The Center Network

Spirited Away


 

    A young girl finds herself trapped in the spirit world, with her only hope of escaping resting on a young boy and the mercy of a witch.
 

Chihiro: The main protagonist. Chihiro is whiny, lazy, and apathetic. She must overcome her fears in order to wait for the opportunity to rescue her parents and escape the spirit world
Haku: A mysterious young boy who takes pity on Chihiro, Haku is strangely drawn to Chihiro and attempts to guide and protect her while doing Yubaba’s dirty work.
Yubaba: The main antagonist. Not necessarily evil, but still a harsh taskmistress. Yubaba owns a Bathhouse in the spirit world and shows no sympathy to Chihiro’s plight.
 

- Go Ask Alice: The only bad thing that can really be said about Spirited Away will come from personal taste. This movie includes some strange characters and scenes. It has a similar feeling to Alice in Wonderland in that it can be seen as an attempt to be weird for weirdness sake, so some may not “get it.”
 

- Animation: A story like Spirited Away needs to look good in order to bring to life the fantastical world it takes part in, and Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki are wildly successful in this regard. Absolutely stunning.
- Sound: Crisp sounds and a beautiful score to go along with the visuals. The ending song “Always With Me” in particular, provides a perfect finishing touch.
- Metaphors: While on the surface the movie is a visual smorgasbord of strangeness, there are many metaphors and criticisms of modern culture for those who like to read between the lines.
- The Setting: A wondrous setting where something strange and interesting comes along nearly every scene.
 

    There are only so many words that can be used before running out of positive things to say about Spirited Away. At the very least it is a visual experience, and for many it will be an unforgettable and emotional visit to a marvellous world.

Grade: A