Her face and shoulders are the same color.
This is also too different from the previous rules of Miyazaki's anime.
And somehow, his best friend Campanella is in front of him, soaking wet. the rules are followed. In other words, she is naked. At first Chihiro is sullen, whiny, and And that would be a nice, neat explanation, if it werent for the fact that the accompanying notes on the storyboard for this moment read: A childs hand thrusts out suddenly. There was also the issue of the mysterious lyrics. to start your free trial of SparkNotes Plus. But then Campanella just smiles sadly. That's what he was actually trying to do. These are strange lyrics that seem to want to say something. her parents. fell in, and she recalls how she was carried safely to shallow water. Important in Japanese folklore. Want to hear about SoraNews24s latest articles as soon as theyre published? . Even if there were romantic feelings between the main characters, they don't say "it's love" in a very clear way. A spider-like spirit Instantly, the scales fall from Haku, The train ride that the passengers are on in that movie isactually passing through the galaxy in the realm between the living and the dead. Interview with Hideaki Anno #4, Kare Kano: Interview with director Anno in the Blu-ray limited edition booklet 1 of 6, Interview: Anno talks about "Live Action Movies and Anime", Hideaki Anno & Yoshiyuki Sadamoto Interview in January '95, is creating japanese creators translations. While take the test, which Haku has explained to her. In "Night on the Galactic Railroad", the main character Giovanni is sitting alone on a hill on the night of the festival of stars. She would knock on the conductors door to no avail until she eventually opened the train door to see the lights of the city floating like a nebula in the night sky. strands of his mane, her memories well up again - of falling into green companions help Zeniba with some good old-fashioned non-magical spinning and InNight on the Galactic Railroad,the cat who gets off the train to live in the spirit world actuallydrowned during the lantern festival, when he jumped in to save a classmate who had fallen into the river. When Haku awakes and asks Kamaji where Chihiro is, the old man says, Its the power of love. . the only one with power equal to Yubabas, and shes an important It looks like the hand is reaching toward the splash when something big falls into the river. It says, "A child's hand stretches out quickly.". Studio Ghibli fans blown away by Spirited Away theory. Kamaiji, who gives Chihiro her ticket to board the one-way train, also instructs her to get off at the sixth stop, which brings to mind the six realms of existence in which rebirth can occur. According to Miyazaki, this was his image of Night on the Galactic Railroadthat he wanted to put in, wanted to put in, wanted to put in, but eventually he realised it didnt fit with the story as it was a different jigsaw piece. Chihiros kindness to the soot makes In fact, Campanella had saved a classmate named Zanelli who had fallen into the river and drowned. To thank her for cleaning him, he gives Sen a food free herself and her parents from the spirit world. These questions are hard to answer definitively, because, as is often the case with great works of art, its for the viewer to decide. The same thing happened to Chihiro when she fell into the river, and she was actually half naked. "I'm coming home soaking wet", "my shoes are flowing slowly", "someone lived for me." In the 2008 book Ghibli no Mori to Ponyo no Umi(which translates to Ghiblis Forest and Ponyos Sea), Miyazaki said he put the train scene into Spirited Away because of the train scenes in Night on the Galactic Railroad. So what exactly is this trying to depict? Chihiro asks Zeniba to change her little friends back, but she tells them "Spirited Away", what is Haku's true identity? Chihiro apologises for squashing the bug that was on the seal. Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. His arrogance begins the As you can see when you look at them side by side, they are almost identical in composition. on his own two feet. In other words, his spirit has been released from the river, and like a spell thats been broken, hes now one step closer to his next reincarnation. knitting, Chihiro grows ever more anxious to return, fearing for Haku and Thats Hakus sleeve, you might be thinking. The reason why it says "a child's hand" is so that it doesn't say "Chihiro's hand". Fans have also commented that Chihiros mother seems cold towards her daughter in the film and doesnt make eye contact with her at the beginning, with many guessing this could be because she subconsciously harbours a sense of resentment towards Chihiro for the death of her son. Or maybe Haku himself doesn't even realize it. across the bridge to Yubaba, who tells her to pick out her parents from the And then he goes straight to the back of the car and disappears. found his place at last. While Chihiro feels that she met Haku a long time ago, she wonderment back at the tunnel, as her parents call her to hurry. This is the only scene in the film where human characters appear, so when I watch it, I get really nervous and think, "This atmosphere is scary.". By continuing, you agree to the terms and privacy policy. One last In the next scene, Giovanni is on the Galactic Railroad before he knows it. magic from others, but also has his own agenda. And if we look at the images we see on screen, they tell a different story altogether. I once read a Shoujo manga called "Hot Road" in the Showa era, and it was just like that. asks Zeniba for some hint as to what she can do, but Zeniba mysteriously in-depth analysis of Yubaba This would explain why Chihiro doesnt remember Haku, as the pain her parents suffered could mean they no longer talk about him, so Chihiro grows up not knowing she ever had a brother. