Spirited Away Analysis | In Depth Scene By Scene

The world's most in depth analysis of Spirited Away part 1. This video draws out the deeper meaning of Miyazaki's Spirited Away, going from the opening, through the first 20 minutes of the movie: from Chihiro holding her flowers, through their journey to the theme park, her parents' transformation into pigs, meeting Haku, and crossing the bridge into the bath house.
My Little Thought Tree is my channel for drawing out the deeper meaning and emotion in film, TV, and the world at large through relaxed, analytical video essays. I am a professional counsellor and often draw on my psychology and therapy background to better understand characters, themes, and emotion in fiction. I upload every Saturday and occasionally on Tuesdays, if I'm feeling productive.
Spirited Away playlist - • Spirited Away Analysis
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Music
Aproh x Volthi - Trichome
Pinoki - One Summer's Day
re:plus - Solitude
Nujabes - Aruarian Dance
Kudasai - When I See You
Time Stamps
00:00 Intro
01:28 Part 1
10:33 Part 2
23:31 Part 3
36:38 Part 4
48:40 Ending
#spiritedaway #videoessay #studioghibli

[@mylittlethoughttree]

And this video got taken down, of course, but now it's back again! Episode 1 - 01:28 Episode 2 - 10:33 Episode 3 - 23:31 Episode 4 - 36:38 My Rambled Ending - 48:40 Part 2 out now! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bIGymJiVesSGZ7c Patreon link - www.patreon.com/mylittlethoughttree

[@onojioboardwalk9748]

44:42 .. Hawk your marxist hollow modernity-beliefs somewhere else, They dont belong in the world. +

[@finnorph]

The ending always made me so happy because I’ve heard so many retellings of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth and he always turns back and Eurydice always goes back to hell like there’s just no other way But Chihiro doesn’t turn around until she’s safe and all her efforts weren’t for nothing She knows she’s leaving Haku behind but she knows it’s for the best. If she goes back then he would also be stuck there because he could never leave her, but if she leaves then they might all have a chance

[@Luka1180]

The Underworld/Hades, not Hell. They're not the same place. Hades isn't even a place of torture, although it's not a pleasant place either. Tartarus is the place of torment.

[@finnorph]

@@Luka1180 yea I know lol I just said hell cuz it’s easier to understand for most people

[@HappyCatholicDane]

@@Luka1180 True. But the New Testament also uses the word Hades, and the word hell comes from a translation to the similar Old Norse word Hel. Hel in Norse mythology is very similar to Hades from the Greek mythology.

[@benjalucian1515]

Interestingly, Chihiro lives not far from the park. Wonder if she'll wander back there sometime and if so, what she will find.

[@benjalucian1515]

@@Luka1180 *Hades isn't even a place of torture, although it's not a pleasant place either* Hades is where Elysium and the isles of the Blest are located. Those are great places.

[@rowandunning6877]

i love the idea that everyone calls her by a different name, they choose a new identity for her that isn't her's and she has to cling to and remember her true identity, not letting anyone else tell her who she is

[@Xiatter]

30 minutes in, something I don't think I've heard you suggest. Yes, her parents represent the arrogance of humanity, but as it is a spirit-filled place with spirit food, there is also a draw to the unknown that adults may be too numb and disillusioned to even consider avoiding. To Chihiro, everything new is still a little terrifying.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

That's a very good point, I don't think I did mention that anywhere, thanks! 😊

[@50srefugee]

But it is Chihiro's Dad that draws her into the spirit world. I think he does that precisely because he's drawn to it, too.

[@Vee_of_the_Weald]

@@mylittlethoughttree I heard somewhere that the parents turn into pigs not just out of greed/gluttony/consumerism but because the food was actually left there as offerings to the spirits, i.e. not to be eaten by mere mortals.

Seeing this movie as a parent I just wanted to validate all Chihiro's emotions and give her a big hug. Feel so sad for the way her parents treat her. On another note I see Aku as a river who is supposed to be free. And that's what he forgot and we as a society also forgot. We take and polluted as we want. No freedom on nature.

