[113][failed verification], Spirited Away is frequently regarded as one of the best films of the 21st century as well as one of the greatest animated films ever made. Some look to the opposing forces of gross capitalism and spirituality shown in the film. In North America, the film was released on DVD and VHS formats by Walt Disney Home Entertainment on 15 April 2003. Miyazaki says of this:.mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, In my grandparents' time, it was believed that kami existed everywhere in trees, rivers, insects, wells, anything. [32], Besides the original soundtrack, there is also an image album, titled Spirited Away Image Album (, Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi Imji Arubamu), that contains 10 tracks. But in reality, Miyazaki made the movie for young girls rather than making it for everyone. What does no-face represent in Spirited Away? In keeping with the Shintoism symbology of Spirited Away, No-Face grows harmonious because of Chihiro helping him out of the bathouse and giving him medicine. It's not about technology, it's about style, craft, effort, money, and talent. A lot of people are giving you shit for comparing SA and Alice in Wonderland, which came out in the fifties, but as another animation geek, I'd like to submit my two cents. 1. The immersive visuals, artwork, score, storyline and plot all come together to create a once-in-a-lifetime watching experience. [41] Just as Chihiro seeks her past identity, Japan, in its anxiety over the economic downturn occurring during the release of the film in 2001, sought to reconnect to past values. Originally released in Japan on 20 July 2001 by distributor Toho, the film received universal acclaim,[12] grossing $395.8 million at the worldwide box office. TLDR The animation looks good AND is freaking hard to pull off. However, Chihiro embodies none of those characteristics at the start of the film. In the same way some movies are amazing from a cinematography perspective, SA is amazing because of the detail in the animation. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. This bond eventually leads to them falling in love, for it was their love for each other that broke Zenibas spell on Haku. Humans becoming pigs as discussed above, but also food being offered and accepted for survival. HBO Max to Stream All Studio Ghibli Films, For First Time Ever in US. "Don't mess this up," she warns. Hailed as this year's most-awaited Japanese film, "Spirited Away" is Miyazaki's hand-drawn coming-of-age classic. It is the story of a young girl who finds herself about to enter a world that she knows nothing about and expects the worst things to happen. Looking at Spirited Away at its most basic level we see an adventure about a girl. and further explained that "It's a movie many people re-watch due to its comfort and nostalgia, and since Netflix brought the Ghibli movies to North America last year, it's become even more accessible". As Chihiro exits the spirit world and reunites with her parents at the end of the American edition of Spirited Away, her father Axio tells her, "A new school and a new home, it is a bit scary . Miyazaki cites the solstice rituals when villagers call forth their local kami and invite them into their baths. For inspiration, he read shjo manga magazines like Nakayoshi and Ribon the girls had left at the cabin, but felt they only offered subjects on "crushes" and romance. It has probably got something to do with the fact that modern humanity continually disrupts the spirit world. QQ:Why do you look so sad,?. At least that's what many of them might say. It is an old, dilapadated building, much like what her parents supposedly saw in the beginning of the film. 6. When production began, Miyazaki realized it would be more than three hours long if he made it according to his plot. 10-year-old Chihiro (Daveigh Chase) moves with her parents to a new home in the Japanese countryside. [128] Co-writers Ken and Ryan Firpo cited the film as one of the influences that helps them explore "ideas of morality and humanity" in Eternals. What lesson is Spirited Away trying to teach the audience about greed? 