[69] The delayed theatrical release in China was due to long-standing political tensions between China and Japan, but many Chinese became familiar with Miyazaki's films due to rampant video piracy. Regardless, the ending is more of a symbol for maturity and moving on since Chihiro only looks back once away from the spirit world. She further explained that cartoons in the West have often been seen as "childish, vulgar, things that you didn't take seriously" but after the film took home the Academy Award, people were starting to see animation as "a real art form". Spirited Away's emotional ending is a standard for Studio Ghibli and resolves Chihiro's arc by transforming how she sees the world and herself. [97] Combined, the film drew a 970,000 UK television viewership on BBC2 between 2010 and 2011. 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 . Likewise, a comparison scene where Chihiro is crammed into an elevator next to the Radish Spirit, and in My Neighbor Totoro where Satsuki is standing next to Totoro. "[19], Miyazaki based some of the buildings in the spirit world on the buildings in the real-life Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan. However, Chihiro discovers that her parents have become pigs, and the exit is blocked. Kodama (, or ) are spirits in Japanese folklore that inhabit trees. [62] Outside of Japan and the United States, the movie was moderately successful in both South Korea and France where it grossed $11 million and $6 million, respectively. He becomes extremely volatile after being fed the River Spirits emetic dumpling by Chihiro, and, while fleeing from the obviously now-hostile spirit, she calls out to him twice to follow her. | Tenkai-japan:Cool Japan Guide-Travel, Shopping, Fashion, J-pop", "Focus Newspaper: Hayao Miyazaki, 72-year-old Mischievous Youngster (from 3:00 mark)", "()/ (The name of life/late summer)", " (Joe Hisaishi Spirited Away Image Album)", The Making of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away" Part 3, "Beyond Wonderland: 'Spirited Away' Explores The Significance of Dreams in the Real World", "Studio Ghibli letter sheds new light on Spirited Away mysteries", "What does "Spirited Away" say about Environmentalism? [64], In the United Kingdom, then-independent based film distributor Optimum Releasing acquired the rights to the movie from Wild Bunch in January 2003. The other day someone tweeted asking Studio Ghibli what the relevance was of Chihiro's parents turning into pigs. Spirited Away received widespread acclaim. [59] The company would then on-sell it to independent distributors across the world. At the end of the film, Zeniba decides to take care of No-Face so he can develop without the negative influence of the bathhouse. Why is spirited away considered a masterpiece? Long ver.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS9AtylNTQkWelcome! 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. He returns her kindness in kind by giving Chihiro all of the herbal bath tags to fix up the stink spirit. Only Zabuza didnt show Haku love, he treated him with the same philosophy that was beaten into him as a child, to use him as a tool and nothing more. [8] Chihiro also encounters kami of animals and plants. Nobody else was making films that looked like this or that were as inventive as this was at this time". He said that these scenes where nothing really happens are called "ma," or "emptiness." When approaching the doomed theme park market in the opening, in one frame, we see the Kanji character, for dog, but this could suggest the homophone kuniku, which literally means "bitter meat," meaning something that requires personal sacrifice. But just because it's 80 percent intense all the time, doesn't mean the kids are going to bless you with their concentration. [66][67] The movie grossed $244,437 on its opening weekend from 51 theatres, and by the end of its theatrical run in October, the movie has grossed $1,383,023 in the country. Factory re-issued the film on Blu-ray and DVD on 17 October 2017 following the expiration of Disney's previous deal with Studio Ghibli in the country in North America. When the family exit the car, entranced by the lead up to the abandoned theme park that will soon trap them, Chihiro is "whiny" because her intuition is correct. They made some fantastic kids movies back in the 80s. There are other films who touch it, but spirited. He is further emancipated when Chihiro remembers something sudden and coincidental. Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away is a fantastical tale with an ending that's triumphant and melancholy. Disney sticks with simple broad lines for style, but also because simple characters take less time and effort to draw. How depressing," she says, only to be reminded by her mom that her dad bought her one for her birthday. [33], John Lasseter, Pixar animator and a fan and friend of Miyazaki, would often sit with his staff and watch Miyazaki's work when encountering story problems. Wow. They aren't duplicating with computers like most cartoons will do. She had a best friend called Hotaru Imai, she was a type of girl that didn't show her feelings, but you did know that she really cared for Mikan. There are multiple scenes going on like that. Kamaji requires so much more work to animate than even the genie when he is changing shapes constantly. When folklore and myths have characters entering the underworld, or dealing with spirits in general, there is usually a dire warning to not look back. There are several hints that Haku is a river spirit/dragon. 'Always, No Matter How Many Times') was written and performed by Youmi Kimura, a composer and lyre-player from Osaka. [75] The Japanese DVD releases include storyboards for the film and the special edition includes a Ghibli DVD player. The excitement and wonder of a child's mind are so different and beautiful, we miss when we were like that. Names themselves are important as a signifier of identity throughout. 2d animation just boggles my mind. Its nice that she gets back home, but she loses the magic and friendship we spend the whole movie investing our love into, and she wont ever get it back as far as we know its sad because we a;l wait our whole lives for magic, and I dont think in any of those dreams we think but just for a couple of days and then gone forever, because thats worse in a way. His role is to show how the greed and avarice of others can affect even a simple soul. The main appeal of Spirited Away is that it is loved both by younger and by older generations. Although generally considered to be a childrens movie, Spirited Away can and is enjoyed by people of all ages. The last piece of the puzzle is the attention to detail. After the release of the movie, he asked her to make a score for his upcoming movie Rin and the Chimney . Yubaba agrees, but only if Sen can pass a final test. 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. I remember thinking that what I was feeling was like how someone might feel when they lose someone close to them. The kids are getting a story and so are the adults. I feel like this is the best place to discuss specific topics. Totoro is one of the happiest ones but its also one of the more child focused movies. But it's more than that. Yubaba takes away the second kanji of her name (), renaming her Sen (). It's not about technology, it's about style, craft, effort, money, and talent. 10-year-old Chihiro (Daveigh Chase) moves with her parents to a new home in the Japanese countryside. There are flashes of water in Chihiro's hair when she meets and rides Haku in dragon form too. After all the things shes experienced up to that point, Chihiro simply knows that her parents arent there. The idea for Spirited Away came about when he wanted to make a film for these friends. ", As with any film that has quickly reached a cult status, you can fall down a hole of Spirited Away theories. Taryn's death in A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. For me its kind of like the wizard of oz. [25], The film score of Spirited Away was composed and conducted by Miyazaki's regular collaborator Joe Hisaishi, and performed by the New Japan Philharmonic. [85] On 12 November 2019, GKIDS and Shout! Your login session has expired. [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. 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. It symbolizes giving in to one's temptations and emotions. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. When he crashes into Yubaba's penthouse with grievous injuries, Sen follows him upstairs. But when done right, it is highly admired because he gives credit to a child (and adult) to imagine along. How much horsepower does a 2004 Dodge Ram 4.7 have? Importantly, we have time to breathe and live in Miyazaki's world. [40] In an interview, Miyazaki has commented on this nostalgic element for an old Japan. That ending, it wasn't just the ending of a masterpiece, but also the ending of our childhood. Helping No-Face take medicine that allows him to disgorge the toxicity he consumed from the greedy eminations from the bathouse. The character animations have more keyframes of substantive movement than almost any hand drawn film. 1. Factory issued a North-America-exclusive Spirited Away collector's edition, which includes the film on Blu-ray, and the film's soundtrack on CD, as well as a 40-page book with statements by Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki, and essays by film critic Kenneth Turan and film historian Leonard Maltin. I consider it to be probably the saddest death of the series. Most animes and all American television cartoons can't touch what Spirited Away does in the background. I think its because there is so much to take in. No-Face becomes obsessed with Chihiro, and wants to see her and her only. Sen is ostracized by the other workers. [18] In 2022, it was ranked as the 75th greatest film of all time by the Sight & Sound critics poll. For