Spirited Away - Reflections On The Classic Japanese Anime Film

Spirited Away is a Japanese anime film released in 2002.

It has a 96% rating on the movie review website Rotten Tomatoes.

Spirited Away is a children's film, but it is also for adults.

I would say it is even more important for Adults.

Set in the late 90s, the main character Chihiro, a 10 year old girl, finds herself in another world.

Greed and love are so well expressed through the original characters set in a world where spirits and the human world overlap.

Each encounter nudges Chihiro to grow in courage, inner strength, and kindness.

The film is drawn by Studio Ghibli, a now-famous studio known for its unique and exquisite animation style - The Ghibli anime style is fashionable with people all over the world, with people even using AI to produce Ghibli-style Facebook profiles.

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My Review:

It took me 10 minutes to "fall in" to the movie.

At first, I thought it's just another kids' film that would be boring.

BUT, the film takes a quick turn, with the main character Chihiro witnessing her own parents turn into pigs.

A mystical film, that is deep on many layers.

Haku helps Chihiro navigate the spirit world and rediscover her strength

The director Hayao Miyazaki has a powerful way of getting his message across.

The black monsters that come to the bathhouse to be served.

I like the straight talking characters - no bullsh*t.

The most powerful message I found was about greed.

Spirited Away, shows how heartless someone who is possessed by money is.

Spirited Away made me reflect on money.

Am I like this if I am possessed by money?

The most powerful scene in the film for me was when Chihiro speaks to the super-rich monster:

"I'm not going to serve you, sir".

The monster becomes huge and gets extremely angry. Then Chihiro asks.

"Don't you have any friends or family?"

The expression on the monster's face is amazing - Studio Ghibli did such an amazing job to show that expression.

The monster falls back, speechless for awhile.

"I am lonely", the monster says.

The young girl experiences love and care through "Granny", the twin sister of the evil Yubaba - the boss of the bathhouse.

I recommend Spirited Away. It has a powerful message.

I would watch it again.

"Now go, and don't look back."