Spirited Away Analysis | Yubaba Scene Explained (indepth examination)

Part two of my indepth Spirited Awat analysis explaining the deeper meaning of the film. This specific video analyzes from Chihiro and Haku hiding in the garden having crossed the bridge, through Kamaji's boiler room, past the radish spirit, up to the first meeting with Yubaba, then the symbolic sequence that passes from night to the following morning, and a talk on the films thematic use of colour.
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
Patreon link - / mylittlethoughttree
Music: Nujabes - Aruarian Dance
#spiritedaway #videoessay #studioghibli

[@nerudaad]

Studio Ghibli is a fool if they block these. This makes me want to see Spirited Away again

[@StasherDragon]

Well, technically Disney?

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

Context is everything with the Radish Spirit, I think. There is a contrast in context and body-image between modern and pre-modern Japan. You can see this as well with the Studio Ghibli film "Totoro" where the family shares an ancient bath together. Contrast that with modern Japan, where people are clothed to a western standard. The Radish Spirit is appropriately clothed for an pre-modern Japanese bath house, but Tchiro/Sen obviously is new to that. But I don't think the Radish Spirit has ANY malintent. He is the Grandfather...old, old-fashioned, probably stinky, but is working intentionally shield Tschiro and protect her. One can even see the faint trace of a smile on his face as Tchiro exits the elevator and remembers to bow...a classic Japanese politeness. We get to see another Grandfather image with the River Spirit: aged, wrinkly, but ultimately kind and wise. Tchiro is like so many children from the West, unexposed to the aged. But in traditional Japanese culture, the children would have known (and respected) their elders. There is an element here, I think, of criticism of the loss of traditional Japanese values.

[@afriendlypoltergeist4073]

also yubaba seems to be modeled after baba yaga, and generally very western compared to the other spirits, not to mention her room decor. so maybe western culture 'owning' the japanese culture, calling it traditional while being in control and criticism of the japanese accepting that? criticism of western capitalism perhaps? idk im just brainstorming.

[@DeathnoteBB]

@@afriendlypoltergeist4073 Yeah even as a kid I heard her name and that she was a witch(?) and was like “That sounds like Baba Yaga!”

[@La_Mariposana]

@@afriendlypoltergeist4073 thats what I thought as well when I was watching Spirited Away. Baba Yaga, in Slavic folklore, an ogress who steals, cooks, and eats her victims, usually children. A guardian of the fountains of the water of life, she lives with two or three sisters (all known as Baba Yaga) in a forest hut that spins continually on birds' legs. Her fence is topped with human skulls. So with Zeeneba as well and Yubaba taking in mostly children (Chihiro, Haku) it wouldn't be too far of a stretch

[@donnamaria3059]

I first watched this movie as a little kid , the same age as chihiro. I always found the radish spirit to be adorable. His “nudity” wasn’t really grotesque to me because i assumed he was just..... a radish. But his little squeaky walk & his kind eyes & soup bowl hat always made me happy. He was one of my favourite characters when I was little! 😂

[@DeathnoteBB]

Omg same 🥺 He even protects Chihiro, there’s a stranger outside the elevator and he pushes Chihiro back a bit, as if to keep her more hidden from view. Another comment even mentions how his clothes are just traditional bathhouse wear. 😊 He always came off as cute, sweet, and helpful to me.

[@divawantsrock]

When she asks for a job but refuses to tell Yubaba who helped her is not because Chihiro is a whiner but rather because she is loyal. Haku was kind to her and she will not betray him by getting him into trouble. Also it could be argued that it's a sign that Chihiro, unlike Yubaba, doesn't need or want to bring anyone down in order for herself to move up.

[@kaitlynnelson2139]

In "the Art of Spirited Away" book, Miyazaki says that Chihiro "manages to survive not because she has destroyed the "evil" but because she has acquired the ability to survive...in fact, her being strong enough not to be eaten up [by the world] is just what makes her a heroine" and you took that description even further!! Comparing that situation to that of being a new adult and trying to find a job is brilliant and I never thought of it that way! Also now I'll never stop seeing the pinks and blues when I watch this film lol

[@jordanleung7363]

Excellent video. One thing you missed is that "Chihiro" in Japanese literally translates into "thousand questions", whereas "Sen" literally translates to "thousand". By taking away some of the kanji in her name, Yubaba is 1) stripping her of her curiosity and 2) turning her into just another number, another disposable cog of a machine. I think Miyazaki put a lot of thought into naming her and creating this specific scene as well, English is not as flexible of a language as Japanese when it comes to names so that scene may not mean as much for an English viewer. One thousand is a pretty big number too, it suggests that Chihiro is the one-thousandth worker to join the bathhouse.