instance, upon their entry into. So much to take in, it kinda makes me feel sick. The use of the word kamikakushi (literally 'hidden by gods') within the Japanese title, and its associated folklore, reinforces this liminal passage: "Kamikakushi is a verdict of 'social death' in this world, and coming back to this world from Kamikakushi meant 'social resurrection. The ending of Spirited Away is weird upon first watching it. 2010. Look at this soot ball scene. Help others on their purposeful journey to the destination. I want my young friends to live like that, and I think they, too, have such a wish. In North America, the film was released on DVD and VHS formats by Walt Disney Home Entertainment on 15 April 2003. why is spirited away so sad. She sees several animals and creatures visiting the bathhouse, as well as No-Face (Kaonashi ), a masked spirit. The English dub did try to add a bit of closing dialogue to it, letting the audience know Chihiro now thinks she can handle a new school and new home. I felt the same way first few times I saw the movie. Required fields are marked *. By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from Vice Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. The fact the film was made without a script only adds to this natural evolution of Chihiro. I've been on the forums for very long time, and a daily user for the last 3 years. This delivery of sensitive spiritual and emotional messages made Spirited Away the highest-grossing film in Japanese history. Current head of Disney Animation John Lassiter feels so strongly about it because it connects to everyone. It's a rare film that young fans will keep with them and show to their children and grandchildren. [19], Miyazaki had wanted to produce a new film for years, but his two previous proposalsone based on the Japanese book Kiri no Muk no Fushigi na Machi () by Sachiko Kashiwaba, and another about a teenage heroinewere rejected. I get this almost harrowing feeling and they definitely scared me as a kid. Sen feeds Haku part of the emetic dumpling, causing him to vomit up a seal he stole, saving him from its deadly curse. "[98] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 96 out of 100 based on 41 critics, indicating "universal acclaim. [21] Marc Hairston argues that this was a justified response to Studio Ghibli's retention of the merchandising rights to the film and characters, which limited Disney's ability to properly market the film. Spirited Away is undoubtedly a masterpiece upon watching it. When Ashitaka says he cannot be died, he is referring to the legacy of a renewed and unharmed forest that has been restored. The film makes itself, and I have no choice but to follow." You just don't see this in many other movies. Lin takes Sen to the station to see Zeniba, and Sen invites No-Face to follow, despite Lin's protests. This is a thrilling, spectacularly beautiful movie, though its not for little kids who get scared. In Studio Ghibli parlance, childhood is a time of freedom. [111][112], In his book Otaku, Hiroki Azuma observed: "Between 2001 and 2007, the otaku forms and markets quite rapidly won social recognition in Japan," and cites Miyazaki's win at the Academy Awards for Spirited Away among his examples. It is the same dialogue, the same movements, but in reverse. [132] Susan Napier, professor of Japanese studies at Tufts University, called Spirited Away's wins at major Western award shows "a very big shot in the arm to the Japanese animation industry". Parents need to know that My Neighbor Totoro is a fine pick for the entire family. Very Miyazaki-esque on Pixar's part. QQ:Why do you look so sad,?. Chihiro's journey was about growing up and facing challenges to be more mature, in a way, we too have experienced something similar. The opposite of balance is excess, and as seen in the parents gorging themselves until they become pigs or the greed and wealth displayed in the bath house, nothing positive can come of it. 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. [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". Torii gates are signs placed in front of sacred shrines, temples, or other hallowed grounds. Sen discovers a bicycle handle sticking out of him, and the workers help to remove the bicycle and a large amount of garbage. Later, the suspect was handed over to the Sadar police and sent to four-day police custody . At its most basic, the film follows a little girl, Chihiro, on a journey to free her parents. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Sen resolves to return the seal and apologize to Zeniba, taking Boh with her. They're complex, conflicted, selfish, selfless, enduring, tiring creatures. 