[@westerfrost3701]

*Haku

[@Xerclipse]

@@westerfrost3701No she’s right. The foolish samurai should never cross the river and go back in time.

[@tristanneal9552]

20:00 So I know this is like a year late, but I think this place actually is an abandoned amusement park and this room is likely the main entrance where lines of people could queue up. Throughout Japan in the 90s there was a huge boom in the amusement park market and they sprung up all across the country, and then once the economic bubble collapsed a few years later they were quickly abandoned. Japanese viewers would likely recognize these old abandoned theme parks being overtaken by nature, and it's an a great metaphor for the waste of humanity as well as the concept of stepping into another world.

[@micaylab1]

Here's a good and important quote: "Your Children Aren't You. Your Children are their own person and they Matter!"

[@trequor]

Proper capitalization also matters >:(

[@juliapupo3437]

I love it, I never could quite understend all the elements of this film, I hope it is possible for you to keep this great job!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thanks! I will definitely continue. I think it's become like holy grail quest to get to the end of this film. Technically, I did already write the entire script analysing the film a few years back, but it's very rambling and I can write something better now by redoing it bit by bit like this. Hoping to upload another 40 minute chunk like this sometime this month or next month

[@hamogiha7902]

Vhvh0vhvuvhvh0vhvuvuvuvuvuvuvuh

[@LunaRip420]

I totally agree Tysm and Good Luck I Really hope to see more of you and it in the future...🥺🙂🥰😘💕

[@clarajackson7079]

@@mylittlethoughttree I’m amazed how much, the minute details, you could detect in this film. Love your analysis. Have you done the same to Tonari no Totoro? It seems a simple tale but I’m sure you have seen much more beyond I could.

[@pheonifire]

Been waiting to see a good breakdown of a Ghibli film and this was exactly as meticulous and introspective as I'd have hoped. Great video and looking forward to the next part.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Ah that's good of you to say, thanks for taking the time to let me know, glad you enjoyed it, means a lot

[@theendofthestart8179]

@@mylittlethoughttree you are god

[@victoriap1649]

Two years later and I have the same thoughts! I’ve been searching for years for a good video essay made by someone who thinks similarly to me and has passion in what they’re saying. I learned a lot and I’m so grateful for this video!

[@everafter2611]

I love seeing her stand up to that old witch. I couldn't do it

[@pureinnocentboi]

The way Haku told Chihiro: "When i was a river, you once fell into me" its so romantic

[@happymaskssalesmanishere]

fell*

[@pureinnocentboi]

@@happymaskssalesmanishere thanks commander

[@happymaskssalesmanishere]

@@pureinnocentboi its what im here for

[@ComptonFunk]

Why?

[@fd3069]

I feel like that part where Chihero runs away from her pig parents and into the street (the world) her calling for her mommy. That sums up my early 20s. Lol

[@moonpillowz]

Lol u are the funniest person on earth

[@bet_jev8711]

Fckn same.

[@MultiVales]

Juicy little piggy-Radiohead

[@micaylab1]

Like Chihiro I too was suspicious about that abandoned town.

[@dice6719]

Yeah, same here. Chihiro was voiceing how I felt. Something about that food the first time I watched it? It just felt, so, so....off

[@user-hb2ju8ge7q]

Yeah same, when I was little and first watched this film I did not like the vibes of the train station and town.

[@gracefay8620]

I think what I really love about this film (beyond the incredible visuals, emotional moments, beautiful, haunting score and just pure gorgeousness) is how open to interpretation it is. It can apply to so many things, and I was very interested in your description of the street filled with dark, translucent spirits as people who ignore and don't notice others. This interpretation also applies to Chihiro's parents. They ignore her and don't support her emotionally. All in all, a wonderful, thought-provoking analysis. Thank you. :)

[@claireegoetz697]

i completely agree, thank you for putting this into words for us

[@benjalucian1515]

Actually in some of the scenes, the dark translucent beings are watching Chihiro and some even look out their doors at her. They do notice her.