[@YesJellyfish]

That's an excellent point, thanks for sharing

[@atsukorichards1675]

千尋 has certainly two kanji, which mean "thousand" and "question/enquiry" separately. But they make an independent word when they are put together, meaning "deep depth of water." You have to be careful about two or more kanji together.

[@Spudcore]

I think the point of the Radish Spirit is that his grotesque appearance belies his good nature, which is a theme that runs through this whole story. He presses up against Chihiro because he's so huge, he barely fits in the lift. I'm not sure there's much more to it than that. The whole prostitution theory is not possible to prove or disprove, so I'm inclined to think it's people reading a bit too much into the subtext of the film. I really love how most of the characters have quite a bit of nuance to them, they're not one-dimensional archetypal heroes or villains, they're like real people! This is one area of storytelling where Ghibli leaves Disney in the dust in my opinion. The morality is never black and white, it always has many shades of grey with the characters having virtues and flaws, being kind sometimes and cruel other times.

[@StasherDragon]

17:25 Kamaji was lashing out earlier at Chihiro to test her, to see if she could stand up to Yubaba. Hence, his words to Lynn a little later.

[@DragonFeyAniGaming]

I think a good explanation for why Yobaba gives in when her son is upset is because simply shutting Chihiro's mouth wouldn't stop her from being noisy. In that moment she could start breaking things, throwing things, stomping on the ground, etc.. Not that Chihiro would do any of that but in that moment Yobaba did what any frantic mother would: bargain to get what she needs so she can freely soothe her child. When your child is upset and crying you don't think rationally, so it makes sense that in that moment Yobaba lost the high ground as well as her hardened attitude.

[@nkbujvytcygvujno6006]

Also, just being reminded of her baby and having to slip into her doting mother role seems to have sort of brought out her softer side, which she must keep separate from her day-to-day cruel, harsh side. So since she’s suddenly thrown into being her more caring self, she can’t really think sinisterly at the moment. She probably could easily restrain Chihiro, but didn’t really have her more cruel, harsh mindset right then.

[@tairabanzu]

That would explain her comment "I can't believe I took that oath"

[@sisser8565]

21:21 I personally see the green heads as ''Yes men''. It would explain why Ubaba keeps them close to her and why they don't say anything other than ''hai''. It also explains why they immediately take the place of her son the minute he is transformed, so that they can benifit. They don't care about Ubaba or her son, they just want to leach of of her, agreeing to anything she says because it benefits them...

[@annabethdiana5857]

The scene when Yubaba uses magic to fix her office is so satisfyingly beautiful that I have no other words for it.

[@grumpysorus7997]

What a wonderful and thorough Analysis of one of my favorite movies. One thing I would like to voice is that the character of YuBabba is heavily inspired by Slavic mythology. In particular by Babayaga who also has two twin sisters (named Babayaga as well). She’s a very complex character who indulges in the devouring of children, but can also act as a chaotic neutral Deus ex machina. She’s a big fan of decapitation, hence the three head dog like companions. Even her son is rooted in a Slavic myth about a giant baby who goes on an adventure in order to mature. Again, a great review of the movie. Just wanted to shine some light on one of my favorite characters. ☺️

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

Yes. I think the choice of the name of YuBabba is a direct nod towards BabbaYagga.

[@AngelichuXD]

Baba means old lady in Japanese

[@afriendlypoltergeist4073]

@@AngelichuXD yeah, and it also means that in some slavic languages (slovak and Czech are ones that i know one, but babushka is a Russian word for grand má)

[@thegrandberry4418]

@@AngelichuXD baba is a word for grandmother and old woman in Ukrainian as well as I presume other languages

[@pierannapfister5882]

I just noticed something in the part about the color scheme. With Chihiro's name in pink, and her friend's in blue, it parallels with her relationship with Haku. Maybe like a subliminal thing that kind of reinforces the fact that Haku is Chihiro's friend, regardless of what others might say about him

[@davidbrogan606]

You've got the Radish Spirit all wrong. Radish Spirit travels past his floor to guard Chihiro. When he gets to the top he looks to check that there are no bad folks nearby. Then he bows. He never "pushes against Chihiro". He is as big as the elevator. He is always nothing but kind.

[@user-hb2ju8ge7q]

Ikr.

