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16 Otherworldly Facts About 'Spirited Away'

By:: Andres Diplotti

February 17, 2022

16 Otherworldly Facts About 'Spirited Away'

Spirited Away was the movie that stopped Japan from hogging Hayao Miyazaki’s gorgeous animation just for themselves. You’ve probably seen it many times — but were you aware of these facts about it? Well, now you are.

14 Scriptless Movie

Spirited Away Spirited Away was made without a script. This is not a rarity for Miyazaki - all of his movies begin production without a finished story, taking shape along the way. It's a dangerous way to make an animation film, he admits, but unfortunately, that's the way I work. — Source: Midnight Eye

13 Japanese Folklore

Spirited Away Chihiro being spirited away is based on Japanese folk beliefs. The movie's original title translates as Sen and Chihiro's Kamikakushi. In Japanese folklore, a kamikakushi is being taken away by spirits - an explanation that was often given to people suddenly disappearing. — Source: Mimusubi

12 Stage Play

Spirited Away Spirited Away is being turned into a stage play. Set to premiere in Tokyo in 2022, the play is being produced by Toho and directed by award-winning British director John Caird, who was also involved in Les Misérables. — Sources: Deadline, Anime News Network

11 Chihiro's Actress

Spirited Away Chihiro is also Lilo and Samara. In the movie's English dub, Chihiro is voiced by Daveigh Chase, who also played Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, and Samara Morgan in The Ring. — Source: Daveigh Chase/IMDb

10 Sith Lord Darth Nihilus

Spirited Away No-Face was the basis for a Star Wars villain. Darth Nihilus, a Sith Lord in the Expanded Universe, was based on No-Face's mask. It wasn't inspiration or anything, though - according to LucasArts artist Brian Menze, he was specifically requested to base the character on No-Face. — Source: Wookieepedia

9 Oscar

Spirited Away Hayao Miyazaki refused to pick up his Oscar for Spirited Away. Miyazaki anti-war stance kept him away from the U.S. at the time. I didn't want to visit a country that was bombing Iraq, he explained years later. — Source: Cartoon Brew
Photo: 文部科学省ホームページ/Wiki Commons

8 Box Office

Spirited Away Spirited Away was Japan's biggest box office hit for years. Not just the biggest Ghibli movie, or even the biggest animated movie - it was the highest-grossing movie in Japan, period. It held its title for almost 20 years, until Demon Slayer beat it in 2020. — Source: The Hollywood Reporter

7 Stinky River God

Spirited Away The river spirit comes from Miyazaki's own life. Miyazaki once saw a filthy, foul-smelling river near his home being cleaned up - including the process of painstakingly pulling a bicycle from the muddy, garbage-laden bottom. — Source: Midnight Eye

6 Cultural Context

Spirited Away Dialogue was added so Americans would know what was going on. & The English-language version tried very hard to remain true to the original - but still, extra dialogue was added for context, like Chihiro exclaiming It's a bathhouse! when the Japanese can just read the writing on the building. — Source: Collider

5 Names in 'Spirited Away'

Spirited Away Character names are quite fitting. Yubaba's name is made up of two words: yu (hot water), and baba (old woman) - so her name describes pretty well who she is. And Kamaji, the geezer in the boiler room? His name means exactly, boiler geezer. — Sources: Ghibli Wiki, Ghibli Wiki

4 A Movie for Little Girls

Spirited Away Chihiro is based on a girl Miyazaki knows. By interacting with the 10-year-old daughter of friend and producer Seiji Okuda, Miyazaki realized there were no films out there for her, no films that directly spoke to her. The girl was 13 when the movie finally came out - but of course, she still loved it. — Source: Midnight Eye, Vice

3 No Taiwan

Spirited Away No, the Spirit World is not based on a Taiwanese town. sen Jiufen, Taiwan certainly looks quite a bit like the Spirit Realm - but despite persistent rumors, Miyazaki denies any connection, saying that he prefers to take inspiration from people and things around him. — Source: TVBS (via Google Translate)

2 She Just Knows

Spirited Away No, Chihiro doesn't gain any psychic powers or anything. How does Chihiro know her parents aren't among the pigs at the end? Easy - she just knows. After all the things she's experienced up to that point, Chihiro simply knows that her parents aren't there, Miyazaki says. Knowing is human life. That's all it is. — Source: Studio Ghibli Movies

1 Buglike No-Face

Spirited Away No-Face's appearance is based on a silkworm. Other than his mask, the faceless spirit looked very different in early sketches. The minimalistic appearance he has in the movie was inspired by Bombyx mori, the domestic silkworm. — Source: Ghibli Wiki

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