[@biazacha]

One thing worth noticing is how Japan sees gender norms and the supernatural: first born sons would be raised dressed as girls cause that would protect them from harm and is very telling how Haku is clearly softer, more feminine coded than her dad (the one who pushes them to that situation with his arrogant remarks) and the guests in the bath house. Nurture and kindness are the ways to handle the spiritual world without being erased or devoured by it, but those aren't traditionally masculine traits.

[@carpevinum8645]

I love the framing of the shot at 32:14 , Chihiro hidden from the sun by cliff. Haku, already enlightened to the truth of the situation, standing in the bright rays of the setting sun.

[@gsniroshan]

On the first watching, Spirited Away moved me in to tears. Not because it was sad or anything. It was just so beautiful and I simply fell in love with movies again

[@ishitasrivastava865]

same

[@ezkl9424]

Thank you. You have no idea how helpful your analysis is to me. Spirited Away was my daughter's favorite movie. She died three years ago. The parallels are uncanny.

[@CalebCheek]

I’m sorry for your loss. Can’t imagine how hard that must be to live with

[@derektafoya1152]

You could talk endlessly about spirited away, princess mononoke and other films of stuido Ghibli - I'd tune in for all of it . Might I also suggest 'The Fountain', in that movie you can glean new deeper understandings within after seeing it 3, 4 and 5 times .

[@SakiBlablabla]

The Zeniba/Yubaba statue is actually a Dosojin statue ! The Dosojin kami are protectors of travelers ,pilgrims, etc , their statues can be found guarding paths towards shrines , or at the borders of rural paths so that they can protect the travelers ! The Dosojin statues are generally phallus shape and depict a couple as the Dosojin deities are also spirits of birth and fertility. The Chihiro Dosojin statue however depicts a two-faced woman , which does work wonders with the twins ! I mean it certainly is done on purpose ! The Jizo statue that we see in Totoro , at the shrine where they girls take refuge in during the rain , is a special Dosojin statue, that protects children ! It’s amazing how many little hints of Shinto culture is sprinkled trough Miyazaki’s work !

[@TheWipal]

Ok but kohaku being a real loyal friend to a kid he met and saved once probably 4+ years ago is just mind boggling mans a total MVP

[@countyfacts6920]

Answer to question posed at 10:00: Don't tear up the foundations of you, becoming someone different. That's what Yubaba tried to force by calling her Sen. But rather, add onto who you are. Friends were very important to Chihiro, and she added onto that. Not only did she make more friends, she added principles of hard work, perseverence, love, hope and fearlessness, focus, respect ,etc. A scene that describes this is her encounter with No-face. She was kind and considerate toward him (or it) but never took off her mind from saving Haru when he was badly injured. Only later did she realize that Haru was someone she met long before. If they were reunited, could she not be reunited with her friends, Lily, her family? That's the message of Spirited Away🏯

[@micaylab1]

Thinking back, I don't think Chihiro and her parents necessarily Died while walking through that tunnel. When Chihiro and her parents were walking through that tunnel the tunnel it's self was actually a Torri and by walking through it Chihiro and her parents had entered The Realm of The Gods after coming out the other end.

[@13ciaran13000]

Im pretty sure Chihiro reading the note out loud was just voice over added in the English dub.

[@KnotPhound]

It was. I used to watch this movie in latin american spanish and she never reads it in that version. Maybe that tells you something, since the latin dub was based on the japanese dub.

[@atsukorichards1675]

And it is Risa (理砂), not Lily.

[@donnamaria3059]

Yeah, & she reads “your best friend, Rumi” not Lily. But the card reads different

[@Luka1180]

@@KnotPhound Well, it does mean losing that element which means you're also missing valuable information. Unless you can read Japanese.

