Hayao Miyazaki’s SEN TO CHIHIRO NO KAMIKAKUSHI (Spirited Away) 2001

This year’s Academy Award for best animated movie went to Miyazaki’s SPIRITED AWAY. Some say it is the best Miyazaki has ever done. That is possible. But he isn’t finished yet. I have the feeling there is much to come from this gentle, talented man. In fact, a new animation is in pre production now from Studio Ghibli.


This particular film is a complex story, based on a real personality of a young girl, the daughter of one of the directors who work for him. He was interested in bringing the character to the screen, although he had almost planned to retire after PRINCESS MONONOKE. This animated feature, SPIRITED AWAY is the highest grossing box office movie in the history of Japanese film. The movie has won international acclaim., as it offers a treat to the imagination that is not solely of one culture, or another, although it is set in modern day Japan. It is a magical world which is created by Miyazaki -and it exists only in this film .

You get the sense though, if you back track through Miyazaki’s’s work that this movie combines elements that were present in other films, and seem to come to some sort of final perfection here. There are animated spirits (MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO) magic and spells (KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE ) flying (all others...this doesn’t have a flying machine)m ythical beings (most) a theme of Ecology (all, although less so in KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE) , and a chance for the characters to be enriched and grow from their experience in the movie. In every case the lead character gets to prove their courage and do the work of a hero. All Miyazaki ‘s films are full of life and fairly hum with fast paced action and adventures. And surprisingly, although written for children, most adults will love these films too.


ABOUT MIYAZAKI

The artist, now in his 60's, has been animating characters since 1963. He had been involved in TV series, and worked for other studios, for many years before his first feature length film (NAUSICA OF THE VALLEY OF THE WINDS) came out. The success of this film encouraged him to start, with the help of two fellow animators, Studio Ghibli. Since then, several wonderful films have been made, and only recently has artist /director/animator/writer Miyazaki delegated some of the work to the studio talent, and not drawn practically every frame himself, although he does complete and thorough storyboards for his movies. When you see the incredible detail and care that is taken with each character, each scene, and everything in the scene down to the tiniest detail, you can appreciate the depth and breadth of Miyazaki’s imagination.

Miyazaki seems to have a deep understanding of the pure heart of a child, and he writes interesting stories that immediately inspire a child’s imagination, and broaden his understanding of the world as it COULD be. His characters of the movies I have seen thus far, range from ages 4 to about 14 or 15 , and all of them are unique. It is said of Miyazaki (and by Miyazaki) that ALL of his characters are based on people he meets or knows. A television special airing on the making of this movie, included this statement
“Anyone who comes within 10 feet of Miyazaki is likely to become a character in one of his films.”
You know I would gladly take that risk for the chance to be in the presence of this awesome artist, and be inspired by his imagination. He is one of the few people in the world I would like to meet.

THE STORY

The plot is surprisingly complex, with a lot of detail and multiple characters to assimilate. It is enough of a visual treat that you can go back and catch it later, to appreciate the fine points. Miyazaki wrote the script as well, and Cindy and Donald Hewitt translated from Japanese, and wrote the English adaptation. I had assumed that most of the characters in this movie had some foundation in Japanese culture. I was surprised to find that most of them did not. I liked the visual pun of Noh -face, (which is also no-face, since a nameless spirit is wearing a Noh mask, giving him special powers.). The river spirits are among my favorites, as are the three disembodied heads who bounce around saying “Hoi” ,but if I had to narrow it down to one I would have to say it is the Radish spirit who was my personal favorite. There was just something about him.....

THE ANIMATION

The animation for this movie is wonderful. The beauty of the vistas that are included are breath taking at times . The detail in the town is reminiscent of 17th century Japan, and it is a wonderful and fully realized environment, from the architecture of the buildings to the characters that inhabit those structures. Unlike some other studios, I found it interesting that the old animation techniques were employed, with the traditional cell to cell technique emphasized. And in this movie, the key animation was done first, and then voice overs were recorded. I also like the fact that these actors that are children are played by children, instead of adults that sound like children..