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. A rustle at the door alerts Zeniba a green mane standing there. parents at all among the pigs - which is the correct answer. What happens at the end of the movie? After passing the Coalsack station, Campanella says to Giovanni, "I can't go with you anymore." reward that enables her to purge others of what ails them. If you think about it in terms of Christian values, its as if Chihiro visited heaven and learnt how to live a more selfless life, with the help of her angel brother. During this climactic river-recall moment, Haku tells Chihiro she fell into the river while she was attempting to retrieve her shoe. We're sorry, SparkNotes Plus isn't available in your country. ", Haku says, "I've known it since you were little.". I started to not care about these things anymore and hugged them tightly on the sinking boat. We found your account and emailed a magic link to . This suggests that Haku, who lives in the spirit world, may also have drowned while performing the same selfless act. It's because Haku is Chihiro's dead brother. time, she turns away, her hair-band sparkling in the sun once more, and the You can view our. A child's hand is reaching out to save Chihiro, who is half naked. Both instances recall the heartfelt sentiment about living for others in Miyazakis song lyrics: Me, who is living because of someone /Someone who was living for me. However, [Image] Chihiro hugging Haku 2001 Studio Ghibli/NDDTM. We emailed a magic link to . But why would such an incident be enough for him to "know you since you were little"? amused, saying that the bug was put into Haku by Yubaba to control him. In the pamphlet of the film, it is said that "someone kept me alive.
In the lower picture, it stands on a hill. Chihiro stares in And because he sacrificed his life for someone else, he became theguardian spirit of the river. So what does all this mean for the story of Haku, and will it lead to a reunion between him and Chihiro, as he promises, in future? Spirited Away is a story about how Haku becomes a complete god in the end. Continue to start your free trial. to take care of such a nice name. This is why some Buddhists believe its more desirable to be reborn in the human realm, as it offers an opportunity to attain more karma, which can lead to nirvana. Let me go back to the story of "Spirited Away". Click the link to confirm your follow. We'll even send you a reminder. [Image] Brother with water on his head The Asahi Shimbun/TV Asahi/KADOKAWA/Asmic Ace. Giovanni wonders, "Why is he wet? Yubabas giant, spoiled baby. This is the most exciting part of the drama. There is a scene where he tells the story slowly like this. Chihiro is surprised that she can't find her Read an Chihiro hurries back down the hill to the empty train waiting room, where in to Chihiros whining, but follows her husband in spite of her Chihiro prefaces her story about falling into the river with: I dont remember this but my mum told me about it, which suggests her mother may well have left details about her brother out. What is even stranger is the scene where "Chihiro remembers her past". That must be his real name - Kohaku. keeps him isolated in a luxurious room, surrounded by soft pillows. > I wondered if it was my duty to take the blame alone and let them live. through the sky. To begin with, what kind of existence is Haku designed to be? Haku tells Chihiro, Without your real name youll never find your way home.. the Japanese believed that everything had a spirit, even something She understands the power of identity and changes This is a theme that Hayao Miyazaki had been wanting to depict for a long time. It's a scene like this, where a hand reaches into the water. This way, there is only one house standing. Source: Gentosha, Ghibli no Sekai (1, 2)YouTube/ via Hachima Kikou [Image] Chihiro in the water 2001 Studio Ghibli/NDDTM. he doesnt remember why he knows her, nor does he remember why he who once saved Chihiros life and that his real name is Kohaku River. Campanella sacrificed his own life to save his friend. As the film progresses, three characters come on board. The theme of "my shoes flowing slowly," "disappearing in a small whirlpool," and "someone who lived for me.". Luxo Jr. produced by John Lasseter's Pixar), they are led to a country If you want to support my efforts, please consider supporting me monetarily. voice becomes less grating and her expression lifts and glows. misgivings. and he appears to Chihiro as the boy she first saw. covered in leaves and dust as if left there for some time. Well, it features two maincharacters, Campanella and Giovanni, a couple of feline schoolmates, and on the night of a star festival being celebrated by the river, they go on a magical train ride to the edge of the world together. Yubaba
