The music and cinematography stand out to me. The way the camera frames characters and how they capture the scenery in certain shots. A culmination of great details that help shape the movie for the viewer.
I like that many of Miyazaki's movies have environmental themes. It's powerful when Chihiro sees that the stink spirit turns out to be a river spirit severely hurt by pollution. In a behind-the-scenes video I saw, Miyazaki said that the river/stink spirit was based on his own experiences cleaning a river when he was younger. He was part of a team that pulled tons of trash (including a bicycle) from the river.
Also Haku (Kohaku River's spirit) was a spirit from a river that dried out. Similar to the river the dad encounters when he enters the spirit world, before smelling the food.
In the art book early character concepts, one of the scribbles says that Rin is a weasel. (In Japanese folklore, several species of animals can transform, as you can see in the Ghibli movie Pom Poko.)
Yes I believe Lin is a fox spirit while the other ladies are slug spirits, and the men are frog spirits. What's strange is this implies slugs and frog spirits are "lower class" who work for Yababa for the benefit of having shelter and food. While Lin is a fox, she must've had some misfortune to resort to the slave employment at the bath house. No one gets paid at the bath house, all the gold goes to Yababa which is why everyone was taking gold for themselves, then like Lin, buy train tickets to escape. Haku's origin solidifies the bath house being a last resort for employment to spirits. Chuhiro says "that river dried up, and (humans) built apartments over it." Haku is a powerful dragon, but lost his domain, his river, thus he became homeless and sought refuge by working for Yababa. Even in the afterlife, capitalism and exploitation persists
I’m pretty sure they are all frogs. The men are clearly frogs but I believe the women are also frogs but more pretty, like a sexual dimorphism thing. Even Lin has somewhat of a frog-like mouth. The higher-ranked women entertaining the guests are far more frog like while the younger worker girls are more human like. I would imagine in their world the more frog-like ladies are more desirable.
This movie contains many deep messages. For example, Kaonashi(No face) is a symbol of the endless desires, unfulfilled desire for approval, and emptiness that we humans always have. And in this mysterious world, there are no living humans other than Chihiro. In other words, Rin and other employees are not human beings either.
No-Face represents those people that have no personality and let be carried away by their surroundings. Pushovers with need for external approval and not inner sense of self, craving that attention and approval from other people. Using money, goods, adopting other personalities. That's why he turns bad when he surrounds by the greed and mean characters of Yubaba's bathhouse, and gets back to normal when he gets away from that place.
@@Afreshio He's a No-Face/Noh-Face. His face is a blank mask, no personality, so it just becomes whatever it thinks its observers want it to be. I love all the layers of meanings in this film. The more I watch, the more I think. ETA: Not arguing, just agreeing.
Someone in another video related to spirited away had said that no face is just a spirit of “is” he takes in his surroundings and reflects it back. He isn’t good or evil he just is.
As you may already know, in order to understand this movie, you need to understand the unique worldview and religion of the Japanese people, which has continued from ancient times to the present day. Japanese thought basically originates from anism. Simply put, it is a worship of nature and the idea that all beings have a soul. Therefore, it is said that there are eight million “KAMI” in Japan. It's Gods, it's spirits, it's fairies, it's demons, it's neighbors. Nature such as trees, stones, rivers, etc. An animal other than humans. Everyday items such as mirrors, weapons, and combs. And the food. There is a "KAMI" in everything.
Is the reason you say that there are 8 million Japanese gods is because the ``Yaoyorozu no Kami'' uses the kanji 8 million? However, its meaning does not simply represent the number 8 million. Correctly, ``Yao'' means extremely large in number, ``Yorozu'' means various, and ``Yaoyorozu no Kami'' means a large number of diverse gods. is. It is an ancient Japanese way of thinking that sees God in all things, and is closely related to Shinto.
Thats something i love about this movie, you can just accept the world in which they live in without having to get an explanation for the reason why everything is the way it is.
That’s why I hate this movie, it feels like such a waste. Everything else is nice, but with no real solid plot, it just does nothing for me. I’ve seen so many anime movies, and I just can’t comprehend why people would like this one.
If I remember correctly, in the Miyazaki documentary Hayao mentions that the inspiration for Chihiro was a friend's young daughter. He wanted to show that someone small and without any extrodinary powers or characteristics could still learn and grow, and affect the people and enviroments around them despite their seemingly diminuitive stature or influence. And what a extrodinary gift to not only children but to all people who might feel a sense of powerless or lack of agency.
Children also see things as they are, simplistic and innocent. That's why No Face doesn't frighten her, she doesn't covet gold or power. It's very pure.
So the thing about No Face as said by Miyazaki himself "There are many No-Faces around. I think there are people everywhere who want to be attached to someone else, but don't have a sense of self. No-Face is a being that has no self, but changes depending on what and who it encounters." So No-Face is not devil spirit, it resembles the people around him, if someone is greedy he'll be greedy, if someone is nice to him, he'll be extremley nice, the sam goes if someone is bad. That's why he's nice to Chihiro, and then Zeniba's place and Zeniba itself is really calm, gentle and lives happy, then No Face lives like that. You can take that both ways as a person who mirror themselves on other or as a mirro on humanity itself.
Carter, I'm really impressed with the approach you now have on films and anime. You used to hate these kinds of movies, but now you analyze them well. You question the cultural aspects, the context, the symbolics and you even analyze the acting (like praising Chihiro for acting exactly her age). I like your curiousity for things out of your comfort zone. I also understand those who didn't like it because it was weird. It's indeed a weird story. I personality like it because it's just the perfect level of weirdness (like in a dream)
The point of the story is to find your Determination and your Courage. Chihiro is a teenage girl that is uprooted from her home to go life somewhere else where she knows no one and nothing. There is only questions and anxiety and fear. By going through these ordeals, she find the bravery and courage within her to face those and find her place. Its about maturity and accepting changes no matter how strange they are, cause you know that things are gonna be ok as long that you have the courage.
I also read somewhere that every Person she interacted with represented a different life challenge and we can see her growth throughout the movie. No face is supposed to represent her loneliness
She's actually a 10 year old that has been put into a situation where she is forced to grow up and move on with her life. And a lot of Japanese children actually have an experience with this, as Japan is incredibly safe, parents usually let children run some errands by the age of 10 and let them walk to school with their classmates or a kid neighbor by that age, but Chihiro is different and she is shown to be different by how much she is afraid of everything, she may not even be able to run errands near her home like other kids because she's scared even when she's only crossing a tiny stream. True courage is not the absence of fear, but how to face it when such fears are presented to you, you can see her fears throughout the movie, fears of abandonment and loneliness, fear of losing someone you love and feel a connection to, fear of losing yourself when you grow up. And before anyone says how can a kid fall in love with someone, I have to say that the realization of romantic attraction for both male and female is around the age of 11, some may realize it a little earlier like Chihiro, and some may realize it a little later as it could also relate to life experiences.
I am Japanese! I am glad you all liked the film. Whenever I watch this movie, it always reminds me of the anxiety and fear I felt on my first day at my new job. And I have started studying English again, which I neglected for many years, in order to understand what you guys are talking about.
In my opinion, no, because that 3D little witch movie… No. The main character was not relatable or likable because she was mean. And story had no plot. And the new one, The Boy and the Heron was terrible. I did not like that movie at all.
@@desertwaterdemon I am a Ghibli enthusiast, Princess Mononoke is my favourite all time movie, and I adore Nausicaa, From up on Poppyhill and The Wind Rises (seeing at TIFF was magical tbh). Was so excited to see the Boy and the Heron when I scored a ticket at TIFF again. And was greatly disappointed, I sat in the theatre when it ended trying to listen to the excitement from other viewers and hop on the bandwagon but it had 0 story, was all over the place and made no sense at all. Loved the visuals and music but the story itself, what story?? And the witch one.... I pretend it isn't Ghibli at all.
@@desertwaterdemon Well aren't you an enthusiast 😂Pretty shallow takes on your part if I must say. Really feel that people who are always focused on finding a plot are missing out on experiencing and appreciating all the wonderful things in stories that aren't so plot driven. It's your loss tho bud.
I watched this movie with my dad when I was 6 years old. It was the first anime I had ever watched (although I didn't know what anime was back then) I've watched this movie multiple times over the years and it feels like with every watch, I find a new layer of meaning within it because I'm a bit older each time. It truly is a phenomenal movie!
thats also what I noticed about all Studio Ghibli movies. It seems like every time you watch it you find more and more things that went unnoticed earlier. My personal favourite is Howl's moving castle, I can't count how many times I watched it and every time I was so mesmerized by it. With Howl's castle its so easy to find new ways of interpreting things and symbolism :) I adore this movie and I love when ppl watch it for the first time cause there is always one big discussion in the comments and I like to read all theories and share some of my mind. Btw I also watch Spirited Away + Howl's Castle with my dad when I was a child and I didn't know it was an anime. Back then in my country there was no knowledge of anime and shows such as Naruto, Bakugan, Sailor Moon were broadcasted once a week with dub and poor quality :'D
In the original version, Yubaba's line in this scene 37:00 is not "I will give Sen the final test," but "What will you do after that? Are you ready to be torn to pieces by me?". And the conversation between Chihiro and her father at the very end is a complete addition in the translated version. The scene where Chihiro goes through the tunnel to get back to the car is intentionally the same as the beginning of the movie, and Chihiro seems to have forgotten everything and is back to her fragile girl self. However, the leaves on the car and the hairpiece still in Chihiro's hair indicate her slight but definite growth. The translation in this movie makes the characters and the story too simple.
