50177964chloe.files.wordpress.com · Web viewSpirited Away Spirited Away is a Japanese animated...

3
Spirited Away Spirited Away is a Japanese animated fantasy film released in 2001. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed Spirit Away and Studio Ghibli produced it. However, Hayao Miyazaki didn’t actually right a script as he stated “I don’t have the story finished and ready when we start work on a film” and “so the story develops when I start drawing storyboards. The production starts very soon thereafter, while the storyboards are still developing”. John Lasseter, Pixar director, supervised the translation for the North American release when contacted by Walt Disney. The story is written about Chihiro Ogino, a ten-year-old whose parents get transformed into pigs after unknowingly wandering into a magical world. With the help from Haku and others in the spirit world, Chihiro has to find a way to change her parents back without getting caught by the other creatures. The Japanese voice cast includes Rumi Hiiragi (Chihiro), Miyu Irino (Haku), Mari Natsuki (Yubaba and Zeniba) and Yumi Tamai (Lin). Daveigh Chase voiced the American Chihiro; she also voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, Stitch! The Movie and Lilo & Stitch: The Series. Chase also played Samara Morgan in The Ring. Yasuko Sawaguchi (the Japanese voice of Chihiro’s mum) actually spoke while eating KFC in the scene where the character is talking while eating. Lauren Holly (who voiced the American Chihiro’s mum) used this same technique while filming the American translation. Chihiro was also inspired by one of the director’s friend’s daughter during a mountain cabin retreat in 1997. They wanted the character to be like an average 10- year-old kid. Another example of inspiration used during this film is the scene where the bathhouse has to be cleaned and they find a bike handle stuck in the gunky

Transcript of 50177964chloe.files.wordpress.com · Web viewSpirited Away Spirited Away is a Japanese animated...

Page 1: 50177964chloe.files.wordpress.com · Web viewSpirited Away Spirited Away is a Japanese animated fantasy film released in 2001. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed Spirit Away and Studio

Spirited AwaySpirited Away is a Japanese animated fantasy film released in 2001. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed Spirit Away and Studio Ghibli produced it. However, Hayao Miyazaki didn’t actually right a script as he stated “I don’t have the story finished and ready when we start work on a film” and “so the story develops when I start drawing storyboards. The production starts very soon thereafter, while the storyboards are still developing”. John Lasseter, Pixar director, supervised the translation for the North American release when contacted by Walt Disney.

The story is written about Chihiro Ogino, a ten-year-old whose parents get transformed into pigs after unknowingly wandering into a magical world. With the help from Haku and others in the spirit world, Chihiro has to find a way to change her parents back without getting caught by the other creatures. The Japanese voice cast includes Rumi Hiiragi (Chihiro), Miyu Irino (Haku), Mari Natsuki (Yubaba and Zeniba) and Yumi Tamai (Lin). Daveigh Chase voiced the American Chihiro; she also voiced Lilo in Lilo & Stitch, Stitch! The Movie and Lilo & Stitch: The Series. Chase also played Samara Morgan in The Ring. Yasuko Sawaguchi (the Japanese voice of Chihiro’s mum) actually spoke while eating KFC in the scene where the character is talking while eating. Lauren Holly (who voiced the American Chihiro’s mum) used this same technique while filming the American translation.

Chihiro was also inspired by one of the director’s friend’s daughter during a mountain cabin retreat in 1997. They wanted the character to be like an average 10-year-old kid. Another example of inspiration used during this film is the scene where the bathhouse has to be cleaned and they find a bike handle stuck in the gunky Stink Spirit’s side. Miyazaki had once cleaned his local river and ten people including him had to pull a bike out of it.

The main theme in Spirited Away is Chihiro’s journey to the spirit world, and how it symbolises childhood to adulthood. Other themes include the hazy line between good and evil and how the characters have both good and bad qualities and actions (for example No-Face and Haku). Another theme includes the power of words and names, as all the characters’ names mirror the characters personalities.

When released in Japan, Spirited Away became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history, scoring ¥30.4 billion. Other high grossing films in Japan include Titanic, Frozen, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone and Howl’s Moving Castle (also produced by Studio Ghibli, scripted and written by Hayao Miyazaki). Spirited Away also won awards including the 25th Japan Academy award, 52nd Berlin International Film Festival award, 75th Academy Awards amongst others.

Page 2: 50177964chloe.files.wordpress.com · Web viewSpirited Away Spirited Away is a Japanese animated fantasy film released in 2001. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed Spirit Away and Studio

To watch the trailer, click here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByXuk9QqQkk