[@KnotPhound]

@@Luka1180 Obviously

[@FallenDaffodil]

Just finished rewatching the movie for god knows what time, and this is really helping me with closure hah. I really want to see more of these characters, throughout the entire movie I felt like there were things I wanted to know so much more about- the spirits in the train , why Lin can't just purchase a ticket with the money Yubaba gives her (unless she's working for food and lodging ) , how did Lin and the other spirits even get to that point in life in the first place ? So many questions, and no answers. I feel like its better this way though. It definatley extends the movies lifespan in our minds (and hearts heh 💛 )

[@mylittlethoughttree]

I agree entirely. That's the wonderful thing about this movie. Even in going through, trying analyze everything, there will still be so, so much I fail to offer answers for, and that's exactly how it should be, because that's its beauty

[@sarahr2925]

That was a really sweet perspective 🥰 可愛い

[@IvanLendl87]

Great detailed analysis of this wonderful film! Impressive work. Please continue on with this analysis 🙏.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! Glad you enjoyed it, and nice of you take the time to leave a comment. I will continue to the very end, then hopefully do other ghibli films too 😆

[@mezzosangue712]

Thank you so much for the great video! Spirited Away is probably my favorite animated movie and I've been waiting a lifetime for a deep and passionate analysis such as yours. There are so many layers and deeper meaning in this movie and I realized I missed out many of them. I'm terribly curious to find out your thought on the rest of the movie so I really hope you'll continue. Great job!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Wow, that's a hell of a compliment, I take it to heart, thankyou! It's been nice in general just to find other people who share my love and passion about the film, and to share it with them. I will continue to the end, in fact, I'll probably do other Ghibli films after that, even if it takes me years 😂 I haven't started work on the next video yet because there's various other series I'm also working on, but I hope to release another big 40 odd minute video before the summer

[@giannanicole2277]

I first stumbled onto ur channel through your analysis on Allison from the breakfast club because I had to write a film/character analysis for my class (which was such a great video btw!) but I just thought you should know that this is honestly such a great video and it makes me so happy seeing someone share the same love I have for this film as well. I've loved this movie since I was super young and your analysis of the first part of the movie made me wanna go and watch it for the 100th time all over again lmao! I just want to let you know that you've done a fantastic job at this and I'm excited to see what else you have in store :)

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thanks! That's a sweet comment, I take that to heart 🤗 it's such a great movie and I find it strange nobody else has tried analysing it scene by scene like this before. I've been working on the script for the next one of these videos recently. I'm hoping to upload it sometime either this month or early may

[@anscerram9816]

I love the effort youve put into this and I hope your work is uploaded somewhere safe from ghibli ♡ but I just want to point out that the card chihiro reads says "your best friend, Rumi". Not lily. This is a reference to the Japanese voiceactor for chihiro, Rumi Hiiragi. I love the english dub but she sounded very gutteral when she said rumi so i get the confusion ^^

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Oh, that is interesting

[@JustMusic.productions]

I really appreciate you taking the time to edit, write, and post this. This work is an inspiration. Hope to see more from you. Many thanks.

[@happylindsay4475]

I loved your analysis. Can’t wait for the next one and I will definitely be watching and rewatching Spirited Away!

[@benicetoyourself6564]

this was so well done and i’m so excited to finish this video! spirited away was such an amazing movie and definitely one of my favorites so it’s really cool to hear such a good analysis of this movie!! well done! 💜💖🤍

[@tomdekel881]

second time seeing this video and im even more astounded than the last time to see how much meaning there is to a "children movie" and also how marvelous you are at noticing those little things and comparing them to our life which gives me chills everytime and makes me understand life better, I beg you to continue this series, it is all i wait for.

[@emmagrace6396]