Thanks for clarifying this, I was wondering this since I am more familiar with the Spanish dub and it is really different at times. I guess they felt the need to over explain things, just wondering if people would be better without those lines or if they would be more confused without such explanations. I don’t remember that Chihiro said that Haku was a dragon after meeting her parents, not until he was chased by the paper birds, it was like a revelation that she could recognize him when filled with panic, like instinctual.
Yeah, it really makes me wish they had watched the subbed version instead, because it has a bigger impact. I think the dub just makes it too simple and kid friendly
it's so good cuz there is no explanation. just kid perspective. she doesn't need to understand the whole thing to escape! we experienced stuff we don't understand when we were young.. as an adult, now we see it sometimes😊 just love this movie so much❤
Something you'll notice as you keep watching Studio Ghibli movies, is there's always a theme about the real world in them, like pollution or war. That's why the spirit that flooded the bath had a bunch of trash be cleaned out of him. Or in Howl's Moving Castle, the wizards who turned themselves into monsters to fight a war. Both Princess Mononoke or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind are great examples of this.
watching this as a kid, it always reminded me of the dreams i would have, not so much the context but the feeling. the whimsical but anxious atmosphere, the feeling of being lost and surrounded by people who don't listen, discovering beautiful and horrifying things. it was my overactive imagination playing out in front of me, and i looked up to Chihiro's eventual bravery so much. i'll always appreciate how they portrayed a little girl so well
@4:24 howl’s moving castle door - I never caught that! I think you’re right! This is the doorway that brings them to another “world” and that stained glass looks just like the dial above howl’s door.
Fun facts: The hopping lantern at Zaneba's that leads them to the house is a nod/homage to Pixar's hopping lap in their title card. Yes, that was Meg's voice actress from Hercules. Chihiro/Sen is the same voice actress as Lilo from Lilo & Stitch. Haku is Jason Marsden who voiced Max in A Goofy Movie and Chester in Fairly OddParents. Yubaba's giant baby was voiced by the legendary Tara Strong.
@@BioshockChar If Disney used to know anything, it was villain songs. Like, did they have to go that hard? Now I'm in love with dark, brooding menaces with husky, gravelly voices. Damn you, Disney.
Something I love about the ending is in the original Japanese dub there are no words between Chihiro and her father in the end but in the English dub he asks if shes gonna be ok and she responds "I think I can handle it". Its such an amazing testament to the translators and English writers how well they understood the original script and made it work for English speaking audiences while adding some extra love to the story they were translating. Its also a really nice touch to Chihiro's story and how she grew as a person throughout the film in a matter of days when faced with incredible hardships.
The concept of Shinto is deeply involved in this movie, so it must be difficult to translate it accurately, but I think it's wonderful that many people still loved this movie. And English voice actor's voice sounds similar to the Japanese one! English dub is very good!
@@HouseMDaddict I'm Japanese and have no religion, but Shinto is the source of Japanese culture and values, so I can understand this movie well. I thought polytheistic thinking was hard to accept in the West, so I'm glad that there were many people overseas who loved this movie. I think the people involved in this movie did a great job. I respect them.
@@さゆ-u7sdepends really if you think about it western culture was built from the foundations of Greco-Roman Philosophy and culture which was informed by the polythestic religion of the region which was molded together with early Christianity which informed the development of modern Christianity
Just so you know, that is the same voice actress who voiced Meg in Hercules! Also, I agree with Carter that this movie is better on a second watch, because on a first watch it does hit you with a lot of weird stuff. It's not my favorite Ghibli movie, but still a really great one that I love. If I had to choose, I'd say Princess Mononoke is my favorite, so I'm very excited that you guys are reacting to that next! Can't wait!
The first time I saw this film as a child in 2001, I cried and resonated with it immediately. I went on to write my university essay on it and my Japanese tutor gave me a 1st. I think people who have very constricted consumer behaviours and cultural exposure are more likely to misunderstand the film or find it weird.
@@selorm Exactly. I can't help but feel a little bothered when people describe it as weird since that word has negative connotations to it. Surreal, wondrous and fantastical I feel are more better and accurate descriptions of what this film embodies. Weird feels like a shallow description from someone with only a surface level understanding of the film if that. I can get behind the film just not being someone's cup of tea, but to call it weird just feels like there's no depth of understanding to come to that conclusion.
@@thecollector5204There are quite a few Disney alumni on this film. Aside from Susan Egan and Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden (Haku) was Kovu on the Lion King 2 and the late Suzanne Pleshette (Yubaba) was Kovu’s mother Zira on The Lion King 2, Kamaji was also voiced by the late David Ogden Stiers who voiced quite a few Disney characters Cogsworth, Governor Ratcliffe and Jumba to name but a few. Yes I am absolutely that annoying person who stares intently at the television until I pick out the name.
Spirited Away is just one of those movie that you don't need to be an anime watcher to appreciate. Even on it's own, it's just a masterpiece of a film.
I love how you could see that at least two of you became emotional in the Kohaku River scene. I cry so hard in that scene everytime I watch this movie...
One of my favorite details is how the creator found the exact car the dad was driving and had it driven through a similar terrain to record the soubds of the car. Amazing little detail that made the movie more realistic
When Haku and Chihiro are in the sky holding hands and the music kicks in absolutely crushed me. Even through the credits I was crying and saying to myself “I get it”. And then I saw what everyone was raving about. Spirited Away is without a doubt one of the best animated films. Besides The Prince of Egypt I don’t know any other animated film that captured me like that. Animation is not a genre. It is a form of Art. Bless you Miyazaki.
LOL, my first Ghibli film was "when marnie was here" then i doubled down with "grave of the fire flies".So basically with ghibli all I've ever known was tears and confusion
I am so sorry you had to go through that. Most Ghibli movies will make people cry, but you picked two of the most rough, emotionally wrecking ones. Grave of the Fireflies was a double feature paired with My Neighbor Totoro so you could reflect a bit more, but also have a light hearted fun adventure to follow that gut wrenching experience that is Grave of the Fireflies.
You guys analyze these movies and series so well, it’s smt you won’t see in every reaction channel. Really enjoying your reactions. Keep uploading them pls
i have loved this movie since i was a little girl and the guy who says chihiro embodies love hits the head right on the nail but theres also so many other mini things in there as someone who struggles with an eating disorder the subtle ways they potray food helps bring me comfort. when Haku says "eat this you wont turn into a pig" & when he gives her the rice balls to give her back her strength this movie means just so much to me. it helped me get clean. it has so many amazing lessons in it and the more you watch the more you pick up on. thats the beauty of this film, it never gets old because you always get something new out of it.
I remember going to the cinema when this movie came out, my absolute favorite... And you can tell it's not just the nostalgia. There are no peak backs, Cannon, go, and don't look back... bittersweet. All of the music is done by Joe Hisaishi. HE is a master when it comes to piano and composition, I very very much recommend just going and listening to his releases of the ghibli songs, there are recorded live and studio versions that really showcase how hypnotic these songs are. Princess Mononoke next?! :)
Miyazakis creativity and skills are just on another level. It's also very fascinating that especially his old movies were drawn by hand. Imagine each frame, like in a flipbook kinda way, so in my opinion that makes it even more mindblowing, how detailed and smooth the animations are. It's also totally normal to be overwhelmed by the first watch and I'm not an expert but with Spirited Away Miyazaki was showing a lot of the problems in japan for example that big muddy looking monster, that seemed very random first, depicted coastal water pollution, japan suffers from a lot. That's also why the first thing chihiro saw was a bike coming out of the monster and then more trash, until the river spirit was freed. Just an example... but there were more little details, like as you mentioned, that the people were basically forced to work there like slaves, because they lost their names and can't find their way back home, shows also a big problem in japan with their work culture and how toxic and problematic it is... correct me if I'm wrong by the way hahah...but in the end I think Carter made a good point, it get's better after watching it again and when you know the meanings behind it. A lot of the time it seems random 😂but Miyazaki is never doing something without meaning. I also just love how he's showing us his world and stories with different POVs ,we see the world through an old lady, now in this movie from a childs perspective, Male, Female, old or young like I just love the variety . Japan is also well known for their mythologies, spirits and creature looking demons, but what makes Miyazaki so special is that he's always creating the perfect mix of traditions or elements from diffrerent cultures with his own magical touch, so that it always feels like another world ❤ Ok sorry for the spam :)
Spirited Away is such a classic - Hayao Miyazaki and Ghibli are just so unmatched and so many people have left great reds in the comments, but special shout-out to Princess Monoke it’s tied for my #1 Ghibli with Spirited Away and Howl’s. Some other movies/directors I’d recommend- - Perfect Blue (Satoshi Kon) - psychological thriller. Did a lot to inspire Black Swan - Ghost in the Shell (Mamoru Oshii) - sci fi/cyberpunk. the Matrix drew a lot of inspiration from it - Akira - a CLASSIC. Sci fi/cyberpunk. So many movies have referenced the akira slide, including Jordan Peele’s Nope
To me, Studio Ghibli movies capture something very different to Disney, It's wholesome and evokes a sense of nostalgia for something I haven't really experienced. The attention to details always amazes me, for animated films. Studio Ghibli movies are what I put on when I feel unwell or upset/stressed/depressed because they are so calming and wholesome.
