The facts:
Title: Spirited Away
Producers: Studio Ghibli
Director and writer: Hayao Miyazaki
First released: in Japan by Toho on the 20th of July 2001
Series: Spirited Away (1 film)
Plot summary:
Chihiro and her parents find an abandoned amusement park and are led to a restaurant that seems to be open. Chihiro’s parents start eating the food straight away while Chihiro goes to explore the park. When she comes back her parents have turned into pigs. In a state of shock, Chihiro tries to run out of the park but sees that her path has been flooded. She then runs into Haku a young boy that tells her that she is in a park for spirits that are tired from the earthly world and that she will need to work in order to get her and her parents out.
What I like most:
What I like most are the characters. Their unique designs make them hard to forget and even the way they talk is unique to them. I also like how everyone is so caring and kind apart from the antagonist who is greedy and selfish. This really shows a sharp contrast.
What I like least:
What I like least is how that Haku is helpful to her sometimes and at other times is completely useless. He sets her up with a job and friends but forgets to mention he can turn into a dragon and works for the woman holding her and her parents hostage.
Interesting fact:
Spirited away was awarded an Oscar for the best-animated film, but Miyazaki refused to attend the ceremony due to the political stance of America in the Iraq War.
Recommended age:
I would recommend this to kids aged 10+. With some violence and gore, this film probably isn’t suited to young viewers but with it being in an animated context and it is very minimal this movie isn’t too violent or gory.
How to explain to your parents:
This is the story of how Chihiro escaped with her parents from essentially a Spirit resort and freed other spirits along the way.
Film/Tv crossover:
Whilst there isn’t a Spirited Away video game there are 3 volumes of Spirited away converted into a book form with illustrations drawn by Hayao Miyazaki.
In Bibliography:
Miyazaki, H. 2022, ‘Spirited Away’, Crunchyroll [image] Available https://www.studioghibli.com.au/myneighbortotoro/, Accessed 9 October 2022
AM-ZONE 