[@mitomen2000]

Also the clocks on the tanks in front of Kamaji look like eyes. Like he's always being watched to keep him working hard.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

A very good point, thankyou 😊

[@emilycrow8278]

Ghibli films really don't have evil characters, but characters that do evil things at times. Which is why a lot of the characters, antagonist or not, have very dual natures. As for the other aspects, the three heads is a Japanese myth, Bo is another myth, but I can't remember the origin, and so on. The movie has a ton of mythological characters that really only make sense to Japanese audiences. So, there's not always an analytical nature to there appearance outside of a cultural one. Miyazaki as firmly shut down the film theory of it being a brothel. It is a coming of age story and losing a piece of yourself entering the workforce that adults must. Chihiro doesn't lose that part of herself, but still grows up, not to say without great help from those around her, which is why she can still recognize the people that are important to her.

[@bfkc111]

They took our Jawbs! (And you took an objection I had. About Chihiro supposedly being rude or not understanding etiquette. Because it's a common character type in Hayao Miyazaki stories that a character is pure and virtuous and doesn't beat around the bush or surprises others with their positive directness.)

[@TheBiscuitFactory]

1:36 I think it’s important to note that fear in the unknown was slightly overcome by jihiro and you can see it in her expression as he, visually, shows her exactly how to get there, which in another small way, gives us a sense of security because we are all no longer in an unknown. For now.

[@persephone2706]

Chihiro*

[@hareemshaharqureshi6489]

I think, and I'm just thinking of this on the fly, that the radish spirit, being linked to wealth and silk, could be a representation of how corruption starts in capitalist systems. When Lin and Chihiro make it to the bathing area, a symbol of the upperclass, one of the servants questions why Lin smells like a human, but is silenced when Lin bribes him with the newt. Afterwards, the radish spirit, a symbol of wealth, shields Chihiro all the way to Yubaba's office. We know that humans are not allowed in the spirit world, so this scene is basically money sheilding someone from the law. The radish spirit than takes Chihiro to the highest floor, which is where Yubaba's office is. These scenes, taking Chihiro from the boiler room, to the baths, to Yubaba's office, shows how wealth "opened doors" for Chihiro and gained her opportunities that others may not have. Chihiro earned a favor from the boilerman due to hard work, but once she reached the higher floors she was wealthier, having a connection to Lin and a newt to bribe people. After she gets a job, she becomes a bit of a celebrity in the bathhouse, despite being hated before. Richer people generally speaking have an easier time finding jobs because they have money and connections that let them in. Poorer people have to start from the bottom, face more challenges, and often times still don't make it, resorting to more corrupt means of survivng, like so many of the servants in the bathhouse, and even Haku. Haku and No Face can be seen as a representation of how people descend into corruption due to different reasons. No Face, after eating the frog, digested his voice, mannerisms, and *greed* causing him to use his gold to buy attention and food from the bathhouse. No Face's childlike attitude towards Chihiro, (clinginess, temper tantrums, desperately wanting attention/affection) could indicate that No Face is a child, and became corrupt due to everyone in the bathhouse being a bad influence. Hence why Zeniba makes him stay with her, to remove him from that influence. Haku became corrupt in pursuit of power. He wanted to learn magic and eventually lost his name as a result. Many people forget who they are/where they came from in their quest to attain wealth and a better life. Spirited Away tends to use food and eating to represent greed. Both Haku and No Face become themselves again after Chihiro gives them the medicine ball, forcing them to throw up.

[@atsukorichards1675]

Very interesting. Then, why did Lin help Chihiro when they met first?

[@hareemshaharqureshi6489]

@@atsukorichards1675 well to be fair Lin was bribed by the boilerman with the newt

[@sageinkdrop]

For thinking on the fly, that was a remarkable and very well put-together analysis!

[@ghostbones8345]

This series is incredible. Spirited Away has been one of my favourite films ever since I first saw it when I was 9. I’ve watched it many times since then but there were always moments that confused me. It’s so great to see it explained like this especially with the level of detail you go into. I’ve always wanted to go into film or animation and Miyazaki has always been one of my inspirations but I often find some of his symbolism and use of metaphors quite difficult to grasp at times. Thank you so much for making these videos they’re so concise and easy to follow, I feel I’m able to enjoy the film even more with better knowledge of how much deeper some of the interpretations you’ve brought up go. Finding these has really made my day. :)

[@mylittlethoughttree]

And your comment has made my day in return, thankyou! His symbolism is often very difficult, you're right, and I think Miyazaki has said himself that he doesn't even know what he's making half the time. I think that tells us just how unconscious most symbolism is, and that even if we don't consciously understand, we do in a more emotional way. I've tried to offer my interpretations but still, it always feels like there's something further off you can't quite grasp. I guess that's a sign of powerful art

[@JessJArt]

@@mylittlethoughttree Powerful art indeed!

