Spirited Away (2001)

In this article, we will be looking at 2019’s book “1001 Movies to See Before You Die” and going through each film in a random order that I have chosen. We will be looking at what constitutes this film to be on the list and whether I think this film deserves to be here at all. I want to make perfectly clear that I won’t be revealing details from this book such as analyses by film reporters who have written about the film in question, so if you want the book itself you’ll have to buy it. But I will be covering the book’s suggestions on which films should be your top priority. I wouldn’t doubt for a second that everyone reading this article has probably watched many of these movies anyway. But we are just here to have a bit of fun. We’re going to not just look at whether it should be on this list but we’re also going to look at why the film has such a legacy at all. Remember, this is the 2019 version of the book and so, films like “Joker” will not be featured in this book and any film that came out in 2020 (and if we get there, in 2021). So strap in and if you have your own suggestions then don’t hesitate to email me using the address in my bio. Let’s get on with it then.

Spirited Away (2001) dir. by Hayao Miyazaki

Possibly one of the most beloved animated films to ever come out of the wonderful country of Japan, this movie tells the magical story of one girl trying to find her way back to her parents. A cross between a story of Japanese Folklore and an “Alice in Wonderland” type narrative, this was one of my favourite animated films growing up because it is such a different experience to all the others and so very different from Disney’s animated films too.

Rotten Tomatoes gives it over ninety percent on its approval rating scale with the critics’ consensus stating: "Spirited Away is a dazzling, enchanting, and gorgeously drawn fairy tale that will leave viewers a little more curious and fascinated by the world around them.”

I really quite enjoyed the review written by the New York Times. After Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave it four out of four, the New York Times followed with their dazzling review of this magical film. The article comments on the artistic animation style stating:

“The beauty of the animation, a skilful blend of hand-painted foreground and well-placed computer background, works to generate the storytelling. It makes all the characters distinct in appearance and keeps them from looking as if they're drifting a couple of inches above the ground.”

And then goes on to praise the way in which the film is basically the director’s magnum opus - which I would agree with despite loving all the other films of this studio:

"What the title really applies to is the director himself. After his struggle to get the career-capping ''Mononoke'' to the screen, Mr. Miyazaki retired but is said to have been sparked back to the drawing board after meeting a girl who inspired Chihiro. This child should accompany the director to Los Angeles for the Oscar nomination ''Spirited Away'' will probably receive. The world deserves a glimpse at the slacker-sprite behind so much magic.”

The Los Angeles Times though, likes to focus on the dream and nightmare narratives and images, stating the following:

“Miyazaki no doubt intended the opposition of these images to have an effect on us. Dream and nightmare, the grotesque and the beautiful, the terrifying and the enchanting all come together to underline the oneness of things, to point out how little distance there is between these seemingly disparate states, much less than we might imagine.For a film that does so much, “Spirited Away” starts quietly, with a skittish, reluctant Chihiro (voiced by Daveigh Chase, Lilo of “Lilo & Stitch”) sulking in the back seat of a car taking her and her parents to their new suburban home. She’s unhappy at leaving familiar surroundings behind and not at all mollified when her mother says her new life will be an adventure.”

And so, you can definitely see that there is no requirement to question whether or not this film deserves to be on the list of one thousand and one movies you should see before you die because what would this list be without “Spirited Away”?

Here are the links:

Los Angeles Times

New York Times