1. Your email address will not be published. Director Hayao Miyazaki Writer Hayao Miyazaki Stars Daveigh Chase (English version) Suzanne Pleshette (English version) Miyu Irino (voice) [130], According to Time, Spirited Away "arrived at a time when animation was widely perceived as a genre solely for children, and when cultural differences often became barriers to the global distribution of animated works" but it "shattered preconceived notions about the art form and also proved that, as a film created in Japanese with elements of Japanese folklore central to its core, it could resonate deeply with audiences around the world". I think for me it was because of all the emotion I felt during the movie, it was so deeply personal and unique for me, and that was mirrored in Chihiro because she felt she could never share her experiences with anyone else, because who would believe any of it? Tasha: Spirited Away also crowds the screen with significant characters in an unusual way. But when done right, it is highly admired because he gives credit to a child (and adult) to imagine along. Therefore, don't begrudge /u/Dojodog for referencing an old Disney film. [129] Turning Red's director Domee Shi named Spirited Away as one of her favorite animated films and one of the influences for her film. Home | About | Contact | Copyright | Privacy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap. They believe theyll be happy thanks to the food. Haku dies after Chihiro exits the spirit world. In the Japanese picture book (The Art of Spirited Away in English) Lin is described as a byakko (Japanese: ), a white tiger, in the draft, which was later changed to byakko (Japanese: ) meaning white fox.. Chihiros journey teaches us that greed turns you into a monster. Pam Coats, for example, a Vice President of Walt Disney Feature Animation, describes Chihiro dealing with the "stink spirit", who, it turns out, is actually a river spirit but is so corrupted with filth that one couldn't tell what it was at first glance. Yubaba tries to frighten Chihiro away, but Chihiro persists. It's a rare film that young fans will keep with them and show to their children and grandchildren. The entire team must instead live the character's reality step by step, and you can feel this intuition. When a self-appointed expert on love tries to teach a timid prince the art of seduction, the plan backfires, leading to scandal and unexpected romance. Stranded in the foreign world of the supernatural, Chihiro finds her only chance at returning home is to seek help at a nearby bathhouse. This beauty is universal, but of course there's subtlety that's lost in translation. How often can you say a film has been made for young girls, rather than money or mainstream audiences? This is exactly why it resonates so well with people of all ages and why Chihiro feels so real. [51] After 22 weeks of release and after grossing $224 million in Japan, it started its international release, opening in Hong Kong on 13 December 2001. It was a few years since I watched the movie and I didn't realize how amazing the animation actually is! 1 Why is spirited away considered a masterpiece? Sen feeds Haku part of the emetic dumpling, causing him to vomit up a seal he stole, saving him from its deadly curse. [122] Swapnil Dhruv Bose Far Out Magazine declared the film to be "the greatest animated film of all time" and explained that it "resonated with audiences all over the world despite the existence of cultural barriers is because of its brilliantly devised universality" and has the ability to "generate fascinating multiplicities which morph according to the age of the viewer". Heroes often have sidekicks or allies because so many stories underline the value of friendship and. Really? [68], About 18 years after its original release in Japan, Spirited Away had a theatrical release in China on 21 June 2019. Despite the animation similarities, Spirited Away is not Totoro, the beloved feel-good classic, but an edgy portrayal of what a young girl needs to do to grow up and take responsibility for more than herself. He is further emancipated when Chihiro remembers something sudden and coincidental. "Spirited Away: Film of the Fantastic and Evolving Japanese Folk Symbols. [105] In 2010, Rotten Tomatoes ranked it as the 13th-best animated film on the site,[106] and in 2012, as the 17th. Denison emphasized that John Lasseter and Disney "boosted Spirited Away's visibility in America by heavily campaigning for the film to be considered for the Academy Awards", and cited it as one of the reasons why it won Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Kamaji keeps ignoring her, but she knows she must get a job at the bathhouse to survive in this new spirit world, so doesn't stop until he helps her. Just like Spirited Away, many movies follow a similar theme of self-discovery and focus on the true value of friendship and love. On April 13, 2002, The Walt Disney Company acquired the Taiwanese, Singapore, Hong Kong, French and North American sale rights to the film, alongside Japanese Home Media rights. Another similar feeling is when I look at the Hubble space telescope and see all those lite dots are not stars, not solar systems, but GALAXIES. Everyone has a good side or the potential for goodeven Yu-baaba, as seen in her twin sister. What sets her story apart is that Chihiro isn't forced to triumph over great evil and turn from a "sullen" creature to a good girl. For me, this is the most compelling piece of evidence that Steven Jarvis runs the "@KJTfromTX" account. There were people that "turned into pigs" during Japan's bubble economy (consumer society) of the 1980s, and these people still haven't realized they've become pigs. [27][28][29] Later, Hisaishi added lyrics to "One Summer's Day" and named the new version of the song "The Name of Life" (, .mw-parser-output .noitalic{font-style:normal}"Inochi no Namae") which was performed by Ayaka Hirahara. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards,[15] making it the first, and to date only, hand-drawn and non-English-language animated film to win the award. The Nike SB Dunk Low Pro Why So Sad features a mixture of colors, with coastal blue and light current blue being the dominant hues. [42], Accordingly, the film can be partly understood as an exploration of the effect of greediness and Western consumerism on traditional Japanese culture. If you dont like that feeling, go back an watch it a few times! [8] Chihiro also encounters kami of animals and plants. Miyazaki did not want to make the hero a "pretty girl". Baby Girl BLUE Baby Girl He took advantage of your love And he threw it all away He broke your tender heart Words can't express what you wanna say But deep inside you know That there's so. The other day someone tweeted asking Studio Ghibli what the relevance was of Chihiro's parents turning into pigs. Note: Spoilers contained herein for Spirited Away. This is a thrilling, spectacularly beautiful movie, though its not for little kids who get scared. Thanks for the time spent typing this up. This delivery of sensitive spiritual and emotional messages made Spirited Away the highest-grossing film in Japanese history. Upon gaining employment at the bathhouse, Yubaba's seizure of Chihiro's true name symbolically kills the child,[40] who must then assume adulthood. In "Spirited Away," that feeling is what it's like to be a young child in a strange, foreign, and ultimately adult world characterized by excess and greed. For me its kind of like the wizard of oz. Not everything lines up perfectly to share a concise message. It is a core tenant of Shintoism, one that populates many of Miyazaki's films such as Princess Mononoke. The role of Chihiro is played by both Kanna Hashimoto and Mone Kamishiraishi. [64], In the United Kingdom, then-independent based film distributor Optimum Releasing acquired the rights to the movie from Wild Bunch in January 2003. For instance, upon their entry into the Spirit World, Chihiro's parents are turned into pigs after overindulging at a nearby food stand. Nobody else was making films that looked like this or that were as inventive as this was at this time". There are flashes of water in Chihiro's hair when she meets and rides Haku in dragon form too. [10] Lasseter then hired Kirk Wise as director and Donald W. Ernst as producer, while screenwriters Cindy and Donald Hewitt wrote the English-language dialogue to match the characters' original Japanese-language lip movements.[11]. "Nothing that Happens is ever Forgotten." Just as Spirited Away's boiler man, Kamaji, uses his arms to navigate his surroundings, so too does The Janitor in Little Nightmares. Disney's most detailed movies, from an animation perspective, were made in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. In Spirited Away, we have Chihiro's parents and No-Face at first. However, the biggest change Disney made to its version happens at the very end of the film, one that even some longtime fans may not be aware of it. Spirited Away is undoubtedly a masterpiece upon watching it. Spirited Away is, amongst many things, a journey. Her father decides to take a shortcut and stops in front of a tunnel leading to what appears to be an abandoned amusement park, which Chihiro's father insists on exploring despite his daughter's protests. Why do humans, especially Chihiro's parents, turn into pigs when they gorge on food in Spirited Away? Just watched the movie yesterday. These movies are still not as detailed as SA. The mainstream world came to recognize his talent for making these uniquely symbolic kids' movies in the 1990s and 2000s, with his reputation truly cementing itself following the Academy Award won by his film "Spirited Away" at the 2003 Oscars (via BBC). [134][135], On a limited time release from November 11 to December 18 in 2022,[136][137] the Imperial Theater performance of the play was available for rental in Japan in several streaming services such as ABEMA, Amazon Prime Video Japan, Docomo Anime Store, Fuji TV on Demand, Hulu Japan and U-NEXT.