Spirited Away

Title Spirited Away
Director/Writer Hayao Miyazaki
ISBN 0788844717
Distributor Buena Vista Home Vido
Copyright Date 2003 (DVD)
Interest Age 12+
Rating PG
Genre Contemporary Life; Fantasy
Plot Summary
Spirited Away is a feature-length animated Japanese film by Hayao Miyazaki. It is the story of Chihiro, a ten-year-old who is moving with her family to a new place. Along the way, her brash father decides to take a "shortcut" down a strange path with little house-like structures. At the end, they go through a portal to what looks like an abandoned fairgrounds on the other side. Surprisingly, though there is no one else around, there is hot food, which her greedy parents immediately start to devour. Chihiro wanders off and meets Haku, a young boy who warns her that she has entered a spirit world and should leave with her parents immediately. Suddenly, spirits do begin to appear and Chihiro rushes back to her parents to find that they have turned into pigs. Desperate, she again find Haku who tells her to go into the grand bath house in order to get a job until he can help her figure out a way out. The bath house is for the spirits and is run by a malevolent woman named Yubaba who has an enormously fat baby. Chihiro is able to get a job, but must give up her name in return. Frightened, Chihiro accepts the name of Sen and begins work in the bath house. Will Chihiro be able to gain her name back and save her parents or is she destined to remain a slave in the spirit's bath house forever?
Critical Evaluation
If ever an animated film could be considered a masterpiece, Spirited Away is the first to come to mind. Beautifully animated, this film is not your usual cartoon fare, but a story of mythological proportions that is sure to delight even the staunchest film-snob adults. Interesting to note is the fact that Chihiro, the main character, is not particularly likeable. She is whiny and snobby, afraid of hard work and easy to upset. But through the course of the movie she changes - she grows and matures. And this evolution is something that teenagers will relate to, even if her characer is portrayed as quite young. In addition, the references to Japanese mythology and culture are really enthralling and this would be a great recommendation to a teen that is interested in other cultures. I would also recommend this to teens interested in anime and Japan.
Reader’s Annotation
Chihiro wishes she didn't have to move and start over again. But when her parents take a detour on the way, she learns that maybe her life isn't so bad when she is spirited away.
Curriculum Ties Great tie-in to Japanese culture, mythology and religion.
DVDtalking Ideas
1. Set the mood of the abandoned park with the stall of food and then the bath house for the spirits.
2. Do a character sketch of Chihiro and encourage the audience to read more to find out if she grows up.
Challenge Issues
None
Why did I include this DVD?
Fabulous Films for Young Adults (ALA, 2009); Academy Award - Best Animated Feature; personal favorite.