[@twinsplayknight]

this is an amazing video! great insight to this movie, cant wait for more

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou, glad it delivered 😊

[@kalon6367]

This movie has themes of coming of age, and moving on, when i was watching this video, when yubaba changed chihiro''s name, i ended up forgetting the name chihiro, and in my head the only name for her was sen, I only realised her name was chihiro when i read the description, just wanted to say, thats pretty awesome.

[@marcuglava6414]

This channel is a gold mine!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

That's very kind, I take that as high praise 😊

[@zhangrrr]

I adore when attentive and experienced people like you create this informative in-depth analysis/essays!!! I ve honestly gained so much from both of your videos about this film!! I get super inspired when i see stuff like this, and get more educated to make my own stories just as deep and investing as ones you all analyze !! Cant wait to see what you’ll say next and it’s time to binge watch your channel haha

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! It's touching to hear it had that effect 😊

[@JanLegris]

The scene with Sen & Lin is really interesting. Watching you unpick it made me go back to my recollections of watching this for myself. My impression wasn't so much that Sen's emotions were ignored (though this may turn out to be just semantic parsing), but that they were small and largely insnificant in the current situation. This feeds into the whole growth aspect of Chihiro's journey. Her sense of self, her self value is challenged repeatedly. Whilst the world around her grows, she herself is made to seem small, insignificant. Personal interpretation and acceptance of that last thought will vary, but I love that this sense of shrinking, of loss preceeds the character growing, carving a space in the, now larger, world. A personal growth that would be much harder, or even impossible without those acts of kindess that others share with her.

[@fernandamontag8098]

Wow. Just wow. Your video showed up in my recommended section, and since I love this movie and I’m a big fan of analysis in general, I decided to watch it. But how could ever know that you would be talking about the moment I’m currently living? I’m in my twenties and it has been a little over a year I moved to a different country by myself. The way that you described how the characters have all two different personalities is exactly how it feels sometimes. The loss of innocence, the barriers, the struggle of not having anyone to talk to. I couldn’t have described better, and I’ve never thought of that movie like that. Amazing really. Can’t wait for part 3.

[@maiphuonginh8782]

Gosh your work is amazing! I feel much better because now i understood the film much better. My psychologist advised me to try to discover the film's hiden meaning but i felt confuse everytime i watched it. Your analyzation is so helpful that i learned many more lessons from the film i have been watching all the time without understand the real meaning behind the scenes. Thank you

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Glad it could help. I reckon you probably would've understood some of it already though, it's just you hadn't consciously realised yet. That's how I find it goes, anyway. Art speaks so deeply and directly to the heart that sometimes the brain struggles to keep up

[@maxcasteel2141]

@@mylittlethoughttree Damn that was beautifully put. I fully agree. I really admire your insight in so many areas and the way you look at the world, it inspires me a lot.

[@AlyRoad]

What i got from the boiler room scene wasn't the Dust being mad at her but at Komaji for not giving her a chance. Here's someone who steps out of the "care only about yourself" norms and helped the Dust and when she proves she can do it they want to encourage her which upsets Komaji because he doesn't have a spot for her and that's why he's kind to her and claims she's his relation to help her get to the top floor. This is also interesting, the lowest uses himself as a way to get her in the door, which means the Witch does know how valuable he is even if she pretends not too. With Lynn you learn that she's one of those people that tries to help but doesn't always understand what is the best way to help. She does really think food and sleep will help Chihiro but doesn't understand what is really wrong. Komaji also later chides Lynn for not understanding love. I think the issues with Haku being so mean in the elevator is because he is still partially controlled by Yubaba (under a spell), she commanded him to do something so he is carrying out the order and can't disobey so comes off as cold to Chihiro. The thing about Yubaba is that she's not as Evil as she wants everyone to see her as. It's just about power, she wants to be the top so she has to act the part. I'm not saying she's very companionate but she does know the worth of her workers (maybe not as people but like the parts in a watch, each part is needed to keep the whole running) and she does towards the end start to like Chihiro.

[@ShapelessHail]

At 31:40, you said you dont know why Yubaba offers chihiro the job... and then spliced it with Yubaba saying: "I cant believe I took that oath. To give a job to anyone who asks. Ridiculous! I hate being so nice all time." I'd like to expand on this for a moment. The same rules of oaths and magic seem to apply here as in another film, Howell's Moving Castle, which is also by Hayao Miyazaki, the creator of Spirited Away. In Howell's Moving Castle, wizards can only get their powers by taking an oath, which is magically upheld with a curse and cannot be broken without the specific remedy. In Yubaba's case, her power is most likely also granted at the cost of her taking the oath to always offer a job to anyone who asks. In her case, its far more than just an oath, its a magical curse that Yubaba cannot break, and thus she cannot refuse Chihiro.