This is an excellent analysis. Something I observed in your analysis is that you often fall back on an interpretation of Chihiro's entering the spirit realm and not being able to fit in with it as a way of exploring what it's like to be moving from one culture to another, or immigrating to another country. This is one piece of what I think the film is saying but I don't think it's the final word on what it means (not that I think you're saying that it is). The shock of moving from one culture to another is one branch of a tree that roots Chihiro's different experiences in the symbolism of transition. The fact that this film is a coming-of-age story is evidence of this; such stories are about a character having to transition from childhood to adulthood. There are different kinds of transitions that this film is expressing, including transitioning from life to death, and then to life again (coming of age is actually a version of this. When you lose your innocence, you die. In order to live again, you must adapt to the new world and reclaim some aspects of your innocence, like you were saying. This is what Chihiro does by eating the food Haku gives her, which adapts her to the new world, aka lets her former self die, and later learns to reclaim her identity from childhood through various encounters with other individuals, which is coming alive again.) You pointed out this symbolism that happens early on in the film when Chihiro and her family go through the dark tunnel and emerging on the other side, but you miss the resurrection part of the story where Chihiro comes alive again, symbolized by the end where she and her family leave the spirit world. Coming to life again is important in this story, because a successful transition has to include that. The film includes numerous examples of people who never successfully made it through the transitioned so they could live again, the best example probably being Chihiro's parents and Haku. For the former, they have failed in their transition from childhood to adulthood because they lack the innocent humility that Chihiro has, which is shown by their presumptuous greed, which results in them becoming pigs. Haku also remains in death after losing his childish innocence (and to some degree, his moral compass, just like Chihiro's parents) because he has forgotten who he is and where he comes from; he has learned how to adapt to the world around him, but doesn't know how to remember his childhood. Chihiro succeeds in her transitioning because she learns how to both adapt (aka, let herself die) and reclaim her original self by standing firm in her convictions, which are part of her identity she developed as a child (come alive again). The process of adapting (dying) and remembering your identity (coming alive) is necessary in every transition we experience in life. This can include immigrating to a new country, but it also includes a child having to move to her own school (which is the case for Chihiro), starting a new job, learning a new skill, starting a family, entering retirement, and far more. Adapting to new surroundings is necessary to survive, but it requires you sacrificing the person you were before to some extent, which is why it's like death. But if you adapt to it too much and lose your identity that you gain as a child, you become too much like it (which is the case for characters such as No Face. No Face becomes similar to the world around him, but has no identity. He and the other characters try to convince Chihiro that she must do this too, but she stands firm in what she knows is right, and is thus able to win her freedom and return to life).

[@rmsgrey]

Passing through a dark tunnel is a metaphor for death and for birth, so that works in both directions.

[@sarahr2925]

That was genuinely so beautifully said and thought out. ❤ gave me food for thought

[@RockSmithStudio]

This is an absolutely incredible breakdown of this masterpiece of a film. Well done and I look forward to watching future breakdowns of this film

[@milo_thatch_incarnate]

I LOVE this! Video essays breaking apart beautiful films is one of my very favorite things I've ever found on youtube, and your work is no exception. I like the way you described the symbolism of the shots, and I love how Miyazaki nearly always has a boy and girl in his stories, but they *save each other*, which is so unique. Also I never connected the two-sided, two-faced statues to Yubaba/Zaneeba!! So cool!

[@sm1purplmurderedme583]

i’ve watched a couple of videos analysing this movie but i must say, this is by far the best analysation of this film. you weren’t into so much depth of detail, which rlly made me want to rewatch the movie in a new mindset. keep up the good work, i love u and ur videos🥺✨

[@catalinabustamante319]

honestly you can see all of the work you put into this video, you should be very proud of yourself and what a good movie to choose from the millions of amazing movies. honestly Spirited Away has a special place in my heart and i loved the video

[@TheBiscuitFactory]

I seriously can’t stop watching this. It may be your voice, it may be your perspective in films, either way I’m officially addicted. I can’t wait for your next analysis on the rest of the film.

[@sandbats5]

Wow. Thank you for making these videos. I have been really going through a hard time and this channel has really helped me. :)

[@ivonastamenkovic1501]

Please keep this up im loving the detailed analysis

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thanks! Good of you to say, I'm glad you enjoyed it. The video only just came back up the other day after getting taken down. I plan to continue to the very end of the film, but since Studio Ghibli are likely to keep making it difficult, I'll probably release episodes in big blocks like this one...so I couldn't possibly say how long it'll take till I upload the next one, but it'll happen, I promise you that 😅😆

[@saraht3948]

i really love these analysis videos of spirited away. i hope you keep doing them :)

[@chrisallison7394]

I love film breakdowns like this, Keep up the good work

[@Milkshakes-Den]

I have been listening to this while doing some art based on the film and I could easily listen to you for another hour! Your analysis is incredible and the way you have presented it is perfect. 👍

[@hermant860]

Love this video! I like your take on this deeply symbolic film. Hope your channel grows

[@jenniferacampora5952]

Yes please! I would love to see the rest of the film's analysis, especailly the visit to Zeniba and the final scene! Stumbled on this and binge-watched all the spirited away videos, the depth and elegance was captivating and thought provoking.