1 Why is spirited away considered a masterpiece? And in Spirited Away, we see her get better, become more introspective, be more observant, and learn how to deal with a complex dynamic of authority figures. He is shown to be capable of reacting to emotions and ingesting other individuals in order to gain their personality and physical traits. Chihiro starts off the film annoyed at her parents . Miyazaki worked on his previous movie Princess Mononoke while he listened to Youmi Kimura's music on the radio. It was the co-recipient of the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival (shared with Bloody Sunday), and is within the top ten on the British Film Institute's list of "Top 50 films for children up to the age of 14". I haven't watched much anime so maybe I don't know what to look for. This movie made me cry and really want more. However, Chihiro embodies none of those characteristics at the start of the film. [38], Yubaba has many similarities to the Coachman from the 1940 film Pinocchio, in the sense that she mutates humans into pigs in a similar way that the boys of Pleasure Island were mutated into donkeys. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. We use cookies. With the use of more computers and programs such as Softimage 3D, the staff learned the software, but used the technology carefully so that it enhanced the story, instead of "stealing the show". The first is pretty easy to notice: growing up. Meanwhile, Yubaba orders that Sen's parents be slaughtered, but Haku reveals that Boh is missing. [68], About 18 years after its original release in Japan, Spirited Away had a theatrical release in China on 21 June 2019. Chihiro finally saves her parents from Yubaba. Spirited Away (when I was a kid) scared the bejesus out of me and I felt like I was In some sort of nightmare where I had lost my parents and couldnt find them, was honestly horrible for 7 year old me. [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]. Video of One Summer's - Spirited Away [Piano Tutorial] for of Studio Ghibli. Spirited Away had very little marketing, less than Disney's other B-films, with a maximum of 151 theatres showing the film in 2002. why is spirited away so sad. Perhaps the most notable of them is Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, a man who has made his fair share of wondrous and fearful children's movies over the years. Just watch this clip and see the amount of changes happening second to second in Yubaba's face compared to the queen of hearts. This can be compared to deforestation and desertification; humans tear down nature, cause imbalance in the ecosystem, and demolish animals' homes to satisfy their want for more space (housing, malls, stores, etc.) Press J to jump to the feed. Humans apparently smell very bad in Spirted Away. 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. Her parents literally gorge themselves on food not meant for them before being invited to eat. Miyazaki didn't like how traditional animation made the bowl in the top left stick out in an obvious way, so Ghibli created a 3D model and painted over it with background-quality textures. Ultimately, Spirited Away showed how breathtaking, heartfelt, and serious animation can be; its lessons ones that Pixar, Disney, and other mainstream animators have still failed to genuinely realize 15 years later. Then there is Haku, who helps Chihiro not fade from existence at the beginning of the film, and Lin, who shares food with Chihiro to celebrate helping the river spirit. 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. [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]. The story is one of the few from Japan that is both understandable and relatable to both kids adults. One suggests that the whole thing is an allegory for child prostitution, with the bathhouse taking on more sinister undertones. After seeing Spirited Away Lasseter was ecstatic. San finally admitted that she does love Ashitaka and he means much to her, however she could not forgive the entire human race for destroying the forest and still continues to live part of the forest with her wolf brothers Yama and Moru. They replied that the transformation is reflective of how people turned into pigs during Japan's bubble economy of the 1980s, which was followed by a 1991 crash, and once someone becomes a pig, he or she will gradually have the "body and soul of a pig," which "doesn't just apply to the fantasy world.". Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Yes, very sad to hear. In a comment that was upvoted more than 5000 times, u/SilentRansom described it as having "such a specific feeling of happy sad nostalgia. 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. This beauty is universal, but of course there's subtlety that's lost in translation. It represents the times when we were truly happy, living life with no worries, just enjoying everything. Despite having a rich plot with developed characters, Spirited Away was not made with a script. I adore SA but I'm glad Miyazaki never used CG again. Animation Adventure Family During her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits, and where humans are changed into beasts. Really? [74], Spirited Away's worldwide box office total stands at US$395,802,070.