If you have ever watched anime, or ever been on anime Tik-Tok, you may have crossed a meme or even a picture of a character that’s in the movie Spirited Away, No-Face. No-Face is a spirit (if you couldn’t guess by the title) and based on their role in the movie (no spoilers over here), they are easily fans’ favorite characters. Since No-Face tends to be a lot of anime fans’ favorite, it tells a lot about this movie.
To be honest, I consider myself pretty hardcore. That being said, it surprised a lot of my anime friends when I told them I have never watched Spirited Away. I told one of my good friends and she forced me to watch it the same night. So I got in my most comfy pajamas, got some popcorn, turned on my oil diffuser to lavender, and settled in bed.
The two hours and five minutes I spent dedicating myself to this movie were some of the best times I’ve had.
First off, the story gravitates to you. It is about a 10-year-old Chihiro and her parents stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. While exploring the ruins, the parents find an oddly untouched buffet. Chihiro’s parents happily help themselves, quickly turning into pigs. Chihiro meets a mysterious boy named Haku who seems to help her along her journey. This movie introduces you to a lot of unique characters that leave a lasting impression. The story gravitates you and causes you to feel empathy for the main and supporting characters. The pacing is one of the best I’ve ever seen in a film. The score that accompanies the film is one of the best in cinema history. This movie is a great film even for those who claim “anime isn’t their thing”.
Of course, the main character that tends to be the favorite is one of the main spirits in the movie, No-Face. They are a lonely spirit who begins to follow Chihiro after developing an interest in her sincerity. Although he doesn’t speak, he leaves as much of an impact on the film as a character with dialogue. No-Face learns by example and adapting to his surroundings. This leaves them to have a child-like persona, that learns how to act from those around them. The reason people are so attached to them may be the fact that at the end of the day, they’re helpless. They navigate the world around by the emotions of others since they seemingly don’t understand their own emotions.
This movie came out in 2001, but its story and morals hold today. Greed gets you some places fast, but in the long run, it gets you nowhere. Kindness and generosity are some of the best things in life that we should not take advantage of. Especially in a time like ours, we must remember to be a bit kinder to one another.