Spirited Away

Spirited Away - literally Sen and Chihiro's Spiriting Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi) is a 2001 film by the Japanese anime studio Studio Ghibli, written and directed by famed animator Hayao Miyazaki.

The film received many awards, including the second Oscar ever awarded for Best Animated Feature, the first anime film to win an Academy Award, and the only winner of that award to win among five nominees (in every other year there were three nominees). The film also won the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival (tied with Bloody Sunday).

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

DVD Review
By Debbie Lee Wesselmann (the Lehigh Valley, PA)

"Spirited Away" could never be confused with a traditional Disney flick. After taking a wrong turn on the way to their new house, Chihiro and her parents stumble upon what they believe is a deserted theme park. In a terrifying scene, they are ripped apart - the parents transformed into obscenely greedy pigs and Chihiro literally fading away. Rescued by Haku, the apprentice to the witch Yubaba, Chihiro soon discovers she is trapped in a bathhouse for spirits and gods. Many hilarious, other frighteningly evil, these spirits give the bathhouse an eery surreality that Chihiro comes to embrace.

Using his considerable talent, Miyazaki has once again created an inspired, stunningly animated film. Those raised on Disney might find themselves off-balance without the moralistic overtones, but Miyazaki does not create his films for young children. As with ?Princess Mononoke,? this film is far too intense and complex for those under eight. Miyazaki's films are about story and visual delights - and ?Spirited Away? is no exception. His characters are well-defined and multi-dimensional, often charming in an off-beat way. Chihiro makes an irresistible heroine, and Haku is a magnetic, appropriately mysterious hero. Even the comedic giant baby (I laugh as I think of him) fills the screen with life.

The dubbed version of this movie is actually better than most dubbed versions of Japanese movies, with added lines to help those not familiar with Japanese culture orient themselves. For example, the Sumo-like radish god is named in the English, but not in the subtitled version. Also in the English, the parents grunt like pigs before they morph, foreshadowing their fate in a way the Japanese language edition does not. Although I?m a purist and always prefer the original language version, those watching the dubbed will still be rewarded.

I highly recommend this film for everyone over eight years old. Don't confuse animation with simplicity because "Spirited Away" is anything but two-dimensional. Treat yourself to this remarkable film. I doubt you'll regret the entry into Miyazaki's fantastical world.


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Spirited Away Movie Trailer


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