hidden by gods') within the Japanese title, and its associated folklore, reinforces this liminal passage: "Kamikakushi is a verdict of 'social death' in this world, and coming back to this world from Kamikakushi meant 'social resurrection. [2004] 2016. Some of them are even pastors, so-called good, God-fearing Baptists. Chihiro finally saves her parents from Yubaba. What really matters is the underlying emotionsthat you never let go of those." Moving onward and forward is a point of many religious journeys towards enlightenment, and there are a lot of religious figures in folklore from Lot to Orpheus who fail. Everyone has a good side or the potential for goodeven Yu-baaba, as seen in her twin sister. Following this, several others began to join the project: Beauty and the Beast co-director Kirk Wise and Aladdin co-producer Donald W. Ernst joined Lasseter as director and producer of Spirited Away, respectively. It is a beautiful ending for a lonely spirit. Later that night, when Yubaba leaves, Haku finds Sen and shows her her parents, who are being held in pigpens. "They're worried that the audience will get bored. It reminds me of when I lived in South America for a year. Interestingly, it's the "ma" moments that have become iconic as the film has agedChihiro standing on the balcony outside the bedroom looking out to sea, lost; Chihiro and her friends, No-Face, Boh, and the Yu-Bird sat looking lost on a train. It thanked Chihiro by giving her medicine and a sack of gold. Edit 3: I forgot to mention that the score is pretty freaking great. It is known to all that, it doesnt matter whether a film is successful or not, Studio Ghibli doesnt make any sequel of any of his films. That's why many of us greatly admire the movie but don't know exactly why. Few ten-year-olds would behave so well given the upheaval. "[43], The bathhouse of the spirits cannot be seen as a place free of ambiguity and darkness. This probably gets completely missed by most people but animators geek out over how often Miyazaki choose NOT to skip corners, even when there is no way the audience would notice. The kids are getting a story and so are the adults. The difference though is that backgrounds that are in for 3 seconds are just as detailed as ones used for 3 minutes. As critic Roger Ebert pointed out in his review of the film, each frame is made with an overwhelming amount of "generosity and love." 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. [19], Miyazaki had wanted to produce a new film for years, but his two previous proposalsone based on the Japanese book Kiri no Muk no Fushigi na Machi () by Sachiko Kashiwaba, and another about a teenage heroinewere rejected. It is used in Spirited Away akin to Alice falling down a rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland. Hayao Miyazakis Princess Mononoke follows a young native Japanese (Emishi) prince named Ashitaka. 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. "Spirited Away: Film of the Fantastic and Evolving Japanese Folk Symbols. Starting with the obvious, the whole theme of Spirited away revolves around work, growth and the compassion of a child. [103] In 2005, Spirited Away was ranked by IGN as the 12th-best animated film of all time. They find a restaurant stocked with food, which Chihiro's parents begin to eat. Her father decides to take a shortcut and stops in front of a tunnel leading to what appears to be an abandoned amusement park, which Chihiro's father insists on exploring despite his daughter's protests. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Spirited Away is one of the most fantastical films ever made but it's also one of the most realistic. It is a coming of age story of Chihiro, a naive young girl who lands up in a mysterious bathhouse. If you dont like that feeling, go back an watch it a few times! Haku does not remember his name and lost his past, which is why he is stuck at the bathhouse. [122] Swapnil Dhruv Bose Far Out Magazine declared the film to be "the greatest animated film of all time" and explained that it "resonated with audiences all over the world despite the existence of cultural barriers is because of its brilliantly devised universality" and has the ability to "generate fascinating multiplicities which morph according to the age of the viewer". And when it ended I just felt empty inside, even though what happens towards the end is happy. For instance, upon their entry into the Spirit World, Chihiro's parents are turned into pigs after overindulging at a nearby food stand. | 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? The English dub did try to add a bit of closing dialogue to it, letting the audience know Chihiro now thinks she can handle a new school and new home. This is a thrilling, spectacularly beautiful movie, though its not for little kids who get scared. He said that these scenes where nothing really happens are called "ma," or "emptiness." ", Every summer, Hayao Miyazaki spent his vacation at a mountain cabin with his family and five girls who were friends of the family. It doesnt surprise me that a work of art could make you feel that way too. Originally introduced as Chihiro's first ally in the Spirit World, Haku seems to have a darker side to him as he knowingly follows the dastardly orders of Yubaba on occasion. 9 What happened at the end of Porco Rosso? The film grossed $450,000 in its opening weekend from 26 theatres. 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. The main conflict of the film arises when Chihiro and her family go into the spirit world and her parents get turned into pigs. What would you consider to be his best film? 