[@episodesfreak]

I would absolutely love to see more! I really enjoyed your thought process about this movie and would love to listen to your analysis about the rest of the movie!

[@Emily-ww9do]

I love your analysisis (analysi?), especially with studio ghibli movies! I'd love to see your take on Howls Moving Castle or Castle in the Sky, or even Parasite :). As a side note, I'm pretty sure anyone can copystrike videos and you can request for them to retract it, especially if you state fair use.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. I'd love to do more Ghibli movies sometime, Castle In The Sky is in many ways my favourite. Parasite is a very good idea, although I haven't actually seen it yet. It's got such good reviews that I want to savour the chance to see it for the first time. Once I do see it though, I'll do a video and credit you for the idea. Also I don't know the plural of analysis either, I'll have to Google it 😆 Edit: it's analyses

[@seramilani]

this is so great. i've been looking for a good video to analyze the movie completely, i think you explained it so well and the videos details are amazing. i love this video sm

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou, that's very kind. Glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@jwalker10039]

This is a phenomenal analysis, and your soundtrack is perfection. Well done!!!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! That's good to know about the music as well, thanks for taking the time to tell me 😊

[@anngeorge467]

Yes please! I know for a fact that I DEFINITELY need more of this in my life:)) hope you continue to make more vids.... great work, my friend!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! Nice to see you eager, your enthusiasm means a lot 😊 Between you and me. I don't think the second episode of this is too many weeks away now. One or two, with any luck

[@juliawikberg4169]

This is so entertaining yet relaxing for my anxious brain ❤ i would absolutely love to see more

[@subzero8153]

Very good and in depth analysis of spirited away. Good job tysm keep up the good work :)

[@eggsalad3311]

I hope you'll continue with this analysis it's been too interesting😍

[@lucianeumann4860]

I'm glad this is still available to watch! Nice breakdown of the beginning of the film!

[@Pavel86]

Great job! Enjoyed watching the video. Looking forward to watching further analysis.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thanks! I actually started work on the script for the next episode of this series yesterday, so I'm hoping it'll be up sometime this month

[@Hiccupus]

humorous and insightful analysis, i enjoyed this! also appreciated the "this is not a damsel in distress story" comment.

[@hellopizza1125]

Bruh did this man really analyse every line in a scene That’s some effort like the grind

[@whalien1756]

I’m here from your beautiful comment in the piano theme song video :) Edit: orgh damn this was good man! Waow. You are an amazing analyst, you have such interesting points. I don’t mind how you get stuck on one point for long haha cause what you say is just so so interesting. And you are funny too :) I’m dying to see more of these from you!!! I’m so glad you commented on the other video

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! That's kind of you to take the time to tell me that. I felt a bit uncomfortable with promoting my channel in that way off the comment, but having written about that song, it would feel strange not to mention this video 😅 Glad you enjoyed it though. Makes me feel more excited about releasing the next one of these

[@debeshbhattacharjee3907]

Amazing Analysis....Thank you for this in depth study of this amazingly beautiful movie.

[@BluShade]

I'd really love to see more of the film broken down into just as much detail as I've seen here. I find your interpretation on every aspect to be really insightful towards the kind of thought process miyazaki might have considered when making the film. Really great stuff !!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thanks! More is on its way. I think it's become something of a mission for me to analyze the entire film 😆

[@caitlinmccann2836]

please continue this series, its amazing!

[@Kalavati.C]

Thank you for making this video! This is one of my favorite movies and everything you talked about makes sense and I always wondered why the Dad was so stubborn. 😆

[@laurenmungaray3912]

If you love someone you let them go. I think the reason Haku told her to not look back is because she wouldn't want to go home and it'll just be a ugly farewell with lots of ugly crying and begging to stay from Chihiro. Haku wanted their last moment together to be graceful and a happy one for his own sanity and for Chihiro's sake. Thinking this just makes me feel more sad...the ending is so bittersweet!

