Spirited Away Introductory Presentation

Japan Japan is an island nation in Asia, with a population of around 126 million people. Japan has a long and ancient history, and is known for its samurai warriors, intricate temples and shrines, and unique clothing (kimono).

Important places and architecture Traditionally, Japanese houses are built with wooden floors and sliding screen doors. You take your shoes off before you enter a house, and you sit by kneeling on cushions on the floor. An important place shown in the film is a bathhouse (onsen). These were buildings made for people to go and relax in, and bathe. They were usually built near natural water springs. The water would be heated in a boiler room.

The Spirit World

Shinto and the Spirit World Shinto is the indigenous spirituality of Japan and the Japanese people. It is a belief that everything, including inanimate objects, contains a spirit, called kami or spiritual essence, commonly translated as god or spirit. Kami are not gods, and shinto does not explain how the world came in to being. Rather, Japanese people believe that the kami are interested in human lives, and if treated properly, they will bring you good health, success, etc. Japanese people try to connect with these spirits through rituals performed at shrines. Most people would have a small shrine in their home. The Japanese believe that we are surrounded by these millions of spirits all the time.

Spirits wander between the land of the living and the world of the shadows. The kami reside in all things, but certain places are designated for the interaction of people and kami. Natural places are considered to have an unusually sacred spirit about them, such as mountains, trees, unusual rocks, rivers, and waterfalls.

Kami traditionally have two souls: one gentle (nigi-mitama) and one aggressive (ara-mitama). A spirit will behave differently depending on which soul possesses it at the time. A spirit such as the wind may be a gentle breeze, bringing peace and a sense of calm, or a hurricane which displaces everything and brings sudden change and violent destruction. Such changes can be seen in the changing behaviour of NoFace as he absorbs the energy of those in the Kami bathhouse. NoFace shows kindness and generosity towards Sen, offering the bath tokens she needs to complete her job. NoFace goes on a rampage through the bathhouse, destroying or devouring everything in sight.

Images and stories of the spirit world A woodblock colour print by Kitagawa Utamaro from the early 19th century portrays the spirit legends of Japanese literature. Woodblock colour print drawn in 1830 by Katsushika Hokusai, portraying a ghost story popular in Japanese theatre of a maid who is killed by her mistress.

Physical appearance of kami Spirits may possess animal features, other times they can appear mostly human, some look like inanimate objects and others have no discernible shape.

Anthropomorphism What other examples of Anthropomorphism can you name? Human characteristics given to animals or inanimate objects. Animals, plants and forces of nature such as winds, rain or the sun are shown as creatures with human motivations, and/or the ability to reason and converse. The soot sprites or Susuwatari in Spirited Away are an example. They are shy, physically strong creatures that live and work in the Kami bathhouse. The word comes from the Greek anthropo meaning human and morphe meaning shape or form What other examples of Anthropomorphism can you name?

Zoomorphism The shaping of something in animal form or terms, such as: Humans as animals One species of animal being shown like another species of animal Animal deities The ability to shape-shift into animal form The tendency of viewing human behaviour in terms of the behaviour of animals The word comes from the Greek zōon meaning animal and morphē meaning shape or form. What zoomorphic qualities can you find in the pictures shown? What other examples of zoomorphism can you think of?

Manga and Anime Manga is the Japanese word for comics and refers to both print and animated cartoons. Manga originated in the 19th century but its current form took shape around WWII. Anime began when manga comics were first made into animated cartoons. In Western culture we have often had a tendency to view cartoons as predominantly a format for children. However in Japan, manga crosses all gender and generational boundaries. It is regarded in the same way as our adult novels and films and covers every kind of genre and subject matter.

Hayao Miyazaki and Spirited Away Hayao Miyazaki is a Japanese manga artist, film director, writer and animator. Miyazaki’s work often features themes such as environmentalism, pacifism and feminism. His films also tend to lack villains and frequently show the childhood transition into adulthood. All of these qualities are evident in Spirited Away. The film was the most successful in Japanese history, grossing over $274 million worldwide. It has won many awards including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival. In a 2005 poll of the 100 Greatest Cartoons, Spirited Away was voted 8th, behind only The Simpsons, Tom and Jerry, South Park, Toy Story, Family Guy, Shrek and The Lion King. Disney and Pixar Animation Studios dubbed the English adaptation. In the top ten of the BFI list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14.