Revisiting "Spirited Away"

Even though I’ve seen it countless times, revisiting it after some time always brings deeper insights. That’s just how timeless Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece is~

First, I have nothing but absolute praise for the incredible atmosphere this film creates. Since I don’t know much about color theory or atmospheric design, I don’t really have the credentials to critique that side of things.

Instead, let’s analyze the film through its characters. Like in many great movies, the characters in Spirited Away represent distinct archetypes in society. Here are Beary’s personal thoughts on each of them (in order of appearance):

• Chihiro’s Parents: Fully socialized adults. Like many people their age, they have been molded into rigid shapes by society. When placed in a completely new environment, their immediate thoughts revolve around their basic needs: the location of convenience stores, how easy it is to shop, and when eating, they only care about whether they have the money to pay. However, they aren’t completely hopeless—they still have some independent thinking left, like exploring a new road; their minds aren’t entirely locked away. Yet, once they turn into “pigs,” they completely forget their humanity. They surrender to a different way of life, letting their fates be manipulated by others.
• Chihiro (Before Her Growth): Just as Kamaji and Yubaba put it—cowardly, spoiled, and a crybaby. In short, she’s just like any other girl her age.
• Haku: Having forgotten his own name is symbolic of losing oneself. Even though he has mastered impressive skills, he ends up as nothing more than a tool exploited by someone else. There are plenty of people like this in society—they trade their identity for short-term gains, but they aren’t inherently evil; they are simply being used. In the end, Haku’s bond with Chihiro helps him remember his name and reclaim his true self. He bids farewell to the halls of power and prepares to embark on his own genuine journey.
• Guests of the Bathhouse: The upper class, representing the decision-makers of society. Without them, the system would collapse. As patrons, they support and sustain the bathhouse, validating its existence. Yet, their corrupt and decaying lifestyles give them grotesque, varying shapes. (P.S. Haha, don’t they look a lot like some of today’s political leaders?)
• No-Face (Kaonashi): I used to have a hard time grasping what archetype No-Face represented, and I couldn’t decide whether he was good or evil. But then I read an analysis by a netizen named “Wanqing,” which made perfect sense: “No-Face has no face and no form; he is filled with profound loneliness. Ever since Chihiro showed him a simple, accidental act of kindness, his heart was filled with gratitude and warmth. He wanted to repay her and craved even more connection. However, he chose the wrong way to go about it—he devoured all the filth around him, only to sink into even deeper emptiness and loneliness. Finally, he was “saved” by Zeniba. At the end of the day, No-Face didn’t want much: just having someone care about you and having a purpose is true happiness.” When you think about it, doesn’t he resemble many of us?
• The Stink Spirit: Originally a powerful River Deity, he is mistaken for a stink spirit because he swallowed so much industrial waste and filth. This immediately reminds me of corrupt officials in modern society: they hold critical positions, have high capability and talent, yet they have an insatiable appetite for bribes, consuming everything in sight, until they are eventually forced to undergo a painful “cleansing”~
• Baby (Boh): A spoiled child. As the future backbone of society, children should never be kept in artificial isolation. But Boh still has dreams—he leaves his comfortable, isolated room for the very first time in his life just to go find Sen. He simply needed the right guidance. Today, there’s no shortage of such kids, especially raised by parents who neglect their educational duties and overindulge them, letting them lose their way and become a burden to society later in life.

I’ve always believed that Miyazaki’s works carry incredibly deep meanings that can be interpreted from many angles. It is inaccurate to label this movie as merely a love story between Chihiro and Haku. Rather, it portrays mutual support and care. While there might be some puppy love mixed in, to me, “friendship” or “kinship” feels like a much better fit. It is a story about growing up.

One thing I still haven’t figured out is: why does the train only run one way? Is it suggesting that life is a one-way street, or is there some deeper metaphor? Perhaps Haku carrying Chihiro back to the bathhouse offers another perspective on this.

The ending of the film is also incredibly profound. Chihiro returns to the real world, but this journey and these beautiful memories have made her grow. She is no longer the helpless little girl she once was. Meanwhile, Haku has found his way forward. This film truly deserved its Oscar.