Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki
Spirited Away is one of Miyazaki's most famous and widely known animated movies as it wins its way to 51 total awards, some of which include: Best Animated Film at the Oscars, four Annies and a US National Board of Review award. The film revolves around a 10-year-old girl named Chihiro who was trapped in a magical world of peculiar creatures when her parents stumbled into a dark tunnel. To escape and save her parents from staying in their pig-like forms, Chihiro must find jobs to work on and make herself useful while finding the courage within herself to face the challenges ahead. Through her journey in the fantasy-like realm, Chihiro learns the values of friendships, the importance of her identity, and the experiences she encountered that made her a different person when she escaped to the other side.
Below is a sneak-peak trailer into what the Miyazaki's masterpiece looks like.
Below is a sneak-peak trailer into what the Miyazaki's masterpiece looks like.
A Miyazaki Picture
When someone watches an animation created by the Hayao Miyazaki himself, the person will notice some strikingly similar signatures of the auteur from within the movies. For one example, the "Miyazaki Picture" often embraces the theme of feminism. In this particular film, Spirited Away (as well as many other of his films) , the female protagonist is presented as someone who is a strong and independent individual. Chihiro, in this case scenario, was seen as an insecure and bratty kid when she was first introduced at the opening of the movie. However, as the plot progresses, she emerges into a strong, matured woman who saved her friends, her parents, and herself. Miyazaki's heroines in many of his movies expresses his support in gender equality and feminism in general. Here are a few other of his films in which there is a female protagonist.
Nausicaa Castle in the Sky Kiki's Delivery Service Princess Mononoke Spirited Away Howl's Moving Castle
Nausicaa Castle in the Sky Kiki's Delivery Service Princess Mononoke Spirited Away Howl's Moving Castle
Another one of Miyazaki's signature film-making style is his usage of ecological themes and the realistic depictions of nature, all incorporated into one word: environmentalism. In Spirited Away, environmentalism is present in the Ancient River Spirit - formerly known as a Stink Spirit - and Haku - a friend who helped Chihiro through her journey in the magical realm.
When the so-called Stink Spirit entered the kami Bath House where Chihiro works, he was covered in dripping mud and soaked in a disgusting odor. As Yubaba remembers her new hired worker, she called in Chihiro to clean the spirit and tend to his needs. During the process of cleaning, Chihiro discovered that something was stuck inside the spirit and had her mind set in eliminating it. Eventually, every worker in the Bath House contributed in the effort of pulling out whatever was stuck inside the spirit's body, and when they did, a massive amount of materialistic objects poured out from the spirit's body. The cleanse turned the Stink Spirit into the Ancient River Spirit, who happened to be a well-respected spirit in the movie. This scene represented Miyazaki's concerns for the pollution of the rivers in Japan. Some have even said that, "The cleansing of the river spirit is based on a real-life incident in Miyazaki’s life where he participated in the cleaning of a river, removing, among other things, a bicycle." (The bicycle was the first thing that was pulled out from the River Spirit.)
When the so-called Stink Spirit entered the kami Bath House where Chihiro works, he was covered in dripping mud and soaked in a disgusting odor. As Yubaba remembers her new hired worker, she called in Chihiro to clean the spirit and tend to his needs. During the process of cleaning, Chihiro discovered that something was stuck inside the spirit and had her mind set in eliminating it. Eventually, every worker in the Bath House contributed in the effort of pulling out whatever was stuck inside the spirit's body, and when they did, a massive amount of materialistic objects poured out from the spirit's body. The cleanse turned the Stink Spirit into the Ancient River Spirit, who happened to be a well-respected spirit in the movie. This scene represented Miyazaki's concerns for the pollution of the rivers in Japan. Some have even said that, "The cleansing of the river spirit is based on a real-life incident in Miyazaki’s life where he participated in the cleaning of a river, removing, among other things, a bicycle." (The bicycle was the first thing that was pulled out from the River Spirit.)
With its 51 awards, Spirited Away is one of the top most fascinating animated feature to watch. The film, along with many other of Miyazaki's films, made sure to hold dear to the auteur's distinctive film-making style and uncover the deeper meanings within it.
"It is immediately apparent that Spirited Away is a high quality production, and rivals animated features by Disney and Dreamworks."