Everything in this movie comes from Japanese culture, Shinto/religion, tradition, fairy tales and stories. There is so much that goes straight over our head when it comes to deeper meaning, symbolism and things we can actually relate to. It's amazing that's it's still such a great masterpiece of animated art despite us only getting maybe 1/3 of it's true meaning.
I was 9 or 10 when my single mother took me to that movie (probably after I asked her to). It sticks with you and it was incredibly frightening at times. Only when I got older I realized what this movie was about and I cry tears of reminiscence whenever I rewatch that movie. It speaks to our soul directly. If Chihiro was able to get through this, I can get through life as well.
I first saw this movie when I was 4yrs old & I remember the moment incredibly vividly because this movie really impacted me in a way that just shaped me into who I am today. My love for art, history, music, anime, folklore, foreign cultures, my love for learning foreign languages & even my love for storms. Everything that makes up who I am can be traced back to this movie & that one cold & stormy morning when 4yr old me woke up because of the thunder at 3 in the morning & decided that instead of waking up anybody for comfort, I was gonna just put on a random movie & try to comfort myself. I love this movie so much & I'm so happy more people are coming back to watch Ghibli movies again.
maybe its the fact i had this movie on repeat while growing up, but the main theme and the final song is nostalgia encapsulated to me. It just feels me with that bittersweet feeling of when you realize growing up means you'll need to leave some things behind.
So, fun fact, in an interview years ago, Miyazaki once said that he created this movie for the daughter of a friend of his. She was around Chihiro's age and was really struggling or something, so he wanted to create a movie where even a little girl could be the hero, even without powers. I remember reading that interview as a little girl myself and it's always stuck with me.
This movie is very special the only foreign animated film to ever win best picture, and until Demon Slayer movie came along it was the highest grossing Japanese film of all time. Held that record for over 20 years.
I think you guys would like princess mononoke although it does have some mythology and lil gore involved in it. For your next ghibli watch i would recommend smth lighthearted like 'my neighbor totoro' or 'kiki's delivery service'. Some of my personal favs and underrated gems are: 'whisper of the heart', 'from up on the poppy hill' (super nostalgic) and 'secret life of arrietty'. These do not have that much weirdness to them so yeah :)
I agree that in a lot of media when someone grows it is because of an event, but in life that’s not always the case. Sometimes you grow just because you need to. Because you’re in a place that asks you to grow. Because you experience fear and can leave it behind
I always appreciate yall's emotional depth with these movies, I hope you keep watching them! Especially with Cannon, to me it seems like he really empathizes with characters when they're struggling. I also love Carter's take on this movie's themes and Chihiro's impact on the spirits in the bathhouse, that's not really a perspective I've heard before
Simply put, the greatest movie oat imo. Nothing makes you feel quite the same way. It's magical, it's enchanting, it's captivating, it's moving, it's inspiring.
when Chihiro was taking the train to find Yubaba's sister, she passed by a platform and there was a little girl there, that little girl is from movie Grave of the fireflies .......she is waiting for her brother there........
Now I don't know how many times I watched this film as it was often broadcast on TV in Japan when I was a kid. It may sound strange, but for some reason, I can't hold back my tears every time I watch this nowadays while I was just enjoying it as a fun movie in my childhood. Such a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli I will probably never meet any anime movie better than this in my life.
It was really fun watching Carter struggle to keep his pokerface throughout all of this lol I remember enjoying this movie so much as a kid but I was also very confused about the plot and the whole message. It leaves a lot up to imagination, I guess. I've also seen a lot of interpretations from people over the years as well. Another great movie I really recommend is "Laputa - Castle in the sky"! I had so much fun with this one and the storyline is a lot easier to grasp as well! I hope, you guys will check it out some day!
I love this movie so much. My second favorite of all time. But there a certain thing about this movie where I love it more the more I watch it. My first time seeing it, having never really been exposed to movies outside of the western culture, the whole experience is a mix of weird with wholesome. Every watch after, when you already know what to expect, it gets much, much better. I love this weird little world they created.
The voice actor who played the baby in this movie is the same voice actor who played Taki in the movie "Your Name." He is an actor who played the main character in the movie "Godzilla-1".
As a Japanese, this movie doesn’t give me weird feeling. First, spirits are very close idea to us, doesn’t mean that we are really religious to it but just like god exists in every aspects of surroundings, and we are familiar to myth, stories or appearances of them (like knowing them as character in a story of nature), so the setting that many spirits come to bathhouse to relax and release their stress, actually it was very cute and unique humor I thought when I watched it in childhood. I was like “yeah okay, of course spirits go to bathhouse like us hehehe”.
As a Japanese. I almost agree with you. In Japan, there's a religious concept called "Yaoyorozu no Kami," which roughly translates to "eight million gods." It's the belief that gods are around us, so most characters in stories are something gods. These gods can be benevolent, weak, or even malevolent. And Nature reflects this belief, like when a river becomes polluted due to human greed, prompting the gods so became dirty. He need help so he came to bathhouse. (The mud monster and Haku are rivers god. The black creature are weak god) Rather than omnipotent beings, these gods are accepted as part of existence, shaping Japanese spirituality and mindset. Hence, the black god wasn't killed or driven away; it's just accepted as it is. That's the essence of it. This video captures a deeply Japanese perspective This Anime is my favorite.
It is a very strange story, even for Japanese. It is not possible to understand everything just by watching it once. The reason why I could somehow understand the story and felt comfortable with the characters is because Japan has the concept of 8 million gods, and such stories of yokai and gods appear in myths and folk tales. I was excited, nostalgic, and mystified that such a world of gods existed. If foreign viewers see this film for the first time, they may be confused by the metaphors and satire due to cultural and religious differences. However, this story is basically a tale of growth, a story that makes you want to contemplate and discover something new every time you see it. Thanks for taking a look! I look forward to your videos! （Translated with DeepL）
My brother took me to this movie when I was 6, it’s a treasured memory for me! I definitely didn’t know what anime was, and I didn’t understand most of it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. After seeing it many more times the themes have become more clear. It’s a weird movie and I love it so much.
1:00 Carter actually said it correctly. I watched Spirited Away for the first time when I was 7 years old in theaters with my best friend, last year, for its 20th release anniversary here in Peru, it was released again on big screen. I went with my best friend, we both cried because it just meant to much, we've been friends since 2002 and Spirited Away meant a lot to the both of us, it's a symbol for our friendship in a way, it meant even more because she's a professional violinist and she played for the Ghibli Symphonic they did here, and I cried during the whole thing, she did too the first time she played The Dragon Boy (Spirited Away OST) with the rest of the orchestra. This is the movie that really made me love art and animation, I've been drawing ever since. It's what ignated my passion for art and anime, and I don't know, the fact that it won an Oscar over Disney and Pixar also meant a lot, because while the protagonist is a child, and it has childlike wonder, the film portrays several themes that are actually targetted at adults. It's also the way Miyazaki has female heroes who do not need saving, they normally accomplish their goals through friendship, courage, and supporting others, they are kind people who do not shy from needing help from others, who do not need to do things alone, because a community is stronger than a single person. Hayao Miyazaki is a genius. His films always have so much meaning.
Someone already explained how it relates to religion and Japanese culture, and Yaoyorozu no Kami, however it also has themes that relate to the dangers of capitalism: consumerism, materialism, greed, the loss of connection to nature, pollution, and many of the films Mizayaki works on relate to that. It's also a film about the transition from childhood into adulthood, how Chihiro discovers bravery along the way, and remains kind the whole time. One of my favorite quotes is "It's strange, I don't remember my name, but I remember yours." I think I've watched this film every single year since I watched it for the first time in 2003, and it never ceases to amaze me.
Studio ghibli is just so great. I watched this movie as a kid and it felt so…. Crazy. Today I still watch and love it but when you watched this as a kid you know how dynamic this movie felt. I remember getting so many goosebumps amd fearing for chihiro at the stairs scene. I think it’s because as a kid you just really understand chihiro. Children feel, see and measure things just much differently. I was terrified for her all the time. Also, this movie was quite scary. The scenes where her parents turned into a pig, chihiro being found out as a movie, the spider man, YUBABA was so scary, her baby 😭… so many things but at the same time I just loved it all. It’s just a whole different experience when you watch it when being a child. In the end these are children movies (that obviously still can be watched by adults). It’s a true masterpiece.
