TGIF! Here we are again with another Fangirl Friday! This week I’m covering a one of my favorite animated films. I’m talking about the critically acclaimed 2001 animated film, Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi).
So what brought on this post? Well I recently watched the film again this past weekend and all of the memories just came flowing back! I just had to write about… it would be criminal not to have a post about this amazing film on my blog!
“10-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku, who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents.”
-Synopsis
I first saw this film on Cartoon Network years ago, I think they were having a special Miyazaki tribute or something. I’d seen a few anime on Toonami before so I just figured this was just another anime series, so I didn’t think much about it. Spirited Away was my first introduction to the works of Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki, so I was not prepared for the delightful experience I was about to behold! This film blew me away, I was so impressed that after the end credits stopped rolling and I’d dried my tears, I immediately went out and rented Miyazaki’s other animated features.
Since that day, I’ve seen Spirited Away several times over the years and no matter how many times I watch it, I still manage to fall in love with it all over again. There’s a timelessness to the narrative that sucks the viewer in to the fantastical world Miyazaki creates with his detailed animation style and powerful musical score. The film is just magical!
The characters are dynamic and relatable, even the protagonist, Chihiro, despite being a child still manages to engage viewers, because her story has universal appeal. On the surface Spirited Away has a rather simple premise, a young girl finds herself trapped in the spirit realm with no way out. But, once you peel back the layers of the film you realize how thematically complex the story is. At it’s core Spirited Away is a coming of age story, wrapped in a social commentary and that’s something that strikes a cord with audiences of all ages. I guess that’s why I like it so much, it doesn’t just tell a story, the film hits you straight in the feels! And I don’t mean the superficial emotional tingle, I mean emotional punches in the gut! I bawled my eyes out when Chihiro and Haku said their final goodbyes at the end of the film and I got this warm fuzzy feeling in my gut when Haku remembered his name…
Gosh ya’ll I’m getting weepy just thinking about it, so I’ll try to keep this short… I love this film to bits and pieces, so if you haven’t already seen this film… STOP READING THIS AND GO WATCH IT NOW!!! For those of you who have let me know what your favorite scene is in the comments section, so we can fangirl/fanboy together!!
Are you a fan of Miyazaki’s films? What’s your favorite Miyazaki film? Didn’t the ending just break your heart? Let me know what you think in the comments section. If you like what you see, like this post or follow Nice Job Breaking It, Hero! As always THANK YOU FOR READING!!
Man, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Spirited Away.
v v Ditto. v v
Whoops, wrong direction.
What Krystal said.*
Love spirited away. It’s such a classic
IKR, it’s such a wonderful film! What’s your favorite scene?
Any scene with no face. he is like my favorite character.
Everyone loves No Face! He is definitely a cool character!
Spirited Away was part of my childhood. I’ve seen it several times growing up. Saying goodbye to Haku was definitely the saddest part.
Yes! I wanted her to stay at the bathhouse with him forever… sigh so many memories wrapped up in that film!!
Love this movie! I haven’t seen it in a while, but the No Face was a great part. My favorite Miyazaki movie is probably Kiki’s Delivery Service. It did the slice of life vignettes wonderfully.
Oh my gosh yes! The No Face scene was awesome!! I even saw a No Face cosplayer at Katsucon last year and it scared the crap out of me lol.
Kiki’s Delivery Service is another great one, definitely more of a slice of life film.
Words cannot express how glad I am that Cartoon Network did that Miyazaki special. That was how I also got into his work. I remember crying at the end of Castle in the Sky, marveling at Princess Mononoke and Naussicaa, and of course experiencing Spirited Away. I watched it again with some friends a few weeks ago, and the experience was still as breath taking as ever. I’m glad you got to discover these films the same way!
I hate the ending, it always devastates me T_T
But yes, their movies definitely have a timeless quality to them, and I hope others get to see them.
Tho Spirited Away and Howl’s were my first taste of their movies, Whisper of the Heart will always hit closer to my heart because of it being about dreams and the future <3
IKR, I always want her to stay at the bathhouse or at the very least take Haku with her… but alas Miyazaki was like NOPE, no romance!!!
I love all of those movies, have you read the manga for Whispers of the Heart? It’s so cute!
Miyazaki is evil T_T
He totally dashed our hopes of a cute romance ;_;
No, I haven’t! I thought that wasn’t finished translating???? If it has finished, then I really do need to!
Yeah the manga is done, you should definitely give it a read!
I love this film! It’s a treasure trove for hiddem meanings and symbolisms. I love it!
Yes! There is just so much more to this film than meets the eye and it is one of my favorite Miyazaki films of all time!!
Same here. I can’t choose a single Miyazaki film to be my #1 favourite. So hard. They’re all awesome!
IKR!! I think I read that Miyazaki is working on a new film too!!
Is that true? So does that mean that he’ll still release movies even without Ghibli? But when I think about it, I’m not surprised because he’s reportedly a workaholic and a perfectionist.
I remember reading it a bit ago, so I’ll have to dig it up again. But, this wouldn’t be the first time Miyazaki came out of retirement with a new film lol
That’s true. But that’s usually the case for workaholic geniuses. They just can’t retire completely. But I’ll look forward to it if it’s realy true.
Yup yup! Me too!!
I ❤️ Miyazaki’s film, especially his animation (so my dream is become an animator since I was a little girl)✌😎
The ending…well, just hope that Miyazaki-kun will made ‘Spirited Away 2’, but I don’t think that he will made any films anymore…he is already old…😞
OMG yes!! I have seen all of his films several times over the years and they never seem to get old! 😀 Oh man that is so awesome!! I hope your dream becomes a reality!!
I would settle for a short 5 minute epilogue or something, but I agree, I doubt he’ll revisit it… 🙁