Exquisite, distinctive, vibrant... I could go on. “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki, is a Japanese fantasy film. It depicts the challenges that pose Chihiro, the protagonist, shortly after moving to her new home. Her biggest challenge though is getting her parents back, but in order to do so she must face many spirits, monsters, and the witch Yubaba.
Chihiro is played by Rumi Hiiragi who is a Japanese actress. She has starred in other films such as “Ponyo” and “From Up On Poppy Hill”. Yubaba who is the evil twin sister of Zeniba is played by Mari Natsuki. She is also the voice of Zeniba who is Yubaba’s kind twin. Mari Natsuki is also a Japanese actress, singer, and dancer. Chihiro’s crush Haku who was under the control of Yubaba and was the spirit of the Kohaku river was played by Miyu Irino. Miyu Irino is a Japanese actor. He has starred in other movies such as “A Silent Voice” and “The Gardens of Words”. “Spirited Away” has also included some Japanese culture, such as Buddhism and Shintoism, within its animation giving it an authentic look.
Now let’s go over the pros and cons. Hayao Miyazaki did a great job with the character’s individual personalities and appearances. This was one of the pieces that made this story so compelling. Another thing done well was the artwork that made up the scenes. These pieces of artwork definitely indicated Japanese culture which contributed to the authentic look. Although there were many great parts of “Spirited Away” there were other sections left for improvement. This includes the scenes where Chihiro confronts No Face. After angering him she is able to elude him. Yet it seemed his temper cooled by the time he got on the train with Chihiro. This is confusing because No Face was trying to eat Chihiro and then it seemed all of a sudden they were friends again. This was the most confusing portion of the movie for me.
Before I watched this film, anime was something I normally avoided because I didn’t understand it. Now after watching this, which I give a five out of five, I’m glad I did watch it. This movie has so many great qualities, like I have stated earlier. The way the settings and characters work together or even how the colors and the Japanese culture mix gives this film its unique qualities. I’m serious this movie is one of a kind. I strongly recommend for those out there who are debating which movies to watch “Spirited Away” is a must see!