Lin aka the other female worker she's with Chihiro not only voiced Megara in Hercules, but she ALSO voiced Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond in Steven Universe.
This is a very metaphorical film. Most of the scenes has some deeper meaning behind it like the water spirit being filled with garbage and possessions people don't care about anymore. Because of humans neglect the water, the rivers suffered. Its easy to ignore but once it shows up in person and affecting us personal it really does become important. Its these small details you catch more and more and best part is that it comes down to who you are as a person to get a different interpretation.
Oh, my precious Spirited Away... This anime hits differently when you're 12 years old. That's how old I was when I watched it for the 1st time. I think it was 2004. I was so impressed and shocked that I am still sure that this is the best thing I ever watched lol even though I'm 32 now and I watched like tons of great anime and movies after that. I also love Princess Mononoke, it also made a huge impression on me ~20 years ago.
You pick up more every time you watch this. If you look into how it was made, you are shown new things. It gives you new perspectives. Miyazaki always pays attention to details. The way the mom holds her free hand when she eats is based on someone he knows. How the dragon was fed the present in the same way a vet would do it for a dog. Superstitious acts, like holding fingers up to have someone else swipe between them to break any curse, is a type of game we know children make up. There is so much to see and take in, that you really have to watch it more than once to understand it all. I have my favorite parts. The train scene is hauntingly beautiful, Haku learning his name, and the hair tie sparkling. I love the music and the warm details. It makes me want to go to a bathhouse and it really makes me want Japanese food. The food in his movies always looks fantastic! The movie is not about her winning. It is about her growing, and growing up.
Also knowing Miyazaki made this film for his grandaughter to give her a hero and role model from a young girl's point of view , and i believe he has a self insert as kamaji the boiler man. (If you think about it its not that hard to understand... he has retired and come back countless times and always feels this incredible strain from work where he feels he must multitask to keep the "boiler room" running while countless nameless artists help shovel the coal... and yet beyond that he still has to have time to care about others... his granddaughter for example). I think that is what makes this story so powerful. Its one filled with the love, and despite being a world with yokai/spirits, its is perhaps that emotion which grounds it and makes it very human, relatable.
the one good thing my high school did was have an entire english unit dedicated to studying miyazaki and his movies and i had the luck of this movie being the chosen one for our year group to study (i recall maybe two of the classes ended up watching princess mononoke, but both are incredible) and it was easily my favourite unit we ever did like are you kidding, a whole terms worth of work just for this movie i was thriving. and it was a surprising unit as well coming from an Australian country school, never wouldve expected them to choose something so far removed and i am 100% not complaining.
After having watched this more than a few times, I finally understand why Chihiro stards to go see through. She's in the spirit realm, which usually means "dream logic", and she was saying "go away, disappear"
I love "Spirited Away" so much and I enjoy watching you all reactions. It's really good anime for reminding our soul. So, I will recommend you to watch "The boy and the beast" . It's really nice too.
Im not entirely sure if you guys picked it up, but the reason why Haku showed up at the bath house is because his river disappeared. I don’t remember why the river is gone, but because he couldn't find his river anymore, he ended up at the bath house where Yubaba was able to steal his name and make him her errand boy
You have to understand MIYAZAKI's approach to animation to get the point of all the weirdness in this movie it's litteraly like an invitation to his imaginary and also a flex of his animation and naration skills,it's more of a piece of art than it is a movie for entertainment
Exactly what I was thinking Miyazaki is an artist who doesn't really answer to the traditional film making process and this film was like you said a flex of his craftsmanship he didn't really care to make an understandable plot or characters this is more about the animation and the story telling techniques and it won him an oscar in the end
Honestly it’s fine to not understand what the movie means. We often over emphasise on the plot when viewing movies and forget that they are art too, and art doesn’t have a definite meaning, everyone finds their own interpretation, if it made you feel some type of way, if it made you think, if you took something away from it, then it’s a good piece of art.
I always thought this movie was about finding courage to move forward and experience new things but to remember your past and the people or experiences that helped form who you are. I'm glad you guys reacted to this 😊 I think you guys would really like Princess Mononoke so I hope you'll check that out some day
I really like how you talked about the changes that happened to the people at the bathhouse once they met Chihiro. Like the bird and the baby wanting to stay the way they are when they are with Chihiro. It's kind of like how Chihiro is giving away the spirit medicine to Haku and No Face, how they changed to their truer and milder selves, it's a good metaphor for what she does for the people at the bathhouse, she just impacts everyone around her so positively. Great points 👍
So glad you watched this! Probably my favorite childhood movie. Understandable that on first watch there was a lot of confusion but once you view it under a different lens (like Carter), you appreciate the movie in a different light. Of course, there's more lore in the Japanese culture but from an outside pov and third watch: When I was about 7, I first watched this and was mesmerized(and also very creeped out by Yubaba, No Face, and pig parents), A few years back I did a rewatch and thought nothing made sense (similar reaction to the first-time viewers). And rewatching it now has made me realize that this is a movie you must go into with an open mind and imagination, and everything will align. Miyazaki is always appreciative when children watch his movies because they never worry about the plot, but the emotions or what looks cool and feeds the imagination. My issue with the second watch was thinking too hard and trying to make sense of things. Can't wait to see the next one!!
I would add that I agree the comments on "love" no matter how platonic did seem to come out of the blue. (And on that note I'm hoping a Ponyo watch is a possibility👀)
There's something about this film that has my heart involved in every second of it. I will never stop loving this movie.
Me too...
Me too.
The music and cinematography stand out to me. The way the camera frames characters and how they capture the scenery in certain shots. A culmination of great details that help shape the movie for the viewer.
Same 👍🏾
Me too. It was part of my childhood. Studio Ghibli created masterpieces.
I like that many of Miyazaki's movies have environmental themes. It's powerful when Chihiro sees that the stink spirit turns out to be a river spirit severely hurt by pollution. In a behind-the-scenes video I saw, Miyazaki said that the river/stink spirit was based on his own experiences cleaning a river when he was younger. He was part of a team that pulled tons of trash (including a bicycle) from the river.
Also Haku (Kohaku River's spirit) was a spirit from a river that dried out. Similar to the river the dad encounters when he enters the spirit world, before smelling the food.
@@Afreshio Oh I never made the connection with the river Chihiro's dad mentions in the beginning! Thanks for pointing that out!
@@Afreshio the river wasn't dried out it was filled in which Miyazaki attributes to how developments ruin the environment
just a side note: Lin isn't a human she's still a spirit but she's just portrayed as humanoid. I think she's supposed to be a fox spirit
She’s a weasel
In the art book early character concepts, one of the scribbles says that Rin is a weasel. (In Japanese folklore, several species of animals can transform, as you can see in the Ghibli movie Pom Poko.)
@@MIZZKIE yes
Yes I believe Lin is a fox spirit while the other ladies are slug spirits, and the men are frog spirits. What's strange is this implies slugs and frog spirits are "lower class" who work for Yababa for the benefit of having shelter and food. While Lin is a fox, she must've had some misfortune to resort to the slave employment at the bath house.
No one gets paid at the bath house, all the gold goes to Yababa which is why everyone was taking gold for themselves, then like Lin, buy train tickets to escape.
Haku's origin solidifies the bath house being a last resort for employment to spirits. Chuhiro says "that river dried up, and (humans) built apartments over it." Haku is a powerful dragon, but lost his domain, his river, thus he became homeless and sought refuge by working for Yababa.
Even in the afterlife, capitalism and exploitation persists
I’m pretty sure they are all frogs. The men are clearly frogs but I believe the women are also frogs but more pretty, like a sexual dimorphism thing. Even Lin has somewhat of a frog-like mouth. The higher-ranked women entertaining the guests are far more frog like while the younger worker girls are more human like. I would imagine in their world the more frog-like ladies are more desirable.
This movie contains many deep messages. For example, Kaonashi(No face) is a symbol of the endless desires, unfulfilled desire for approval, and emptiness that we humans always have. And in this mysterious world, there are no living humans other than Chihiro. In other words, Rin and other employees are not human beings either.
No-Face represents those people that have no personality and let be carried away by their surroundings. Pushovers with need for external approval and not inner sense of self, craving that attention and approval from other people. Using money, goods, adopting other personalities.
That's why he turns bad when he surrounds by the greed and mean characters of Yubaba's bathhouse, and gets back to normal when he gets away from that place.
I think I read somewhere that Lin is actually a fox spirit. Very interesting.
@@Afreshio He's a No-Face/Noh-Face. His face is a blank mask, no personality, so it just becomes whatever it thinks its observers want it to be. I love all the layers of meanings in this film. The more I watch, the more I think.
ETA: Not arguing, just agreeing.
Someone in another video related to spirited away had said that no face is just a spirit of “is” he takes in his surroundings and reflects it back. He isn’t good or evil he just is.
@@Afreshio when it turns out.... im a no face..... ouch
As you may already know, in order to understand this movie, you need to understand the unique worldview and religion of the Japanese people, which has continued from ancient times to the present day. Japanese thought basically originates from anism.
