Spirited Away: What a Twisted World
Hello everybody! Today we have another film from the brilliant mind of Miyazaki.
SPIRITED AWAY
GENRE: Fantasy
DIRECTOR: Hayao Miyazaki
WRITER: Hayao Miyazaki
YEAR: 2001
COUNTRY: Japan
While moving to a new home in Japan, Chihiro and her parents take a wrong turn down a mysterious wooded path. They come across an ominous-looking tunnel of which only Chihiro is scared. Going through the tunnel, they are lead them to a mysterious town filled with restaurants that have all kinds of delicious food on display. Chihiro’s parents quickly sit down and start gorging themselves, assuming they will pay the restaurant upon their return. Chihiro’s doubt of this strange town leads her to wander off, and she comes across a building of titanic size, where a young boy warns her to leave before nightfall. However, as the sun sets, the town begins to fill up with the gods of Japan’s mythology, and Chihiro returns to find her parents mysteriously turned into pigs. The young boy, Haku, works in the building, which is a bathhouse for 8 Million gods. He helps Chihiro find work in this new world, find a way to save her parents from a dinner platter, and find her way home
Spirited Away is a film that has been on my list for a long time to watch. I have wanted to do this on anime club for a while, but it just keeps getting pushed back for recent projects. I enjoyed the film very much, it was an interesting take on a magical, limitless fantasy world. Chihiro’s relationships with her parents and Haku are examples of culture and life in Japan during that period, and I actually learned from this film (that normally doesn’t happen). I just have to mention that the animation is beautiful. I have come to expect beautiful and cutting edge animation from Miyazaki’s films.
The main thing I have to point out is that I wasn’t thrilled with Chihiro’s character. During the first act, she came off as annoying and spoiled. while I understand that it is important for her character, it still doesn’t mean I have to like it. Spirited Away just gives me more evidence in my position against having my own kids.
PROS:
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Beautiful animation.
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Surrealism at its finest.
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Political analogies.
- One of Miyazaki’s finest films.
CONS:
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Chihiro’s character.
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Stale dialogues between main characters.
- Too obvious analogies/symbolism.
SCORES: 8.5 / 10
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tAhCgNTmTc
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Who am I? Just some guy who decided to start writing on the Internet years ago and now operates his own brand and site. Owner/Operator of Modern Neon Media, I make all kinds of niche content to suit my interests at the time. DIY Enthusiast, Brewmaster extraordinaire, and avid freak for geek culture. Follow on my socials for a more “on” version of me.
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The world doesn’t need more kids, and people without them are just as happy – but it’s still sad that you think this movie is evidence to support your decision not to have any. Kids can be ridiculously annoying, but the benefits greatly outweigh the drawbacks. After all, you were a kid once right? And so was everyone you like, love, and admire.
I’m not saying I don’t want kids and I don’t think this film is supporting evidence of that fact. I see this film and it just brings that side out of me. I do want kids down the road, just not now. I’m at that stage in my life that I just can’t even begin to think about kids yet. At least for a few more years.