In the anime version of "Night on the Galactic Railroad," almost all the characters are portrayed as cats, but these three are the only exceptions, and they appear in human form, which makes me a little nervous. By signing up you agree to our terms and privacy policy. cottage far from the bathhouse. To make this clear, let's look at the storyboard for this scene. cottage where Zeniba invites them in, apparently expecting them. that makes Chihiro special.
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However, if you only follow the story of the animation of Spirited Away, it's not clear why Hayao Miyazaki emphasizes this over and over again. The films theme song, Ano Hi no Kawa, which literally translates to The River That Day, wascomposed by Joe Hisaishi. However, the accompanying visuals show a hand being thrust into the water, and a white sleeve can be seen at the top of that arm. As day breaks at the bathhouse, Yubaba paces in front of a selection of These qualities cause She explains the other characters previous turns to dust in Yubaba's hand, accompanied by the cheers of the staff. Bringing you yesterday's news from Japan and Asia, today. walk through the dark tunnel. I heard it from my mother.". chain of events that binds Chihiro in virtual slavery. the train is on a journey to the afterlife, where the lines between this life and the next are blurred, and thats similar to whats going on in Spirited Away. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. ", > "The theme is the fact that when you are alive, it is because someone has kept you alive.". This Southern Cross station is a place where a huge cross stands far beyond the horizon, and there are endless lines of worshippers facing it. Get instant access to all the benefits of SparkNotes PLUS! We just sent you a temporary login code. When No-Face tries Youll be taken to a thank you page after the payment. You might want to skip this next bit if you dont want to hear any major spoilers. She says, "I don't remember. In the upper picture, it is built in the water. Other than that, seeing Chihiro's concern for Haku who collapsed, Kamaji says, "It's love.". Once again we see Chihiro clinging grimly to her mother as they I believe Chihiros journey through the different realms of existence and the characters she meets along the way is a deep reminder that what we do in this life affects what happens to us in the afterlife, so its important to help others and live well, not beyond ones means. When Hayao Miyazaki made "Spirited Away", he sent the image lyrics to Joe Hisaishi, who was in charge of the music. A witch who runs the bathhouse From this point of view, the final farewell between the two characters in Spirited Away becomes even more poignant when Chihiro asks, Will we meet again somewhere? Haku replies Im sure of it. This is the essence of Kenji Miyazawa who wrote "Yodaka no Hoshi". in-depth analysis of Haku/White Dragon she can't remember, when she fell into a river when she was little. Zeniba critiques Yubabas lifestyle and misguided parenting style. all that happened back there, Chihiro starts to look back - but remembers When he fell into the river as a child, Chihiro was naked on top. For example, take a look at this. his world. . to another guest. appear much more mature. Thats some powerful writing by Miyazaki right there, and while it clearly describes Chihiros near-death experience in the river, two of the most important lines to note are: Me, who is living because of someone /Someone who was living for me. He also remembers how Chihiro lost her shoe, and pic.twitter.com/qWVThMmX1F. When a person passes away in Japan, Buddhist beliefs dictate that they are given a new name after death, so they cantreturn to the world of the living when their real name is spoken. By Although business by returning Zeniba's seal, and apologising on behalf of Haku. Hes the first to witness the humanity Both films feature long sets of stairs, white paper crane references, lanterns, masked parades, a solitary street light in the countryside, and even similar workshop scenes where a bespectacled old man sits at a high desk amongst machinery. Chihiros name to Sen. Yubaba is perfectly groomed and heavily bejeweled, Through this cycle of death and rebirth, an integral part of Japanese religious beliefs that isnt translated in the dialogue for overseas audiences, Haku may very well be reborn in the human realm in future. The reason why Chihiro was naked in her memory is because she was naked when she fell into the river as a child. However, the size of the splash is too big to be "a shoe fell into the river and she tried to pick it up", isn't it? Yubaba turns herself into a bird to monitor the village.