Simply put, it is a worship of nature and the idea that all beings have a soul. Therefore, it is said that there are eight million “KAMI” in Japan. It's Gods, it's spirits, it's fairies, it's demons, it's neighbors. Nature such as trees, stones, rivers, etc. An animal other than humans. Everyday items such as mirrors, weapons, and combs. And the food. There is a "KAMI" in everything.
Is the reason you say that there are 8 million Japanese gods is because the ``Yaoyorozu no Kami'' uses the kanji 8 million? However, its meaning does not simply represent the number 8 million. Correctly, ``Yao'' means extremely large in number, ``Yorozu'' means various, and ``Yaoyorozu no Kami'' means a large number of diverse gods. is. It is an ancient Japanese way of thinking that sees God in all things, and is closely related to Shinto.
@@一色姫凛true
In Japanese culture 8 million can be used to represent infinity.@@一色姫凛
よくご存知で😊
んだな😊
I love how ghibli movies depict water and tears as how they feel rather than how water actually works.
It's a great example of expressionist animation.
The storytelling in this movie is wild because so much of the lore just *exists* and they don’t have to explain it for it to feel right or justified.
It stimulates imagination
Thats something i love about this movie, you can just accept the world in which they live in without having to get an explanation for the reason why everything is the way it is.
@@breezy3392described it perfectly
That’s why I hate this movie, it feels like such a waste. Everything else is nice, but with no real solid plot, it just does nothing for me. I’ve seen so many anime movies, and I just can’t comprehend why people would like this one.
@@jaredf6205 It's not a waste. It's a different style of storytelling. It's character focused, not about an external plot.
If I remember correctly, in the Miyazaki documentary Hayao mentions that the inspiration for Chihiro was a friend's young daughter. He wanted to show that someone small and without any extrodinary powers or characteristics could still learn and grow, and affect the people and enviroments around them despite their seemingly diminuitive stature or influence. And what a extrodinary gift to not only children but to all people who might feel a sense of powerless or lack of agency.
Children also see things as they are, simplistic and innocent. That's why No Face doesn't frighten her, she doesn't covet gold or power. It's very pure.
I think you might find *_Princess Mononoke_* will be your favorites Ghibli film
I love that movie!
yes oh my god this movie literally shaped my life
Absolutely!!!
That's Ghibli's magnum opus.
Favorite. Spirited away may be “better objectively”, but Princess Mononoke is my favorite subjectively
So the thing about No Face as said by Miyazaki himself "There are many No-Faces around. I think there are people everywhere who want to be attached to someone else, but don't have a sense of self. No-Face is a being that has no self, but changes depending on what and who it encounters." So No-Face is not devil spirit, it resembles the people around him, if someone is greedy he'll be greedy, if someone is nice to him, he'll be extremley nice, the sam goes if someone is bad. That's why he's nice to Chihiro, and then Zeniba's place and Zeniba itself is really calm, gentle and lives happy, then No Face lives like that. You can take that both ways as a person who mirror themselves on other or as a mirro on humanity itself.
Carter, I'm really impressed with the approach you now have on films and anime. You used to hate these kinds of movies, but now you analyze them well. You question the cultural aspects, the context, the symbolics and you even analyze the acting (like praising Chihiro for acting exactly her age). I like your curiousity for things out of your comfort zone. I also understand those who didn't like it because it was weird. It's indeed a weird story. I personality like it because it's just the perfect level of weirdness (like in a dream)
It is very dreamlike. It flows with its own internal logic, not the logic we would usually expect. I love it.
The point of the story is to find your Determination and your Courage.
Chihiro is a teenage girl that is uprooted from her home to go life somewhere else where she knows no one and nothing.
There is only questions and anxiety and fear.
By going through these ordeals, she find the bravery and courage within her to face those and find her place.
Its about maturity and accepting changes no matter how strange they are, cause you know that things are gonna be ok as long that you have the courage.
I also read somewhere that every Person she interacted with represented a different life challenge and we can see her growth throughout the movie.
No face is supposed to represent her loneliness
chihiro is not a teenage girl lol
@@gloomsiRight she is 12 BUT soon to be 13. So she is some what gonna be a teenager. Her learning all of this will help her to grow in the end.
@@7SBeatsMM7actually officially she is 10 years old 😅 she is no where near a 13 year old
She's actually a 10 year old that has been put into a situation where she is forced to grow up and move on with her life. And a lot of Japanese children actually have an experience with this, as Japan is incredibly safe, parents usually let children run some errands by the age of 10 and let them walk to school with their classmates or a kid neighbor by that age, but Chihiro is different and she is shown to be different by how much she is afraid of everything, she may not even be able to run errands near her home like other kids because she's scared even when she's only crossing a tiny stream.
True courage is not the absence of fear, but how to face it when such fears are presented to you, you can see her fears throughout the movie, fears of abandonment and loneliness, fear of losing someone you love and feel a connection to, fear of losing yourself when you grow up.
And before anyone says how can a kid fall in love with someone, I have to say that the realization of romantic attraction for both male and female is around the age of 11, some may realize it a little earlier like Chihiro, and some may realize it a little later as it could also relate to life experiences.
I am Japanese! I am glad you all liked the film. Whenever I watch this movie, it always reminds me of the anxiety and fear I felt on my first day at my new job. And I have started studying English again, which I neglected for many years, in order to understand what you guys are talking about.
Carter being the only one who has seen it before, it really feels like turn tables. Also dude can't keep his reactions in check hilarious
All of the Studio Ghibli stuff is amazing.
In my opinion, no, because that 3D little witch movie… No. The main character was not relatable or likable because she was mean. And story had no plot. And the new one, The Boy and the Heron was terrible. I did not like that movie at all.
@@desertwaterdemon I am a Ghibli enthusiast, Princess Mononoke is my favourite all time movie, and I adore Nausicaa, From up on Poppyhill and The Wind Rises (seeing at TIFF was magical tbh). Was so excited to see the Boy and the Heron when I scored a ticket at TIFF again. And was greatly disappointed, I sat in the theatre when it ended trying to listen to the excitement from other viewers and hop on the bandwagon but it had 0 story, was all over the place and made no sense at all. Loved the visuals and music but the story itself, what story?? And the witch one.... I pretend it isn't Ghibli at all.
@@desertwaterdemon魔女の映画とゲド戦記は宮崎駿の息子が監督した映画だからハヤオ作品には入れないでほしい😂
@@desertwaterdemon to be fair, it wasn't made by Hayao, so automatically its a downgrade, but... yeah, we pretend that one doesn't exist.
@@desertwaterdemon Well aren't you an enthusiast 😂Pretty shallow takes on your part if I must say. Really feel that people who are always focused on finding a plot are missing out on experiencing and appreciating all the wonderful things in stories that aren't so plot driven. It's your loss tho bud.
I watched this movie with my dad when I was 6 years old. It was the first anime I had ever watched (although I didn't know what anime was back then)
I've watched this movie multiple times over the years and it feels like with every watch, I find a new layer of meaning within it because I'm a bit older each time.
It truly is a phenomenal movie!
thats also what I noticed about all Studio Ghibli movies. It seems like every time you watch it you find more and more things that went unnoticed earlier. My personal favourite is Howl's moving castle, I can't count how many times I watched it and every time I was so mesmerized by it. With Howl's castle its so easy to find new ways of interpreting things and symbolism :) I adore this movie and I love when ppl watch it for the first time cause there is always one big discussion in the comments and I like to read all theories and share some of my mind. Btw I also watch Spirited Away + Howl's Castle with my dad when I was a child and I didn't know it was an anime. Back then in my country there was no knowledge of anime and shows such as Naruto, Bakugan, Sailor Moon were broadcasted once a week with dub and poor quality :'D
In the original version, Yubaba's line in this scene 37:00 is not "I will give Sen the final test," but "What will you do after that? Are you ready to be torn to pieces by me?".
And the conversation between Chihiro and her father at the very end is a complete addition in the translated version.
The scene where Chihiro goes through the tunnel to get back to the car is intentionally the same as the beginning of the movie, and Chihiro seems to have forgotten everything and is back to her fragile girl self. However, the leaves on the car and the hairpiece still in Chihiro's hair indicate her slight but definite growth.
The translation in this movie makes the characters and the story too simple.
Thanks for clarifying this, I was wondering this since I am more familiar with the Spanish dub and it is really different at times. I guess they felt the need to over explain things, just wondering if people would be better without those lines or if they would be more confused without such explanations. I don’t remember that Chihiro said that Haku was a dragon after meeting her parents, not until he was chased by the paper birds, it was like a revelation that she could recognize him when filled with panic, like instinctual.
Yeah, it really makes me wish they had watched the subbed version instead, because it has a bigger impact. I think the dub just makes it too simple and kid friendly
I think it was better that way
yeah eng dub is always ass
@@prayrustYT ?
The movie is nothing random, a good movie doesn’t mean everything has to be explained, it gives us the part to imagine. Best animation movie ever!