[@justmusicart725]

Commenting so the video gets more attention. It deserves it. Interesting insights. Would be smart of the Studio to let the video be as I just decided to give the movie another watch. Thumbs up on you!

[@persephone2706]

I remember the first time I saw this as child. It was the first time I felt a deep unexplainable sadness from a film or art... My friend had fallen asleep and I was still awake, and I remember sitting in the darkness, listening to the opening play over and over again. (I wasn't used to it because all I had at home was VHS, not DVS, where you had to press play or the music would play and repeat.) I sat there and just cried myself to sleep, partly because it was so beautiful and partly because of the vast sadness it seemed to unveil to me. What do you think of the theory that Yubaba is actually her "sister," and only pretends to have one so that she can actually show kindness to select others while maintaining her power? I've yet to find anyone speaking on this theory, as it's one I've come to the conclusion of by myself (and search results across all different applications like Google and KZbin yield absolutely nothing, not a single word about it) yet it seems obvious enough that I cannot be the only one who believes it or at the very least believes it's been hinted to in many parts of the movie.

[@rmsgrey]

The idea is attractive, but I don't think it holds up - the two sisters treat Boh too differently - the one spoiling him and keeping him a baby; the other encouraging him to grow.

[@ambermae2853]

So, not her sister at all? I like the theory but agree that it doesn’t stand up

[@mirelancholic]

The care and effort you put into these videos inevitably garantees the excellent quality of the analysis! Keep up with your hard work 💪🏻 I'm looking forward to watching the third part!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! That's a nice comment. May be a little while until part 3 but I also feel really excited about this series. I'm honestly surprised no one else has done an analysis like it

[@mirelancholic]

@@mylittlethoughttree I guess that's what makes your videos a true hidden gem 😉

[@phuckEuo]

Really truly enjoying this analysis, thankyou so much! Great work! I think Yubabas choice not to re-zip Jihiros mouth was more because of her not wanting to appear scary and mean in the presence of her baby, i think it further demonstrates her need to maintain a false perception of herself to her child as her weakness, which of course becomes her eventual undoing once he realizes who she really is by the end of the film.

[@pouchika5672]

When you have a fussy baby that you are trying to calm down whilst someone is pestering you, all you would thing about is getting rid of them as quickly and easily as possible. Yubaba was just being a stressed-out mum and didn't think about using her magic. Miyasaki is a master at bringing real life details in fantastic scenarios which I think contributes to the suspension of disbelief.

[@helloworld1249]

This is absolutely amazing, love your analysis! About the raddish spirit, he seems to almost sense danger, but much like Haku, couldn't tell Chihiro (in the very same elevator, too) that he didn't mean harm - and it's a quite simple gesture, isn't it? He's taking just a bit of his own time to shield someone from harassment or accusations, a very small thing to do that can save someone else a world of grief.

[@mjstudios97]

That's interesting what you brought up about Chihiro possibly being tricked by Haku into getting a job at the bathhouse and I never really thought of it that way, but I can imagine being swayed by some nice kid to stick around, then signing yourself away and being an indentured worker and knowing you got tricked and deceived by someone you thought was kind and caring for you, that would really upset me.

[@newsearching]

This is far and away the most in-depth analysis of Spirited Away on KZbin. I can't wait to hear more!

[@JanLegris]

Again, a fascinating watch. Though, I got a really different take away in the boiler room scene. I usually watch foreign language films subtitled. In part because this means I hear what the production team decided was the best sound they could manage, and therefore what they thought the characters portrayed were intended to be like; but also because intensity, tonality and all the non-word part of communication is frequently transformed, sometimes beyond recognition, in a dub. On top of that the sub translation can be quite dramatically different, giving different weight to statements or coming out with a completely different meaning. But my actual point is that in the sub I got the meaning that the soot sprites were in fact arguing with Kamaji because he wasn't helping Chihiro after her act of kindness and their actions were them striking for improved treatment :D - I'll go back & rewatch it again to be sure, but I've watched it several times and kept that impression. The information that the spirtes are the result of a spell comes out in Kamaji calling out "What are you doing? You only live if you work." (a paraphrase, not a correct quote) but infering that the work is what sustains the spell. Though my phrasing here could also be taken to mean full on slavery (it is... but it's also giving life that would not otherwise exist... so complicated?) Argh. another long, rambling comment. I'm really enjoying your analysis. Please continue :) Re radish man: I am inclined to agree that there was not an intent to paralel a 'darker' aspect of our world. I could easily be wrong. But I took it to be an illustration of how helpful people and behaviour can appear to be ugly, disturbing and even inhuman; Chihiro has to accept and work with the help offered despite its unappealing packaging. Your points about his behaviour and its recognition by Chihiro feel right to me.

