Spirited Away is my all-time favorite movie!
It means a lot to me—it reminds me so much of my childhood. Every time I watch it, I feel like I’m transported back to a simpler time, when my imagination ran wild and the world felt full of wonder and mystery. Spirited Away doesn’t just entertain me—it wakes up something in me. It makes my mind so creative and pushes me to think outside the box. No other film has done that quite the same way.
MOVIE REVIEW: Spirited Away (2001)
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki | Studio Ghibli
From the very beginning, Spirited Away casts a spell that’s hard to explain in words. It's more than just a story—it’s an experience. We follow the journey of Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl who accidentally stumbles into a magical world full of spirits, gods, and strange creatures after her parents are turned into pigs. What begins as a tale of fear and confusion becomes a powerful story of growth, identity, and courage.
What strikes me most about this movie is how emotionally intelligent it is. Chihiro starts off as whiny and scared, but gradually she learns how to survive, how to be brave, and how to care for others, even in a world that feels alien and threatening. It’s a coming-of-age story in the purest sense, and I saw so much of my younger self in her—awkward, uncertain, and overwhelmed, yet capable of much more than I believed.
One of the most unforgettable parts of the film is the setting: the bathhouse for spirits. It’s visually stunning—every hallway, every detail in the architecture feels like it belongs in a dream. Miyazaki doesn’t explain everything, and that’s what makes it feel magical. You don’t need all the answers. You’re just supposed to feel it, take it in, and be curious. As a kid, I would rewind scenes just to stare at the backgrounds, to look at the tiny details—like the soot sprites carrying coal, or the way the water flows, or how the food looks so ridiculously delicious.
The characters are just as vivid. There’s the mysterious Haku, who feels both familiar and distant, and No-Face, a lonely spirit whose hunger for connection turns monstrous. Then there’s Yubaba, the greedy and intimidating witch who runs the bathhouse—but even she isn’t entirely evil. Every character in this film, even the side ones, feel layered and alive. They all represent something more—greed, loneliness, kindness, power—and yet they never feel like metaphors first. They feel like real beings in a living world.
The animation is hand-drawn and it shows. It’s warm, organic, and timeless. There's something about Studio Ghibli's animation that no digital effects can recreate—it has soul. The way Chihiro’s hair moves in the wind, the way food is drawn so richly, the way emotions are portrayed in the smallest expressions—it all feels so human, even in a world full of spirits.
And let’s talk about the music. Joe Hisaishi’s score is magical. It’s peaceful when it needs to be, emotional when it hits hard, and mysterious when the world opens up. The piano theme, “One Summer’s Day,” brings tears to my eyes even now. The music isn’t just background—it’s part of the emotion of the story.
But more than anything, Spirited Away is a film that believes in children. It never talks down to its audience. It doesn’t overexplain or simplify the complex. It trusts that kids—and adults—can handle ambiguity, emotion, and subtlety. That’s probably why it sticks with me even now as an adult. Every time I watch it, I notice something new. It grows with me.
For me, Spirited Away is comfort. It’s inspiration. It’s a reminder of who I was, who I am, and how I still want to view the world—with curiosity, compassion, and creativity. It’s not just a movie I love. It’s a part of me.
If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend giving it your full attention, heart open, imagination on. If you have seen it, maybe it’s time to watch it again—and see what new meanings you find this time.
So if you're ever feeling lost, uninspired, or simply craving a story that touches your soul—Spirited Away is waiting for you. Watch it not just with your eyes, but with your heart. Who knows? You might just rediscover a part of yourself you forgot existed.
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