The Lasting Legacy of Spirited Away 20th Anniversary

A look into Spirited Away's 2oth anniversary and its impact on audiences today.

By Emily Pulcastro

Photo From Spirited Away via IMDB

Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki came out 20 years ago in the U.S., and it's a film that only gets better the more you watch it. For a film that first graced the U.S. over 20 years ago its lasting legacy and impact are a testament to the film's everlasting themes and beauty. While some films from the early 2000s have drifted into cult classic status; Spirited Away is still at the forefront of pop culture. Many stores sell Spirited Away merchandise, inspired clothes, and it's still listed in many top lists for the best movies ever made. How has the film stayed evergreen through the past two decades? The answer lies within the film's amazing ability to present themes that are universal and timeless.

Photo From Spirited Away via IMDB

My first impression of the film was that it was a beautiful tale showcasing Japanese folklore. It whisked viewers away into an Alice In Wonderland world where anything is possible. The world of Spirited Away is a wonderland of creativity and excitement but also a place where the darkest of children's nightmares take form. Chihiro, the protagonist, faces extreme challenges throughout the film. Her name is stolen, and she is alone in unfamiliar and terrifying terrain without her support system. While the film is gorgeous and whacky on the outside, I soon realized there is much more to Spirited Away than what lay on the surface. What makes Spirited Away one of the greatest movies ever made are the many quiet moments that lead to emotional catharsis and the overall theme of growing up.

Photo From Spirited Away via IMDB

Having graduated college, I naively thought that my growing up was coming to an end, and that films with themes of characters coming into their own might hit differently now that I have "grown-up". Right?

How wrong I was. Watching Spirited Away reminded me that we never finish growing up. When we complete one stage of our lives, we have to face a series of challenges and decisions that will ultimately lead us to the next stage in life. This simple fact is why the film not only appeals to younger audiences but also to people of every age. Like Chihiro, when we move to a new town or enter a new and unfamiliar place, we face challenges. We must meet new people to help guide us, work hard to fit in, and ultimately face what makes us the most uncomfortable and come to terms with it. These themes are universal and what keeps the film so rewatchable 20 years after the film's release.

Photo From Spirited Away via IMDB

What Spirited away does so dramatically is that while all the craziness is happening around Chihiro, there are moments of perfect quiet. At the same time, we experience what Chihiro feels without a word of dialogue spoken. These quiet moments of the film reflect the quiet moments in our own lives. With all the newness and craziness around us, we can find moments to appreciate our new life.

Through the visuals, music, and facial expressions, simple scenes such as Chihiro eating a dumpling while looking at the river or watching the world speed by through a train window become increasingly impactful.

Photo From Spirited Away via IMDB

These small and quiet moments demonstrate the wide range of emotions one has while making their way through a new and challenging stage of life. There are moments of calm, sadness, and exhilaration, like when Chihiro is riding on the back of Haku or freeing the dirty river spirit. These moments that express human emotion through the visuals can be understood internationally and speak to the most basic nature of how we experience life.

Photo From Spirited Away via IMDB

While there are many themes in Spirited away, such as the dangers of overconsumption and greed, the most resonating moment for me is when Chihiro finally faces the final test and pasts it. Haku tells her that she can't look back when she is allowed to go home. At this moment, the film tells us two things. First, Chihiro learned what she needed for that moment in her life and is now changed and better for it. She is less scared, more self-sufficient, and able to face challenges in the future.

Photo From Spirited Away via IMDB

Secondly, Now that she has grown comfortable, it is time for her to move on. Life is constant growth, change, and adapting to that change. The lessons she learned will be with her, however, she must move on from the past to grow as a person.

After graduating, much like Chihiro, I am now facing a scary world with unfamiliar paths in front of me. The comforts of school are gone, and now I must make decisions for myself without guidance. Rewatching this film has reminded me that I am not alone in feeling scared of what lies ahead. Everyone who leaves one stage of their lives and enters a new one is growing up and faces similar challenges. Spirited Away reminds us to push forward even when all we want to do it sit down on the ground and cry. For 20 years the film has enchanted audiences and has reminded us to keep moving forward and never look back.