THE MUSIC

Once again, Jo Hisaishi provided the musical score for this film. He has a long history of providing award winning musical scores, the latest for KIKUJIRO. I like the way the score reflects the activity and impressive atmosphere of the bathhouse, in its various stages of youth. The music even sounds like water at times.
The music credit is shared with Yumi Kumara, who sang and composed the theme song that plays at the end credits. You will only be given the words in the English version, if you also run subtitles in Englisn (not the hearing impaired subtitles) . She has A beautiful voice and it is a beautiful song.


THE PLOT

Chihiro is a ten year old girl, who we meet for the first time in the back of the packed up family car, grumbling and complaining. They are moving, and Chihiro is being, well a typical ill-mannered 10 year old about it. She whines about this and that, and her parents, obviously used to it, try to stop her complaining by trying to show her a positive side. But she is cranky and won’t hear it.

Her father misses the turn to the new house and takes a shortcut, which turns into a dirt rod, then stops in front of what looks like an old tunnel, and a stone shrine. They get out of the car to look, Chihiro still complaining. It looks old, nut it is intriguing, and they enter the tunnel, with Chihiro reluctantly going along. At the other end they find a strange and deserted looking village. They smell cooking smells, and find a restaurant with platters of food, but no one there to serve them. The parents sit and begin to eat. Chihiro in a fit of pique says she doesn’t want any. She goes out to wander around the town, and sees the town beginning to change. She meets a slightly older boy, who tells her to go, for her own safety, and says he has known her since she was a small child. But when she goes back to find her parents they have been transformed into pigs.

She is trapped in a fantastic city, that comes to life in the dark. She is getting scared, as she sees spirits of all kinds disembarking from a barge, and once again, the boy Haku, comes to her rescue. He gives her something to prevent her disappearing completely as the spirit world takes over.

She is determined to save her parents, but to do that she has to find a job, and work. The proprietor of the place , which is a bathhouse for spirits and lesser gods, is an evil (or almost evil) witch named Yubaba. First Chihiro must get her to give her a job. Yubaba takes her real name, and givers her the name of Sen, and sends heer to work in the bathhouse for Lin..

Well we know what Chihiro’s quest is. But what is yet to come is an adventure with romance,. Danger, and a Iot of growing up for our young friend. It is a marvelous journey, filled with memorable friends and entities., and powerful enemies and evil. There is even a problem to solve about the mysterious boy. It was never more appropriate to say the truth will set you free.



THE DVD SET

This 2 DVD set was released by Disney in April, 2003, shortly before the Academy Awards were announced. Of all the Miyazaki films released at this time, this one has the most extra features. You can watch the original Japanese version and listen to the original Japanese actors, or listen to it in the English version, where the voices are done with great skill and enthusiasm. It still works better for me in the original Japanese.

Also included is a piece called “The Art of Spirited Away”, a Nippon Television special, -The Making of the Film-, some Storyboards to scene comparisons, and some interviews with the English speaking cast.

My favorite extras are the Television special, which is marvelous, showing the team at work, and the ART section.


CHARACTERS Cast and PERFORMANCES

Rumi Hiragi/Daveigh Chase as Chihiro-Excellent representation of this little girl , who in spite of her bad appearance at first proves to be a girl of great courage and willing to do what she has to do to save her parents and her friend. A delightful unforgettable character, as real and human as her flaws, and as full of promise and spirits as the ten year old girl on whom she is patterned.

Chase has been pretty busy of late doing voices and live acting as well. She was only 10 when this movie was done, and she has some ability to do the roles she has performed to date, including Samantha Darko in DONNIE DARKO, Lilo in LILO AND STITCH, and an evil spirit in THE RING. Impressive! The little Japanese girl Rumi Hiragi was a few years older, but looks and sounds younger. This was her second film, but first as a “voice”.

Miyu Irino /Jason Marsden as Haku- The boy sounds like a teenager a few years older than the girl. He is a henchman for the witch, a spirit trapped into service to the evil Yubaba by losing and forgetting his name . He seems to know the girl, and her real name, which is the key to her finding freedom.