Fr
A lot of it can be explained through Japanese folklore and mythology
it's so good cuz there is no explanation. just kid perspective. she doesn't need to understand the whole thing to escape! we experienced stuff we don't understand when we were young.. as an adult, now we see it sometimes😊 just love this movie so much❤
Something you'll notice as you keep watching Studio Ghibli movies, is there's always a theme about the real world in them, like pollution or war. That's why the spirit that flooded the bath had a bunch of trash be cleaned out of him. Or in Howl's Moving Castle, the wizards who turned themselves into monsters to fight a war. Both Princess Mononoke or Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind are great examples of this.
watching this as a kid, it always reminded me of the dreams i would have, not so much the context but the feeling. the whimsical but anxious atmosphere, the feeling of being lost and surrounded by people who don't listen, discovering beautiful and horrifying things. it was my overactive imagination playing out in front of me, and i looked up to Chihiro's eventual bravery so much. i'll always appreciate how they portrayed a little girl so well
@4:24 howl’s moving castle door - I never caught that! I think you’re right! This is the doorway that brings them to another “world” and that stained glass looks just like the dial above howl’s door.
arent the soot sprites in another ghibli movie, its like they are connected
Fun facts:
The hopping lantern at Zaneba's that leads them to the house is a nod/homage to Pixar's hopping lap in their title card.
Yes, that was Meg's voice actress from Hercules.
Chihiro/Sen is the same voice actress as Lilo from Lilo & Stitch.
Haku is Jason Marsden who voiced Max in A Goofy Movie and Chester in Fairly OddParents.
Yubaba's giant baby was voiced by the legendary Tara Strong.
Yubaba and Zeniba are voiced by Suzanne Pleshette (RIP) who is Zira in The Lion King 2. (my favourite Disney character)
@@MIZZKIE Zira has the most metal of all Disney Villian songs and I will fight anyone who says otherwise
@@BioshockChar If Disney used to know anything, it was villain songs. Like, did they have to go that hard? Now I'm in love with dark, brooding menaces with husky, gravelly voices. Damn you, Disney.
THIS is old time classic LEGENDARY anime movie
old time classic? this shit from 2001.
@@kingofwaffles13The movie is 23 years old. Vintage is anything older than 20.
Something I love about the ending is in the original Japanese dub there are no words between Chihiro and her father in the end but in the English dub he asks if shes gonna be ok and she responds "I think I can handle it". Its such an amazing testament to the translators and English writers how well they understood the original script and made it work for English speaking audiences while adding some extra love to the story they were translating. Its also a really nice touch to Chihiro's story and how she grew as a person throughout the film in a matter of days when faced with incredible hardships.
7:44 This scene traumatized every little kid around the world 😭it was crazy
glad it wasn't just me
The concept of Shinto is deeply involved in this movie, so it must be difficult to translate it accurately, but I think it's wonderful that many people still loved this movie.
And English voice actor's voice sounds similar to the Japanese one!
English dub is very good!
You can pick up on it even if you're not familiar with Shinto. They make it obvious but not obvious if that makes sense.
@@HouseMDaddict
I'm Japanese and have no religion, but Shinto is the source of Japanese culture and values, so I can understand this movie well.
I thought polytheistic thinking was hard to accept in the West, so I'm glad that there were many people overseas who loved this movie.
I think the people involved in this movie did a great job.
I respect them.
@@さゆ-u7sdepends really if you think about it western culture was built from the foundations of Greco-Roman Philosophy and culture which was informed by the polythestic religion of the region which was molded together with early Christianity which informed the development of modern Christianity
Spirited Away will always have a place in my heart
I'm recommending Princess Mononoke, and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.
Nausicaa is too underrated
@@shishir2511 could not agree more!
Just so you know, that is the same voice actress who voiced Meg in Hercules! Also, I agree with Carter that this movie is better on a second watch, because on a first watch it does hit you with a lot of weird stuff. It's not my favorite Ghibli movie, but still a really great one that I love. If I had to choose, I'd say Princess Mononoke is my favorite, so I'm very excited that you guys are reacting to that next! Can't wait!
+Chihiro's VA also voices Lilo!
Damn! That's why she sounds so familiar 😮
The first time I saw this film as a child in 2001, I cried and resonated with it immediately. I went on to write my university essay on it and my Japanese tutor gave me a 1st. I think people who have very constricted consumer behaviours and cultural exposure are more likely to misunderstand the film or find it weird.
@@selorm Exactly. I can't help but feel a little bothered when people describe it as weird since that word has negative connotations to it. Surreal, wondrous and fantastical I feel are more better and accurate descriptions of what this film embodies. Weird feels like a shallow description from someone with only a surface level understanding of the film if that. I can get behind the film just not being someone's cup of tea, but to call it weird just feels like there's no depth of understanding to come to that conclusion.
@@thecollector5204There are quite a few Disney alumni on this film. Aside from Susan Egan and Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden (Haku) was Kovu on the Lion King 2 and the late Suzanne Pleshette (Yubaba) was Kovu’s mother Zira on The Lion King 2, Kamaji was also voiced by the late David Ogden Stiers who voiced quite a few Disney characters Cogsworth, Governor Ratcliffe and Jumba to name but a few.
Yes I am absolutely that annoying person who stares intently at the television until I pick out the name.
Most children in Japan grew up watching this🥹I'm glad you guys are watching.
The scene where chihiro was running down there stairs was used in AOT’s final episode when pieck ran down the war hammers trident 🥲
Spirited Away is just one of those movie that you don't need to be an anime watcher to appreciate.
Even on it's own, it's just a masterpiece of a film.
I love how you could see that at least two of you became emotional in the Kohaku River scene. I cry so hard in that scene everytime I watch this movie...
One of my favorite details is how the creator found the exact car the dad was driving and had it driven through a similar terrain to record the soubds of the car. Amazing little detail that made the movie more realistic
When Haku and Chihiro are in the sky holding hands and the music kicks in absolutely crushed me. Even through the credits I was crying and saying to myself “I get it”. And then I saw what everyone was raving about. Spirited Away is without a doubt one of the best animated films. Besides The Prince of Egypt I don’t know any other animated film that captured me like that. Animation is not a genre. It is a form of Art. Bless you Miyazaki.
LOL, my first Ghibli film was "when marnie was here" then i doubled down with "grave of the fire flies".So basically with ghibli all I've ever known was tears and confusion
I am so sorry you had to go through that. Most Ghibli movies will make people cry, but you picked two of the most rough, emotionally wrecking ones. Grave of the Fireflies was a double feature paired with My Neighbor Totoro so you could reflect a bit more, but also have a light hearted fun adventure to follow that gut wrenching experience that is Grave of the Fireflies.
火垂るの墓は一度は観るべき映画ですが二度は観たくない映画です
You guys analyze these movies and series so well, it’s smt you won’t see in every reaction channel. Really enjoying your reactions. Keep uploading them pls
i have loved this movie since i was a little girl and the guy who says chihiro embodies love hits the head right on the nail
but theres also so many other mini things in there
as someone who struggles with an eating disorder the subtle ways they potray food helps bring me comfort. when Haku says "eat this you wont turn into a pig" & when he gives her the rice balls to give her back her strength
this movie means just so much to me. it helped me get clean. it has so many amazing lessons in it and the more you watch the more you pick up on. thats the beauty of this film, it never gets old because you always get something new out of it.
“One Summer’s Day” was on repeat after my 1st time watching this 🎶🔥
I remember going to the cinema when this movie came out, my absolute favorite... And you can tell it's not just the nostalgia. There are no peak backs, Cannon, go, and don't look back... bittersweet.
All of the music is done by Joe Hisaishi. HE is a master when it comes to piano and composition, I very very much recommend just going and listening to his releases of the ghibli songs, there are recorded live and studio versions that really showcase how hypnotic these songs are.
Princess Mononoke next?! :)
Miyazakis creativity and skills are just on another level. It's also very fascinating that especially his old movies were drawn by hand. Imagine each frame, like in a flipbook kinda way, so in my opinion that makes it even more mindblowing, how detailed and smooth the animations are. It's also totally normal to be overwhelmed by the first watch and I'm not an expert but with Spirited Away Miyazaki was showing a lot of the problems in japan for example that big muddy looking monster, that seemed very random first, depicted coastal water pollution, japan suffers from a lot. That's also why the first thing chihiro saw was a bike coming out of the monster and then more trash, until the river spirit was freed. Just an example... but there were more little details, like as you mentioned, that the people were basically forced to work there like slaves, because they lost their names and can't find their way back home, shows also a big problem in japan with their work culture and how toxic and problematic it is... correct me if I'm wrong by the way hahah...but in the end I think Carter made a good point, it get's better after watching it again and when you know the meanings behind it. A lot of the time it seems random 😂but Miyazaki is never doing something without meaning. I also just love how he's showing us his world and stories with different POVs ,we see the world through an old lady, now in this movie from a childs perspective, Male, Female, old or young like I just love the variety .