[@pastorjerrykliner3162]

I'd also note the not-so-subtle play on Yubabba and Zeniba on the whole archetype of the Crone. Both are "witches." Both are "twins." Both are "wise" in their own ways. But they are mirror images of each other: one is kind, the other is cruel; one is "rich," the other lives in modest poverty; one is "rural" and literally "homespun," the other is urban and decadent. There is wisdom and power in both, but the question is what model of aged woman will Tchiro become?

[@gen_li7725]

I’m so glad I ran into this, I love these in depth analysis.. especially when it comes to ghibli films and other animated works because nothing on the screen is unintentional :)

[@Lena-fc9ce]

the more i rewatch this film, the more i get the impression that lin and haku actually have a less antagonistic relationship than it seems like at first glance. a lot of this is in the territory of headcanon, but the film does a great job setting up the bathhouse and especially the fact that the characters there all have established relationships with one another that we get glimpses of. you mention that haku probably knows that lin helped chihiro already, possibly from asking around. but i think its possible that haku a) knows lin regularly brings kamaji his meals and suspected chihiro might run into her, and that lin is kind enough to help her out, or b) spoke to lin to agree that she'd take chihiro under her wing. lin is quite a headstrong character, so i don't know that haku would have taken the chance to place chihiro with her if it meant a big argument from lin in front of everyone or lin making things harder for chihiro out of spite later. also, if you think about how lin speaks to chihiro, she's abrasive in a teasing, sisterly sort of way (like calling her a dope), she talks about haku in a similar way (saying there couldn't be two of him since she can barely handle one haku), and while everyone else is very deferential in front of *master* haku, lin talks back. their relationship to me seems like two coworkers who've known each other for such a long time that dislike has swung over into familiarity and even some appreciation. like lin is probably happy to be dealing with haku, who's insufferable but can be reasoned with and can take a joke, instead of one of the foremen, who'd dismiss her or run to yubaba to blab, or yubaba herself, who's *yubaba*. i don't know, they just strike me as not quite as opposed to each other as it seems.

[@hannahmariehisug4575]

Those heads in Yubaba's room, if I'm not mistaken, are based on Daruma dolls. They represent perseverance and good luck thru adversity, which I think also fits nicely into Chihiro's narrative. Anyway this is a great analysis! 💜 Glad to have watched it!

[@illiengalene2285]

The extremely loud, rude, whiny and spoiled Bo is a foil to chihiro in that scene at 30:38 , because he shows that it is just his mother's prejudices and he is worse..

[@face_nemesis]

wow the part about color at the end. a lot i never noticed despite probably seeing this movie so many times since i was a kid. this is giving me so much stuff to pay attention to, normally i just rewatch the movie because its a movie i liked as a kid that is actually good

[@presper6434]

Thank you for doing these! A week ago I watched this film for the first time and was enamored by its visuals and storytelling. Your analysis really brings new insight to this masterpiece and gives me reason to appreciate it even more. I would love to see another analysis!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou! That's nice of you to say. I will definitely do more of these. I plan to do the whole film and then possibly take a look at some other Ghibli films

[@jherieberry]

Wow, I really loved the explanation behind the colour scheme! I found it really insightful and made the film even more enjoyable for me :D good job!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@kuromi37]

Loved not only this in depth take, but the fact that u played Nujabes in the background

[@AderuMoro]

Love your exploration of Lin and Yubaba calling Chihiro "rude" 😄 I always wondered about that, since Chihiro came off more ignorant than purposefully rude, but it makes so much more sense that the other characters are saying it out of prejudice against humans.

[@sonnystaton]

The acceptance of a new identity in different aspects of life, in different cultures & different social environments, reminds me of symbolic interaction theory in Sociology.

[@marywhistley]

As someone who desperately wants to work at Studio Ghibli, I love this series! It's not only the information and "anatomy" that I enjoy, but also seeing someone sharing the same passion and excitement about this movie as I do, to the point of making a video analysing every single scene. My only wish would have been, if we could get the analysis of the original text and audio rather than the dub version, since they are ought to be some (minor but maybe important) differences. I discover your channel two days ago, through the "Good Will Hunting" videos (another great film and analysis), and since I hold huge respect and interest for psychiatry (I have been in therapy, psychoanalysis more specifically, almost 7 years myself) I feel I have stumbled upon a great, new gem in youtube. You combine three of my favourite things. Psychology, filmmaking and world building. Keep up the great work! I can't wait for part three! ps. As for the whole "finding a job/getting older" theme may I add it's not the first time Miyazaki explored it. "Kiki's delivery service" was even more oriented towards it 🙂

[@bellacatlover23]

This is such a deeply thoughtful and passionate analysis. I really hope you're still able to work on this project and I look forward to the next part. Thank you for the beautiful editing and commentary! The love you put into these videos really shows.