[@khazermashkes2316]

I love this and would love to see part 2!

[@JanLegris]

I love this film and this video has me fascinated with you, quite gently, talking about it, layer after layer. When I first watched it I remember feeling, or interpreting, the parents as being blind, but also being pulled along by a rush, the undertow of the story which I, the viewer, know to be a fairy tale. Watching this video made me consider the words "..., it's an adventure!" much more carefully. The parents are convincing themselves of the worth of their currently changing circumstances. To make a metaphor: faced with a slope, they have launched themselves at it, intending to channel their momentum into making the journey easier. This may apply to the dad most literally, but I don't think the mother is that different, considering her reactions that you highlight. I'm sure there is much more to enjoy than this - but the point struck me & I wanted to share :) Having now finished watching the video. Yes please. Continue :)

[@Pintkonan]

excellent work, keep it up. im looking forward to your other videos.

[@joelmanu9780]

I'm late but thank you so much for this. I love long deep breakdowns like this and this seems like the perfect one for a near perfect film.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Then I'm very glad you enjoyed it. I take your comment as high praise, so thankyou 😊

[@raissaz6849]

I loved this! it would be really great if you could post more parts!

[@ireneurban3599]

thank you for this meticulous analysis and your attention to detail, I really enjoyed it!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

You're welcome 😊

[@Ssmokythebear0]

You put a really good message out there when you were talking about moving on in the struggle with what to hold onto and what to let go. They hit a nerve it struck me so deeply I’ve had to leave my whole life behind twice leave all those friends everyone I knew and then start again but the third time around it felt like why does this matter I’m just gonna have to leave again but with what you said it hit my mind I don’t have to our lives may change drastically but that doesn’t mean I need to push it all behind I can still hold onto something

[@121lolipop121]

Great video! Hope you continue to make more!

[@stevedouglas8695]

I love what you're doing here! Please do more, it's great 👍. Aloha from Maui ~ p.s. I enjoyed every second of this. Thanks 👏🏻👍👌🐷🤗💯✅❤️ 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@juliaroxs241]

Love this movie and your analysis is amazing:)

[@jeakin8892]

The only reason I finally got around to watching Spirited Away was because I saw you had a video analysis on it. I liked it! 😁

[@Ken_tg]

This is great! Please keep going!

[@valesfm]

You're like my favorite channel right now

[@polarl6488]

This is everything i could have asked for and more!

[@li5up6]

For some reason I started crying about 90 seconds in when you were discussing the card and the piano started playing. The impact this movie has had on me is absolutely insane, that a video essay about it makes me tear up and cry.

[@rafaelakrauss9804]

I LOOOVE this movie! I appreciate SO MUCH this video. I am very interested in scene by scene in depth commentary. It's very interesting and entertaining. I'm currently working on a presentation about this film, so this is very helpful, thank you! ( I'm also relating it to Japanese Mithology )

[@gaylewarfield7992]

I really enjoyed this! thank you!

[@leedanielleyoung2788]

Thanks so much for these detailed analysis videos, it helps me comprehend what I didn't quite understand while watching it as a child! For future videos, it would be nice if the volume from the movie/your comments is adjusted to the same level for listening (and doesn't surprise me all of a sudden).

[@karnidina]

Thanks for the in depth breakdown. This is one of my favorite Ghibli movies. It's a comfort movie for me.

[@dannythefriendlycactus3274]

This was so very interesting to watch, thank you

[@lejasworld]

What a thorough and interesting explanation. Your voice is also quite soothing too, thank you 😊💫

[@mylittlethoughttree]

A few people have said my voice is quite soothing now. I used to worry my voice was too boring or mumbly, so I take the compliment to heart, thanks 😊

[@lejasworld]

My Little Thought Tree You should! It’s quite lovely 😊

[@LunaRip420]

Tysm and Good luck I Really hope to see more of you and it in the future..🥺🙂🥰😘💕

[@struggleralex]