Japan is also well known for their mythologies, spirits and creature looking demons, but what makes Miyazaki so special is that he's always creating the perfect mix of traditions or elements from diffrerent cultures with his own magical touch, so that it always feels like another world ❤
Ok sorry for the spam :)
Please watch Kiki's Delivery Service next time too 🥹💛
I agree
すごい好き
Spirited Away is such a classic - Hayao Miyazaki and Ghibli are just so unmatched and so many people have left great reds in the comments, but special shout-out to Princess Monoke it’s tied for my #1 Ghibli with Spirited Away and Howl’s.
Some other movies/directors I’d recommend-
- Perfect Blue (Satoshi Kon) - psychological thriller. Did a lot to inspire Black Swan
- Ghost in the Shell (Mamoru Oshii) - sci fi/cyberpunk. the Matrix drew a lot of inspiration from it
- Akira - a CLASSIC. Sci fi/cyberpunk. So many movies have referenced the akira slide, including Jordan Peele’s Nope
To me, Studio Ghibli movies capture something very different to Disney, It's wholesome and evokes a sense of nostalgia for something I haven't really experienced.
The attention to details always amazes me, for animated films.
Studio Ghibli movies are what I put on when I feel unwell or upset/stressed/depressed because they are so calming and wholesome.
please watch princess mononoke next its soooooo good!!!
となりのトトロもお勧めします
彼らには少し子供向けのように感じるかもしれませんが
ある場面で主人公達の絶望を想像するととても胸が痛みます
i think is time for the next anime movie~ laputa the castle in the sky
That and Nausicaa are my favourite ghibli films, but I feel like they’re both sooo underrated
Laputa and Mononoke are the best ghibli films don't @ me
Everything in this movie comes from Japanese culture, Shinto/religion, tradition, fairy tales and stories. There is so much that goes straight over our head when it comes to deeper meaning, symbolism and things we can actually relate to. It's amazing that's it's still such a great masterpiece of animated art despite us only getting maybe 1/3 of it's true meaning.
I was 9 or 10 when my single mother took me to that movie (probably after I asked her to). It sticks with you and it was incredibly frightening at times. Only when I got older I realized what this movie was about and I cry tears of reminiscence whenever I rewatch that movie. It speaks to our soul directly. If Chihiro was able to get through this, I can get through life as well.
I first saw this movie when I was 4yrs old & I remember the moment incredibly vividly because this movie really impacted me in a way that just shaped me into who I am today. My love for art, history, music, anime, folklore, foreign cultures, my love for learning foreign languages & even my love for storms. Everything that makes up who I am can be traced back to this movie & that one cold & stormy morning when 4yr old me woke up because of the thunder at 3 in the morning & decided that instead of waking up anybody for comfort, I was gonna just put on a random movie & try to comfort myself. I love this movie so much & I'm so happy more people are coming back to watch Ghibli movies again.
please watch
"Wolf Children: Ame & Yuki" &
"princess mononoke"
next!!!!
Tons of the things that seem random are actually all related to Japanese folklore and mythology like rules to follow and ways the spirits act
the memories you guys brought back wow...
used to watch this with my grandpa, grandma and my sisters, cant believe time past by so fast
maybe its the fact i had this movie on repeat while growing up, but the main theme and the final song is nostalgia encapsulated to me. It just feels me with that bittersweet feeling of when you realize growing up means you'll need to leave some things behind.
So, fun fact, in an interview years ago, Miyazaki once said that he created this movie for the daughter of a friend of his. She was around Chihiro's age and was really struggling or something, so he wanted to create a movie where even a little girl could be the hero, even without powers. I remember reading that interview as a little girl myself and it's always stuck with me.
This movie is very special the only foreign animated film to ever win best picture, and until Demon Slayer movie came along it was the highest grossing Japanese film of all time. Held that record for over 20 years.
I think you guys would like princess mononoke although it does have some mythology and lil gore involved in it. For your next ghibli watch i would recommend smth lighthearted like 'my neighbor totoro' or 'kiki's delivery service'.
Some of my personal favs and underrated gems are: 'whisper of the heart', 'from up on the poppy hill' (super nostalgic) and 'secret life of arrietty'. These do not have that much weirdness to them so yeah :)
6:55 Whatever Carter is feeling right now is exactly how I feel when I rewatch my fav anime...
I agree that in a lot of media when someone grows it is because of an event, but in life that’s not always the case. Sometimes you grow just because you need to. Because you’re in a place that asks you to grow. Because you experience fear and can leave it behind
I always appreciate yall's emotional depth with these movies, I hope you keep watching them! Especially with Cannon, to me it seems like he really empathizes with characters when they're struggling. I also love Carter's take on this movie's themes and Chihiro's impact on the spirits in the bathhouse, that's not really a perspective I've heard before
Please watch princess mononoke, I think you‘ll like it a lot better 👍🏼👍🏼
I LOVE THIS MOVIE!!! Rewatching this today with you guys was an amazing experience, thanks for the great contents!
Simply put, the greatest movie oat imo. Nothing makes you feel quite the same way. It's magical, it's enchanting, it's captivating, it's moving, it's inspiring.
when Chihiro was taking the train to find Yubaba's sister, she passed by a platform and there was a little girl there, that little girl is from movie Grave of the fireflies .......she is waiting for her brother there........
Was that ever confirmed?
The closure was at the end, when she said she could handle it. Her time there made her grow and become a stronger and braver person. Perseverance.
Now I don't know how many times I watched this film as it was often broadcast on TV in Japan when I was a kid. It may sound strange, but for some reason, I can't hold back my tears every time I watch this nowadays while I was just enjoying it as a fun movie in my childhood. Such a masterpiece by Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli I will probably never meet any anime movie better than this in my life.
Princess Mononoke and Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind nexttt!!
It was really fun watching Carter struggle to keep his pokerface throughout all of this lol
I remember enjoying this movie so much as a kid but I was also very confused about the plot and the whole message. It leaves a lot up to imagination, I guess. I've also seen a lot of interpretations from people over the years as well.
Another great movie I really recommend is "Laputa - Castle in the sky"!
I had so much fun with this one and the storyline is a lot easier to grasp as well!
I hope, you guys will check it out some day!
ah chihiro's big fat tears when she's eating gets me every time 😂
this movie always hits man, no matter how many years it's been since i've seen it...
I love this movie so much. My second favorite of all time.
But there a certain thing about this movie where I love it more the more I watch it. My first time seeing it, having never really been exposed to movies outside of the western culture, the whole experience is a mix of weird with wholesome. Every watch after, when you already know what to expect, it gets much, much better.
I love this weird little world they created.
The voice actor who played the baby in this movie is the same voice actor who played Taki in the movie "Your Name." He is an actor who played the main character in the movie "Godzilla-1".
As a Japanese, this movie doesn’t give me weird feeling. First, spirits are very close idea to us, doesn’t mean that we are really religious to it but just like god exists in every aspects of surroundings, and we are familiar to myth, stories or appearances of them (like knowing them as character in a story of nature), so the setting that many spirits come to bathhouse to relax and release their stress, actually it was very cute and unique humor I thought when I watched it in childhood. I was like “yeah okay, of course spirits go to bathhouse like us hehehe”.
As a Japanese.
I almost agree with you.
In Japan, there's a religious concept called "Yaoyorozu no Kami," which roughly translates to "eight million gods."
It's the belief that gods are around us, so most characters in stories are something gods.
These gods can be benevolent, weak, or even malevolent.
And Nature reflects this belief, like when a river becomes polluted due to human greed, prompting the gods so became dirty. He need help so he came to bathhouse. (The mud monster and Haku are rivers god. The black creature are weak god) Rather than omnipotent beings, these gods are accepted as part of existence, shaping Japanese spirituality and mindset. Hence, the black god wasn't killed or driven away; it's just accepted as it is. That's the essence of it. This video captures a deeply Japanese perspective
This Anime is my favorite.
"I think I can handle it"
It's one of the few movie endings that makes me tear up. Good lord it's so earned and she has come so far.
It is a very strange story, even for Japanese. It is not possible to understand everything just by watching it once. The reason why I could somehow understand the story and felt comfortable with the characters is because Japan has the concept of 8 million gods, and such stories of yokai and gods appear in myths and folk tales. I was excited, nostalgic, and mystified that such a world of gods existed.
If foreign viewers see this film for the first time, they may be confused by the metaphors and satire due to cultural and religious differences. However, this story is basically a tale of growth, a story that makes you want to contemplate and discover something new every time you see it.
Thanks for taking a look! I look forward to your videos!
（Translated with DeepL）
My brother took me to this movie when I was 6, it’s a treasured memory for me! I definitely didn’t know what anime was, and I didn’t understand most of it, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. After seeing it many more times the themes have become more clear. It’s a weird movie and I love it so much.
1:00 Carter actually said it correctly.
I watched Spirited Away for the first time when I was 7 years old in theaters with my best friend, last year, for its 20th release anniversary here in Peru, it was released again on big screen. I went with my best friend, we both cried because it just meant to much, we've been friends since 2002 and Spirited Away meant a lot to the both of us, it's a symbol for our friendship in a way, it meant even more because she's a professional violinist and she played for the Ghibli Symphonic they did here, and I cried during the whole thing, she did too the first time she played The Dragon Boy (Spirited Away OST) with the rest of the orchestra.