[@vampyresmiles713]

I forget the name for them but the heads are a type a youkai (or at least based on them) that attack travelers in forests in groups. They're actually a regional variant though, with the more common version of the youkai being even more massive, and attacking alone to crush people. Yubaba has the youkai equivalent of three rowdy dogs of some miniature breed.

[@MarnieFaye]

I think that Chihiro is not discouraged by being ignored by both Kamagi and Yubaba because she has grown up being ignored by her parents. She learned that the only thing that she could really do to get their attention was to use that whiny voice and get louder. I don't think that she is rude, just neglected. She doesn't understand the subtle nuances of the situation with Yubaba and all her tricks to get her to quit because it's nothing different from how she's always been treated by people in authority.

[@Pintkonan]

IIRC the heads are called "kashira" and are as well supposed to be some kind of gods in the shinto/japanese mythology. its long ago but i read they live in rural areas in trees and when it rains they fall of the trees and attack people ( its really long time since i read, im not sure if i recall it correct but if you look for kashira you should find stuff)

[@atsukorichards1675]

Daruma/だるま.

[@sarawiser]

PLEASE do more of these. I’m obsessed

[@stephenhall7493]

I'm 25. After 18 years of waiting I have just purchased the film. I have liked and subscribed and paused your video, and I am now going to watch Spirited Away.

[@hburton7176]

Great analysis! I love how much thought you have put into it. I personally interpreted the soot spirits a bit differently. When Kamaji starts harassing Chihiro the soot spirits angrily rise up, collect around Chihiro, and use their coal to build a wall around her. Kamaji then angrily asks if they have a problem commanding them to get back to work. I always kinda saw as the soot spirits defending her for helping them, a sign of Chihiro already malking a difference in small ways. That being said I can see a little more of the harsh reality in your interpretation.

[@maxcasteel2141]

This series is fantastic and it's criminal that it doesn't have more attention. I get that things this long are hard to watch for a lot of people scrolling through youtube and admittedly it took me a while to get around to finishing it, but it brings so much joy to my heart when I do watch it or any of your videos, especially the longer ones. I really hope the relatively low numbers don't discourage you from putting time and effort into making these videos because I think I speak for everyone here when I say that it's a light in my life and I can't wait to see the next part of this.

[@jujukrusader5896]

I absolutely loved this, I can't wait for more. I listened to both videos in 1 sitting, I didn't find more but please, I want more of this!!

[@wladyslawderstreiter9078]

Man im baffled how much thought and detail was put into this masterpiece. Thank yoiu i enjoyed this video soo much!

[@sambrooks8312]

The stair scene, for me was a nice allegory for you weighing your options when trying to figure out what job to do or how to go about it. Having this grand idea of ok this is gonna be easy, 'i just picture what i want and go for it, step-by-step, on my terms.' Eventually, things aren't as you thought, the nature of life happens, and you plummet from your entitled idea of the desired destination to what it really is. A cold hard slam into reality 🤣 I do laugh, every time, at that scene as well.

[@MaliceInCandyland]

I think the radish is just barely dressed because he's there for a bath. He's not pressed up against Chihiro; he's just chonky so he takes up the whole elevator. The implication would just be that Chihiro has to clean tubs that big sweaty spirits like this used, which is a lot of work.

[@micaylab1]

Most of the characters are "Two Faced".

[@mylittlethoughttree]

After a month of waiting, glad to finally be able to release this! There are a lot of footnotes I've thought about adding to further explain certain points, but seeing as there's still the rest of the film to analyse, those points may come up later on. I don't normally ask but please like, share, and comment this video if you enjoyed it. I reckon this Spirited Away could do well if it ever gets picked up by the algorithm. Patreon link - www.patreon.com/mylittlethoug... First Video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2Ophpyri8l2d9U

[@eggsalad3311]

Hell yeah! I love that you continued this series💜

[@mylittlethoughttree]

I don't think I could stop, it's become my mission now 😅

[@eggsalad3311]

@@mylittlethoughttree Yes! Looking forward to future parts😁

[@lkeke35]

Your analysis helps me understand why this movie resonates so much with little girls. Three generations of my family have loved this movie, especially my nieces, who are all under ten.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Well I think Miyazaki did say something like he wanted to make a film to help 10 year old girls believe in themselves

[@Jomnomify]

Love this series so far! Can't wait to see what else you delve into as you continue through the film 😊

[@samanthag2923]

i'm in love with yoru analysis, is one of the best ones i've heard in a while

[@scarletice]

I recently discovered your channel and am absolutely loving it. I'm especially fond of your hyper-in-depth breakdowns, it's something you don't really see anywhere else. I'm looking forward to your next spirited away video!

