Plot and Events
Why are Chihiro and her parents in the car at the start of the movie?
They are moving to a new town.
Who is the main character of the movie?
Chihiro.
In Shinto, what are “kami”?
Spirits that exist in nature (rivers, forests, animals, etc.).
What do the parents turning into pigs symbolize?
Greed and disrespect for the spirit world.
Who directed Spirited Away?
Hayao Miyazaki.
What do Chihiro’s parents do that causes them to turn into pigs?
They eat food meant for the spirits.
Who runs the bathhouse and takes away people’s names?
Yubaba.
What does the bathhouse represent in Japanese spirituality?
A place of purification, similar to Shinto cleansing rituals.
What does Chihiro remembering her real name symbolize?
Holding onto her identity and strength.
What famous Japanese animation studio made the film?
Studio Ghibli.
How does Chihiro first meet Haku?
He finds her when she is frightened in the spirit world and helps her.
What is No-Face like when he first enters the bathhouse?
Quiet, shy, and curious.
What lesson does the stink spirit scene teach?
Respecting nature and cleaning pollution leads to restoration and harmony.
What theme is shown through No-Face’s behavior in the bathhouse?
How greed and influence can change someone’s nature.
In what year was Spirited Away released in Japan?
2001.
What happens when Chihiro cleans the “stink spirit”?
She pulls out trash, revealing it is actually a polluted river spirit.
Who is Kamaji and where does he work?
He’s the boiler man who runs the boiler room with the soot sprites.
Why is losing her name dangerous for Chihiro?
Because in folklore, losing your name means losing your identity and freedom.
What larger theme does Chihiro’s journey represent?
A coming-of-age story — growing from a child into a responsible, brave person.
What major international award did Spirited Away win?
The Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Animated Feature in 2003.
How does Chihiro finally break Haku’s spell and remember who he is?
She remembers that he was the spirit of the Kohaku River that saved her as a child.
How does Zeniba treat Chihiro differently from Yubaba?
Zeniba is kind, welcoming, and helps Chihiro, while Yubaba is greedy and controlling.
What does Haku’s lost river represent about modern Japan?
How development can destroy nature and spiritual connections when rivers and natural places disappear.
What does the relationship between humans and spirits throughout the film symbolize?
The need for balance between humans, nature, and the spiritual world.
What record did Spirited Away hold in Japan for many years?
It was the highest-grossing film in Japanese history for nearly 20 years.