Alana's Old Favorites and New Discoveries - May 2024

Hi all! I’m Alana, and I’m the Adult Programs Coordinator for Ida Rupp Library. My blog posts will consist of older favorites and recommendations along with new finds in the wide world of entertainment. I never limit myself based on audience or genre, so whatever your preference, I hope I can help you find your next watch, read, listen, or play-through!

This month, my pick is not only an “old favorite”, it’s actually my all-time favorite movie: Spirited Away, a 2001 Japanese animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki of the animation house Studio Ghibli. It’s hard to describe this film in a way that truly does it justice and conveys just how good it is without spoiling the plot. In short, it is the story of a ten-year-old girl, Chihiro, who stumbles into a world of Japanese folklore and spirits and must undergo a coming-of-age transformation in order to return home. She meets an array of fantastical characters – some kinder than others – including witches, dragons, talking frogs, and even radish spirits. It’s a story full of adventure and tender moments in turn, featuring hand-drawn animation, stellar voice acting, and a gorgeous original soundtrack. The result is a movie that has broken records, graced dozens of “Greatest Movies of All Time” lists, won several awards, and enchanted viewers of all ages for more than twenty years.

In my personal experience, I remember watching Spirited Away for the very first time as an elementary school student, roughly fifteen years ago. My dad chose the movie based on the cover from the DVD section at our own Ida Rupp Public Library, thinking that it looked like something I would enjoy. Obviously, he was correct: the movie made a lasting impression on both of us. Over the years, the title and finer details of the film began to fade, but as a teen I can remember seeking it out based on the general plot. Watching the film again after so many years was like magic – knowing I would love the outcome and still feeling like I had made a new discovery is a rare occurrence. I am easily moved to tears by movies and books alike, and while I am very much aware of the plot of this film, it manages to make me cry every time I re-watch it.

Since Spirited Away was originally released in Japan to a Japanese-speaking audience, you may be wondering how you could enjoy this film for yourself. Not to worry! Walt Disney Studios sponsored an English language voice dubbing of the film in 2002, utilizing the talents of Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, and Suzanne Pleshette to name a few. The script translators, Cindy Davis Hewitt and Donald H. Hewitt, took special care to ensure that not only did the English script fit the mouth movements in the existing animation, but that English-speaking audiences would not feel alienated by a lack of knowledge about Japanese folklore and culture. Additionally, the plot and message of the film was carefully preserved, meaning that watching with either the English voiceover or the original Japanese will impact viewers the same way.

I would be doing Spirited Away a great disservice if I didn’t mention the original soundtrack, composed by Joe Hisaishi and performed by the New Japan Philharmonic symphony orchestra. Hisaishi has worked on scores for many of Hayao Miyazaki’s other films, and their working relationship has occasionally been compared to that of Stephen Spielberg and John Williams. The Spirited Away soundtrack is a moving one, carrying its audience through all the emotion conveyed by the film itself without fail. Everything from fear and melancholy to suspense and elation are presented within the crests and valleys of each song. It features many melodies, instruments, and effects found in traditional Japanese folk music, which fit perfectly with the plot of being lost in the spirit world. In all truth, music is extremely powerful, and I believe that Hisaishi’s score is what elevates this film from great to spectacular.

More recently, I was made aware of a Studio Ghibli Film Festival going on throughout the 2024 calendar year. This festival sees the return of several Studio Ghibli classics returning to movie theaters across the country, including Spirited Away. Sandusky’s movie theater was one of the venues showing the film, so I decided to take a trip and watch it for the very first time on the big screen since I had only seen it at home before. Again, I was overcome by that feeling of magic; knowing the story incredibly well by this point, yet experiencing its details and ambiance as if for the first time. Of all the media I’ve consumed over the years, from books and games to shows and movies, Spirited Away is the blueprint for such a feeling. Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly movie or a cinematic masterpiece, I cannot recommend it enough.

Spirited Away can be checked out on both Blu-Ray and DVD from our library or streamed on Max for those subscribed to the service. As always, feel free to reach out if you decide to give this movie a try. Happy watching!