you'll never guess what movie i rewatched yesterday

in my last blag post i alluded to not really understanding Studio Ghibli. maybe that isn't entirely true, but it was, back when the only Ghibli movie i watched was Howl's Moving Castle. i think i've watched it about 3 times, making it my most watched Ghibli, which is crazy because i don't like it that much. surprise... Christian Bale as Howl does absolutely nothing for me. thankfully, this seat of "most watched" will likely be taken by Spirited Away soon, which is my favorite Ghibli movie (for now?)

while all Ghibli films whisk viewers away on a fantastical adventure, Spirited Away does this in addition to balancing an amazing lineup of characters with arcs and personalities that feel the most human and relatable, something that i feel is missing from the studio's other films

our main character is Chihiro, who begins as a helpless klutz and has to rely on others to survive in the spirit world. something i found interesting about her is that while she's stubborn, afraid, and childish, it's these qualities that stop her from suffering the same fate as her parents, who are turned into pigs after eating food not meant for them. maybe what she has isn't exactly those things, but complete innocence: Chihiro is still a child and understandably fears the unknown, while her parents have gone through the motions and are able to reason away anything, even left out food in a supposedly abandoned theme park

despite the bathhouse she works at being overrun with greed, it's still a place Chihiro is able to learn from, maybe thanks to how the spirits are unable to hide any possible ill intentions. Haku, Kamaji, Lin, and even Yubaba look the most human and thus act the most human, while the non-human spirits salivate at the idea of eating her. No-Face, with his ghastly form and mask for a face hints at a creature who has no identity of its own, and becomes monstrous when he is overcome by the bathhouse's greed. even the two spirits unwillingly changed into more innocent forms (the mouse-thing and bird) have on the nose development, metaphorically changing for the better. or maybe it's just an animated movie for kids and they needed to easily show the difference between friend and foe...

speaking of No-Face, he has to be my favorite Ghibli character. Chihiro being the one to help him makes perfect sense. just like her, No-Face is nervous and not accepted at the bathhouse. he learns the opposite of Chihiro's lesson and appeals to the bathhouse workers' materialism, the greed eventually becoming his own, which would have likely been the same case for Chihiro (if she also had the ability to spawn gold, i guess). once free from greed, Chihiro accepts him into her traveling party. she shows him he doesn't need to be anxious and teaches him manners, both things Chihiro learned at the bathhouse. his story ends in a faraway cottage, where he is acknowledged and appreciated

No-Face really has the ideal ending, like i get it. a stay at grandma's house would fix me too. his design is also really great

like with all Ghibli films, it's all very gorgeously animated, but, once again... i think Spirited Away is the most awe-inspiring and a must watch, especially if you have a chance to watch it in a theater. out of all the Ghibli films i've watched on the big screen, Spirited Away's visuals feel like they take advantage of this format the most. this is NOT the favoritism talking, by the way, it's 100% real and true

Ghibli Fest has Spirited Away showings in October, alongside other Ghibli movies for the rest of the year. so if not that, maybe another movie will catch your eye..