[@mal9369]

Excellent analysis! Really looking forward to the next part of this series. Keep up the great work!

[@Frey808]

Solid analysis. I want to learn to understand the world as you can.

[@breadbread5278]

These videos are sooo underrated, great video , I really enjoyed it!❤️

[@edominiquex]

Really wonderful analysis, can't wait to see more!

[@PhantomStella]

Looking forward to watching the rest of this series; it's interesting to listen to your analysis. Thanks!

[@rileyalexander9479]

Dude this is so good. Keep it up. Can't wait for part 3

[@Kaykayslayer1]

Just found your channel and I've been bingeing all your videos. I'm really enjoying this analysis and I can't wait for more.

[@Lukec141]

This series is amazing. Very clever analysis. I'm thoroughly enjoying.

[@averyferguson4188]

i have been on ur channel for the entire day i love your videos sm

[@majs7150]

i adore this series!!! you got an instant subscriber, this is the kind of content that made me fall in love with film and minor in film history and analyzing! looking forward to the coming parts, keep up the good work :)

[@noahruiz9532]

I love this so much!! I'm binge watching your videos haha I hope you'll make a part 3 💖

[@hanim1001]

Was so suprised to see the sub count ! Dude you are so underrated :D this was a amazing well made video cant wait to see more !!

[@larsthorsen4660]

Thank you for these - they are magnificent!

[@OneNamelessHero]

The ultimate analysis for one of the most significant pieces of animation ever! Thank you so much for letting us viewers see the movie from insightful new angles and showing all the little details. I'm all hyped for part 3!!!

[@joelmanu9780]

Thanks so much for continuing the series

[@BluShade]

amazing analysis! thank you for your hard work and thoughts !!

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Thankyou. The appreciation makes it all worthwhile. I appreciate your appreciation 😆

[@MarkMueller1975]

I really enjoy these! Thanks for making them!

[@gaylewarfield7992]

Again an amazing analysis. Thank you!

[@ilahjarvis]

Thank you for your perseverance with this series. Your analysis is fascinating and I am enjoying these videos and sharing them with friends.

[@mylittlethoughttree]

Ah, even sharing them on, thankyou! 😄

[@thunder8770]

Please do part 3 soon! I really enjoy your take on this movie

[@xzx-yu8ss]

You earned my subscribe sir. This is exactly what I wanted for so so long

[@theviper1999uk]

Excellent series, I hope the videos continue. This film is one of my favourites, and with each new aspect you share your ideas on, i am reminded just why I love Spirited Away. Even if I wasn't aware of it. Thank you X

[@nakshitakhokhar7251]

Please keep posting loved both of the analysis

[@The_Shadowy_Mr_Evans]

Funny, though I've been a huge fan of this since first seeing it in theatres...I don't want to know how many years ago...I'd never heard the "cathouse" theory before. It made me chuckle a bit, but I think that's just a Western misunderstanding of the inherent cultural associations of bath-houses in Eastern folklore. WF Ryan's book "The Bathhouse at Midnight" is a pretty comprehensive exploration of the cultural traditions and folklore surrounding the Bath-House and the way it relates to Liminatlity, the concept of areas that exist on the border of the spiritual and physical realms in life. As for our obese friend the Radish Spirit, in Shinto they are often used as an example of "how one ought to treasure and revere even the humblest of the elements of our lives", so in this case I thought it was simply nothing more than a representation of, or drawing attention to, the quiet significance of a humble or subtle kindness from a stranger.

[@heleneamalfi569]

Amazing work! Thank you!!

[@gabrielaalexis9949]

One of my favorite movies. Can’t wait til there’s another episode out!

[@erinbathie-moore8478]

Yubaba LITTERALLY SAYS "sign your name away". She was inadvertently telling Chihiro what happens when she signs the contract, so I'm not sure why everyone was so surprised when her name was changed to Sen. (Yubaba taking Chihiro's name and Chihiro having to eat spirit food to stay reminds me a lot of Scottish folklore and the Fae

[@miabailey2236]

Fantastic stuff. Have been binging your videos for days now. Keep it up

[@KayMarieClair]

This has really added layers of depth to this already intrinsiclly deep movie. Thank you 🌻

[@7RB98]

Great stuff!! Cant wait for the next one!!

[@PaolaLucia]

I really love your video analysis series 🤍 please continue them, I just saw the movie again and I was looking for a video like this