Wow... this is incredible, looking forward for the Second part! I don’t know how much you are into anime, but I would watch every analysis on the topic for sure. You made me love Spirited Away! Keep up the amazing content man, hope you do other anime related stuff!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! That's very kind of you to say 😊 part 2 I am in the slow process of editing now (long videos take ages) but doing more anime would be something I'm interested in. Apart from studio ghibli, I don't really know much, so any suggestions would be great (preferably films, because tv series can be really long). I've gathered a few anime films together already that I plan to watch at some point, but any suggestions would be helpful 😄

[@struggleralex]

​@@mylittlethoughttree I don't know, don't watch to much anime films, i'm more a tv series guy, but I could suggest "Your Name" and "A silent voice", although I think those are already on your plan to watch list. For what I've watched, I suggest "Ghost in the shell", if you haven't watched it already, it is really atmospherical and provides great food for thoughts, in my opinion it's a great movie to analyse!

[@struggleralex]

@@mylittlethoughttree I really hope that you can get more into anime, there also are soo soooo many short series that are great to analyse, but I understand not everyone has the time to invest in it, and all of us have our priorities. Just let you now, If you do other anime content, i'm with you, whatever that is!

[@Ghostpo13]

I love your work man

[@xxxxsuperduperstarxxxx7570]

please absolutely continue this

[@alessiaroth105]

you. helped me so much with my film analysis for class

[@fimessere2815]

This is a really great analysis, I loved watching!!! Only thing that made me go "uh are you sure?" was when you thought the statues were of yubaba... They're actually another type of spirit from Japanese folklore, a Dōsojin which protects travellers

[@mumenrider1844]

finally someone who can explain the movie. Arigato. Tysm

[@tiaselden1924]

I'd love to see more! :D

[@druidriley3163]

Very nice. But Miyazak has clearly stated this isn't a coming of age movie. It's a movie showing a young girl calling on resources she always had within her at her own age. I didn't take her dad as being arrogant at the restaurant, I saw him as being confident - not that he's rich, but that he has multiple resources he believes will handle any situation. Something that Chihiro will reflect in a different way. Haku is a river god, much like the spirit that was mistaken for a stink spirit. He's not young by any stretch of the imagination. He just keeps Chihiro at arm's length to protect her because he's under Ubaba's spell until the end.

[@illiengalene2285]

Your analysis reignited my passion for the movie and I gonna do a spirited away Fanfiction with a crossover with ancient Greek 'Spirits', because let's be honest, Haku would have been a Rivernymph in ancient Greece. 🤣 Perhaps some of the Nymphs go to Japan to the bathhouse for spirit politics?

[@andrewkohler3707]

Like your earlier uploads, Lola Sebastian just had a strike, after a video that opened with a lovely tribute to the film that if anything serves as a nice promo. :'-( The rest of the video was about Disney, but I can't tell you too much since I paused it to do something else and then it was gone. That was a year and a half after you posted this, so glad to be able to watch yours.

[@The_Ass_]

this movie's score is *amazing*

[@geodaet83]

I think the ideal mix of innocence and confidence is what is actually referred to as "wisdom". Wisdom to me is confidence based on knowledge and experience without arrogance and know it all - ism, which is where the innocence and openness is still a part of it.

[@Sandra-hc4vo]

Wow this was excellent!

[@Suho1004]

I am a bit late to the party here, but I've only recently discovered your channel--that's my excuse! I look forward to watching the next episode(s), as Spirited Away is my favorite Miyazaki film. I don't know if anyone has commented on this before, but I always thought of that room at the end of the tunnel as just a waiting room of sorts, although it does indeed bring to mind train stations. Waiting room or train station, though, I agree that it is definitely a liminal space between the mundane world and the spirit world. One interesting thing to note is that the sign on the outside of the building (the side in the spirit world), reads 復楽, which roughly means "return to joy/pleasure." Perhaps this has something to do with a reconnection to the joy of the pre-modern world? That might be a bit of a stretch, but it's worth thinking about. It also occurs to me that if you add the character for "garden" (園) to the end, you have the translated title for Milton's "Paradise Regained" (楽園 means "paradise"). I don't know if we should read too deeply into that, but again, it's interesting to think about.