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. When Yu-baaba takes a character from Chihiro's name to cruelly rename her and sign the contract handing the girl over to her, Chihiro's new name, Sen, just means "a thousand." What does no-face represent in Spirited Away? It is symbolic of the gluttony and the evils of capitalism. "Quit whining. They let their earthly attatchments get in the way of moving on. I get this almost harrowing feeling and they definitely scared me as a kid. Anyone with . On the 15th anniversary of Miyazaki's cult animation, a look back on its huge global significance. Then there is Haku, who helps Chihiro not fade from existence at the beginning of the film, and Lin, who shares food with Chihiro to celebrate helping the river spirit. How would you describe an honorable person? [20][21] As with Princess Mononoke, Miyazaki and the Studio Ghibli staff experimented with computer animation. Sen, No-Face, and Boh travel with train tickets given to Sen by Kamaji. 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. A limited series inspired by the savvy and ambitious Colombian businesswoman Griselda Blanco, who created one of the most profitable cartels in history. Nobody else was making films that looked like this or that were as inventive as this was at this time". Haku reveals he is also working for Yubaba, and takes her back downstairs. Haku is the spirit of the Kohaku River, a being who once saved Chihiro when she fell into the river years prior. [129] Turning Red's director Domee Shi named Spirited Away as one of her favorite animated films and one of the influences for her film. [25], The film score of Spirited Away was composed and conducted by Miyazaki's regular collaborator Joe Hisaishi, and performed by the New Japan Philharmonic. Despite the animation similarities, Spirited Away is not Totoro, the beloved "feel-good" classic, but an edgy portrayal of what a young girl needs to do to grow up and take responsibility for more than herself. Kamaji requires so much more work to animate than even the genie when he is changing shapes constantly. Haku finds Chihiro and leads her toward the bathhouse. These sorts of films just feel like fever dreams like the sort where things are going crazy and you try to run but cant etc. [36], The film has been compared to Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, as the stories have some elements in common such as being set in a fantasy world, the plots including a disturbance in logic and stability, and there being motifs such as food having metamorphic qualities; though developments and themes are not shared. The world is open, optimistic, and unrestrained. Chihiro was primarily motivated by a purpose rescuing her parents. [10] Lasseter then hired Kirk Wise as director and Donald W. Ernst as producer, while screenwriters Cindy and Donald Hewitt wrote the English-language dialogue to match the characters' original Japanese-language lip movements.[11]. Why is spirited away considered a masterpiece? [14] It held the record for 19 years until it was surpassed by Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba The Movie: Mugen Train in 2020. Heroes often have sidekicks or allies because so many stories underline the value of friendship and. 8 What is the moral of Princess Mononoke? But in. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. [70] It topped the Chinese box office with a $28.8-million opening weekend, beating Toy Story 4 in China. [31] In the special features of the Japanese DVD, Hayao Miyazaki explains how the song in fact inspired him to create Spirited Away. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. But there is also everyone commenting on Chihiro having a certain smell about her. [a], Spirited Away was first released on VHS and DVD formats in Japan by Buena Vista Home Entertainment on 19 July 2002. Perhaps the most notable of them is Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, a man who has made his fair share of wondrous and fearful children's movies over the years. [32], Besides the original soundtrack, there is also an image album, titled Spirited Away Image Album (, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi Imji Arubamu), that contains 10 tracks. Parents need to know that My Neighbor Totoro is a fine pick for the entire family. Where Disney or Hollywood always provides a clear cut villain, and there is a struggle by a hero to triumph over evil. and further explained that "It's a movie many people re-watch due to its comfort and nostalgia, and since Netflix brought the Ghibli movies to North America last year, it's become even more accessible". Awesome reply, this is how I feel about miyazaki films and often find myself explaining my similar sentiments far less eloquently. He is greedy only because the hotel guests are greedy. Spirited away hit so many people on so many different levels. 2010. 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. Miyazaki has stated that Chihiro retains no memory of the spirit world events. Why Is Spirited Away So Special? Now known as Sen, she is employed to cater to the needs of the bathhouse's insatiable guests. [107] In 2019, the site considered the film to be #1 among 140 essential animated movies to watch. There are flashes of water in Chihiro's hair when she meets and rides Haku in dragon form too. can you leave citronella candles outside in rain . Help others on their purposeful journey to the destination. The world is a scary place, even for the children that adults protect with all of their strength. Spirited Away 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.