The voice sounds younger in the Japanese version, and less “friendly” and warm,,,but they both work pretty well. This was the first appearance for Miyu Irino, as a voice or otherwise, and one of many voices Jason Marsden has done over the years. He is 25 years old, but can still sound like an adolescent boy.

Mari Natsumi /Suzanne Pleshette as Yubaba/Zeniba (Yubaba has a twin sister) These are very harsh sounding voices, both of them exquisitely matched to this evil witch, whose chief characteristic is her greed...otherwise maybe not so bad. Perhaps working for her is equivalent to leaving home and working for living, one off those difficult tasks in leaving childhood.

Natsumi is an actress of many years and much experience, and looks hard enough to play the role live. She is also known as a singer, and has along career in movies and television. Pleshette started her career in the 50's playing in a Jerry Lewis flick, GEISHA BOY, but is better known for her breakthrough role in THE BIRDS, and by some audiences, better known for her part on the NEWHART TV series. I would not have recognized her. Well done by both. This is a truly scary role, and as an older person , this type of villain is kind of unusual for Miyazaki.

Takaishi Naito/Michael Chiklis- as Chihiro’s’s father. This character has some important Ines, and it is important to establish his business like demeanor as having some human failings, in this vase gobbling up food, and getting lost driving. Thinks it all can be fixed with money and a credit card. I liked him anyway.

This is Naito’s first voice acting role, and he does it well. Chiklis is known today as the Emmy Award winning star of THE SHIELD TV series, but back in the days before his diet and workouts, he played John Belushi in WIRED.

Yasuko Sawaguchi/Lauren Holly as Chihiro’s mother. A nice woman, supposedly modeled after a studio worker of Miyazaki’s.

I am surprised that such a well known and popular pair of actresses taking such a minor role. It is a tribute to Miyazaki, I think.

Yumi Tamai/Susan Egan as Lin-This is one of my favorite characters in this piece, a worker who starts out looking gruff and unfriendly, but who proves to be a sympathetic friend by the end. The change in her demeanor is what impressed me. She also serves as the in between character in understanding the world where Chihiro has to adjust her habits ad attititudes.

This is Yumi Tamai’s only role to date. Egan has been with Disney doing voices since 1996.

Bunta Sugawara/David Ogden Stiers as Kamajii. This is the boiler keeper, the man in control of the water and fragrance herbs added to the water for the steam bath. He is a key character and the first to befriend the little girl, in a gruff way. He has a lot of arms , and loads of rough charm. This was reflected in the acting of the Japanese actor as he did the part in the sound studio, as he waved his arms about.

This is the first (and very impressive) role as a “voice” in a movie for the well respected Japanese actor, whose first role in movies was in 1950. Stiers started singing and voicing for Disney quite a while ago, but I remember him better for his role in the MASH TV series.


FINAL RECOMMENDATION


I can’t think of a single reason to avoid this film. Watch it. You won't be sorry! Let the kids watch it by themselves as many times as they want.

Not so long ago, I voiced surprise at the 16 million dollar budget for this flick, which is high for Studio Ghibli. Then I started to understand the incredible amount of hard painstaking work that was doe to make this beautiful and elaborately detailed animation. Doing an animation is so much more work than a live action flick. Yet we don’t flinch at the usual 50 million budget (considered LOW nowadays) for a Hollywood movie. And besides their hard work and talent, it is obvious that Ghibli studios offers something you can’t buy, heart .

It is worth the journey to get to know Hayao Miyazaki and his movies a little better. You will be enchanted and possibly even changed for the better by the experience.



The wonderful world of Miyazaki

If you are not familiar with the work of Hayao Miyazaki, I have listed the reviews I have posted on all that I have seen.


CASTLE IN THE SKY
http://www.epinions.com/content_100985704068

KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE
http://www.epinions.com/content_100898344580
MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO
http://www.epinions.com/content_98467155588
PRINCESS MONONOKE
http://www.epinions.com/mvie-review-922-43A44A66-3A473749-prod3