This is the movie that really made me love art and animation, I've been drawing ever since. It's what ignated my passion for art and anime, and I don't know, the fact that it won an Oscar over Disney and Pixar also meant a lot, because while the protagonist is a child, and it has childlike wonder, the film portrays several themes that are actually targetted at adults. It's also the way Miyazaki has female heroes who do not need saving, they normally accomplish their goals through friendship, courage, and supporting others, they are kind people who do not shy from needing help from others, who do not need to do things alone, because a community is stronger than a single person. Hayao Miyazaki is a genius. His films always have so much meaning.
Someone already explained how it relates to religion and Japanese culture, and Yaoyorozu no Kami, however it also has themes that relate to the dangers of capitalism: consumerism, materialism, greed, the loss of connection to nature, pollution, and many of the films Mizayaki works on relate to that.
It's also a film about the transition from childhood into adulthood, how Chihiro discovers bravery along the way, and remains kind the whole time.
One of my favorite quotes is "It's strange, I don't remember my name, but I remember yours."
I think I've watched this film every single year since I watched it for the first time in 2003, and it never ceases to amaze me.
Studio ghibli is just so great. I watched this movie as a kid and it felt so…. Crazy. Today I still watch and love it but when you watched this as a kid you know how dynamic this movie felt. I remember getting so many goosebumps amd fearing for chihiro at the stairs scene. I think it’s because as a kid you just really understand chihiro. Children feel, see and measure things just much differently. I was terrified for her all the time. Also, this movie was quite scary. The scenes where her parents turned into a pig, chihiro being found out as a movie, the spider man, YUBABA was so scary, her baby 😭… so many things but at the same time I just loved it all. It’s just a whole different experience when you watch it when being a child. In the end these are children movies (that obviously still can be watched by adults). It’s a true masterpiece.
Lin aka the other female worker she's with Chihiro not only voiced Megara in Hercules, but she ALSO voiced Rose Quartz/Pink Diamond in Steven Universe.
This is a very metaphorical film. Most of the scenes has some deeper meaning behind it like the water spirit being filled with garbage and possessions people don't care about anymore. Because of humans neglect the water, the rivers suffered. Its easy to ignore but once it shows up in person and affecting us personal it really does become important. Its these small details you catch more and more and best part is that it comes down to who you are as a person to get a different interpretation.
Oh, my precious Spirited Away...
This anime hits differently when you're 12 years old. That's how old I was when I watched it for the 1st time. I think it was 2004. I was so impressed and shocked that I am still sure that this is the best thing I ever watched lol even though I'm 32 now and I watched like tons of great anime and movies after that.
I also love Princess Mononoke, it also made a huge impression on me ~20 years ago.
This is one of my favorite Ghibli movies. Got to watch it in theaters late last year. Really cool
I feel like i've been waiting for the carter glance at 3:40 my whole life Brig and Mckay's turn to get owned
You pick up more every time you watch this. If you look into how it was made, you are shown new things. It gives you new perspectives. Miyazaki always pays attention to details. The way the mom holds her free hand when she eats is based on someone he knows. How the dragon was fed the present in the same way a vet would do it for a dog. Superstitious acts, like holding fingers up to have someone else swipe between them to break any curse, is a type of game we know children make up.
There is so much to see and take in, that you really have to watch it more than once to understand it all. I have my favorite parts. The train scene is hauntingly beautiful, Haku learning his name, and the hair tie sparkling. I love the music and the warm details. It makes me want to go to a bathhouse and it really makes me want Japanese food. The food in his movies always looks fantastic!
The movie is not about her winning. It is about her growing, and growing up.
Also knowing Miyazaki made this film for his grandaughter to give her a hero and role model from a young girl's point of view , and i believe he has a self insert as kamaji the boiler man. (If you think about it its not that hard to understand... he has retired and come back countless times and always feels this incredible strain from work where he feels he must multitask to keep the "boiler room" running while countless nameless artists help shovel the coal... and yet beyond that he still has to have time to care about others... his granddaughter for example).
I think that is what makes this story so powerful. Its one filled with the love, and despite being a world with yokai/spirits, its is perhaps that emotion which grounds it and makes it very human, relatable.
@@vampuricknight1 Well said. 😊
So happy you’re reacting to this 💛 can’t wait for you guys to react to Princess mononoke
I saw Spirited Away a long time ago. Re-watching it with you and seeing your reactions was great and fun. Thank you, Studio Gek!😊
the one good thing my high school did was have an entire english unit dedicated to studying miyazaki and his movies and i had the luck of this movie being the chosen one for our year group to study (i recall maybe two of the classes ended up watching princess mononoke, but both are incredible) and it was easily my favourite unit we ever did like are you kidding, a whole terms worth of work just for this movie i was thriving. and it was a surprising unit as well coming from an Australian country school, never wouldve expected them to choose something so far removed and i am 100% not complaining.
10:40 It was the setting decided by Miyazaki ! I heard he was inspired by the story named Night On The Milky Way Train written by Kenji Miyazawa.
After having watched this more than a few times, I finally understand why Chihiro stards to go see through. She's in the spirit realm, which usually means "dream logic", and she was saying "go away, disappear"
This movie is so special. Something about it so moving, touching..
I was today years old when I found out Chihiro’s voiced by the same actress who voiced Lilo from Lilo & Stitch
I love "Spirited Away" so much and I enjoy watching you all reactions. It's really good anime for reminding our soul. So, I will recommend you to watch "The boy and the beast" . It's really nice too.
Im not entirely sure if you guys picked it up, but the reason why Haku showed up at the bath house is because his river disappeared. I don’t remember why the river is gone, but because he couldn't find his river anymore, he ended up at the bath house where Yubaba was able to steal his name and make him her errand boy
The river was drained and they build apartments over it 😢
You have to understand MIYAZAKI's approach to animation to get the point of all the weirdness in this movie it's litteraly like an invitation to his imaginary and also a flex of his animation and naration skills,it's more of a piece of art than it is a movie for entertainment
Exactly what I was thinking Miyazaki is an artist who doesn't really answer to the traditional film making process and this film was like you said a flex of his craftsmanship he didn't really care to make an understandable plot or characters this is more about the animation and the story telling techniques and it won him an oscar in the end
Honestly it’s fine to not understand what the movie means. We often over emphasise on the plot when viewing movies and forget that they are art too, and art doesn’t have a definite meaning, everyone finds their own interpretation, if it made you feel some type of way, if it made you think, if you took something away from it, then it’s a good piece of art.
I always thought this movie was about finding courage to move forward and experience new things but to remember your past and the people or experiences that helped form who you are.
I'm glad you guys reacted to this 😊 I think you guys would really like Princess Mononoke so I hope you'll check that out some day
FINALLY!!! been waiting for this one!
It’s hard to express what you’re feeling while watching this movie but you just know you’re experiencing something unique and amazing
ちょっと補足を。日本の古い話には「名前を知られると支配される」という迷信がたくさん見られます。特に平安時代には女性は名前を秘匿し記録に残らない場合もあるくらいです。そして未婚の女性が相手に名を告げることは求婚に応じた意味になりました。もうわかりますね。「君の名は」というアニメのタイトルの意味が。
I really like how you talked about the changes that happened to the people at the bathhouse once they met Chihiro. Like the bird and the baby wanting to stay the way they are when they are with Chihiro. It's kind of like how Chihiro is giving away the spirit medicine to Haku and No Face, how they changed to their truer and milder selves, it's a good metaphor for what she does for the people at the bathhouse, she just impacts everyone around her so positively. Great points 👍
So glad you watched this! Probably my favorite childhood movie.
Understandable that on first watch there was a lot of confusion but once you view it under a different lens (like Carter), you appreciate the movie in a different light.
Of course, there's more lore in the Japanese culture but from an outside pov and third watch:
When I was about 7, I first watched this and was mesmerized(and also very creeped out by Yubaba, No Face, and pig parents),
A few years back I did a rewatch and thought nothing made sense (similar reaction to the first-time viewers).
And rewatching it now has made me realize that this is a movie you must go into with an open mind and imagination, and everything will align.
Miyazaki is always appreciative when children watch his movies because they never worry about the plot, but the emotions or what looks cool and feeds the imagination. My issue with the second watch was thinking too hard and trying to make sense of things.
Can't wait to see the next one!!
I would add that I agree the comments on "love" no matter how platonic did seem to come out of the blue. (And on that note I'm hoping a Ponyo watch is a possibility👀)
この物語は人間の欲望の果てを表し、欲望に溺れず実直で誠実な行いがどれだけ素晴らしく美しいことかを教えてくれる物語です。
千尋は純粋無垢な少女で、幼いながらも物を求めず、自分の事より相手を心配し行動できる理性を持った人間の本来の姿の象徴😌✨
そして登場人物の誰かが一時的に傷付き苦しい思いをしたとしても、それぞれの人生を肯定し希望がある終わり方は、だれ一人として憎むことも恨むこともなく終われるので本当に素晴らしい😢💖