[138]. The bathhouse workers dislike Sen, but give her work as Lin's assistant. The goal of /r/Movies is to provide an inclusive place for discussions and news about films with major releases. Someone says that the moment when Chihiros hairband which Zeniba gave her shines, its the tears of Haku when he dies. Each character was mostly hand-drawn, with Miyazaki working alongside his animators to see they were getting it just right. In another article detailing Hayao Miyazaki's wide impact to the film industry, he wrote "The influence of Spirited Away can be easily observed in Disney productions like Brave and Frozen, thanks to John Lasseter's (the Chief Creative Officer of Pixar) efforts to introduce it to Western audiences". QQ why you look so sad. Despite the animation similarities, Spirited Away is not Totoro, the beloved "feel-good" classic, but an edgy portrayal of what a young girl needs to do to grow up and take responsibility for more than herself. Always With Me (, itsumo nando demo) is the ending theme song of the Spirited Away Movie, performed by Youmi Kimura. [31] In the special features of the Japanese DVD, Hayao Miyazaki explains how the song in fact inspired him to create Spirited Away. TUCKER CARLSON: You always imagine in your mind's eye that it's evil men who destroy society: wild-eyed, spit-flecked dictators pounding the podium to demand the annihilation of their enemies. Spirited Away basically set the bench mark for Animate Films to have Themes that are out of this world, to create journey from perspective that provokes an individual and set a across a story line that very much be true if thats what youre looking for, so it isnt that hard for anyone to consider it a Masterpiece, we . Humans apparently smell very bad in Spirted Away. 9 What happened at the end of Porco Rosso? It just takes a while for your memories to return.". ", This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 19:58. She only lived with her grandfather and attended a rundown school in the country. Best Spirited Away Quotes. [88] In 2006, the DVD was reissued as a single-disc release (without the second one) with packaging matching other releases in Optimum's "The Studio Ghibli Collection" range. What other animated/children films were like this? Cant really give it a judgment. Yes, very sad to hear. Now known as Sen, she is employed to cater to the needs of the bathhouse's insatiable guests. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The backgrounds are all flawless and hold their own against the best stuff Disney has ever done. It makes him turn dirt into gold and eat the workers, keeping himself in a perpetual loop of food that never satisfies. [59] The company would then on-sell it to independent distributors across the world. "It's not me who makes the film. Studio Ghibli themselves stated that it was a metaphor for how Japanese people became gluttonous in the bubble economy in the 1980s (think prelude to the Great Depression gluttonous). Haku is letting Chihiro know to move on and forward, rather than to stay and become endlessly lost. Only by cleansing the nature of humanity's pollution can humanity begin to live in harmony and heal. Identity is one of the key themes of Spirited Away, most potently expressed in Chihiro losing her name to Yubaba, or Haku remembering he is really a water spirit. For both Chihiro and Haku, an understanding of the self and a reevaluation of the past is key in escaping the bathhouse. The term is also used to denote a tree in which a kodama supposedly resides. Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away is a fantastical tale with an ending that's triumphant and melancholy. In Miyazaki's films often these concepts interpenetrate each other; phenomena exists; its not necessarily good or bad and the main hero seeks harmony not triumph. This is what happens with Chihiros parents. "[98] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 96 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "universal acclaim. Press J to jump to the feed. [72] As of 16July2019[update], the film has grossed $70 million in China,[73] bringing its worldwide total box office to over $346 million as of 8July2019[update]. I watched it recently because of the high praise it has gotten. Her parents have been changed into pigs along with others inside a bathhouse full of these creatures. "Quit whining. [23] The Dgo Onsen is also often said to be a key inspiration for the Spirited Away onsen/bathhouse. This alludes to human pollution of the environment, and how people can carelessly toss away things without thinking of the consequences and of where the trash will go. Haku does not remember his name and lost his past, which is why he is stuck at the bathhouse.