Despite the jeers of her staff and Bou's threat to [Image] Hand reaching for water 2001 Studio Ghibli/NDDTM. ", > "I think I've achieved that this time. act as her big sister. Boh is, When he remembers his past with Chihiro, he recalls his name, and so he is now able to break his ties with Yubaba and the heavenly realm and go home. If you follow the storyline as it is written, Haku is the guardian god of the Kohaku River, and he saved Chihiro from drowning when she was little. act as attendants for Yubaba. It's because Yubaba has taken his name away from him. from carrying Bou-mouse, so the Bou unselfishly decides to give the bird a Her mother never told Chihiro that her brother was there or that he died because of her. Dont have an account? He tells her he > "I've been thinking that I have to do 'Night on the Galactic Railroad' someday. Sign up for your FREE 7-day trial. Some children often play in the river in just their underwear, right? The characters onboard the magical train are actually spirits, and while most of them are cats, three of them are humanswho drowned in the sinking of the Titanic. I'm sure "Banana Fish" is like that, too. A sad, voiceless spirit. In the film, the song has no lyrics, but Miyazaki penned some lyrics as a guide for Hisaishi when he was creating the theme song, and they provide an interesting insight into the characters from the mind of the director: From a sunlit backyard, through a forgotten wooden door, along a path shaded by a hedge, Sopping wet and crying, we pass each other, Following the footprints in the sandpit, even further, Water plants between the garbage are swaying, And disappears, wrapped up in a small whirlpool. Traditionally, So what is Night on the Galactic Railroad about? her parents are waiting impatiently. return to his own world, with the promise to Chihiro to meet again one day. "I've known it since you were little," he replies. Zeniba is curious to know why Chihiro wasn't harmed while holding it, and Chihiro doesnt remember Haku but Haku, as the older sibling, remembers Chihiro and even knows her name without her having to tell him,saying hes known her since she was little. respect for her elders, and her kindness toward others. However, Spirited Away directorHayao Miyazaki is first and foremost anartist, who uses pictures to convey a story. So he intentionally used the same composition. The ship they were on hit an iceberg and had a terrible accident, sinking everyone into the water. There are even more elements to support the claim that Haku drowned while saving his sister Chihiro, but for that well have to go on a fascinating deep dive into another film which had a big influence on Miyazaki: Night on the Galactic Railroad. Did you know you can highlight text to take a note?
Theres also the possibility that Chihiro, who has accrued a lot of good karma throughout her journey, and likely throughout the rest of her life now too, may also be reborn in the spirit world.
In other words, "I shed my shoes" is just a testimony that Chihiro heard, and she doesn't remember the incident itself. It's about happiness for other people based on self-sacrifice. haul coal in the boiler room. that river is now covered up, she remembers its name - the Kohaku River. There are a lot of research books on "Spirited Away" out there, but of course there are many people who say that "Night on the Galactic Railroad" is an homage to the Unabara Electric Railway scene, but I can't find many people who say that it is a thematic part of the film. Haku probably doesn't want to hurt Chihiro, so even if he remembers this, he will never tell her, and neither will Kamaji. Not thematically, but as a structure in the story, how he is designed to be a bad boy as seen from a girl's point of view. anger, but shes also fair and a stickler for following the rules The sixth of the 13 mysteries of "Spirited Away" is "The Mystery of Haku". Still, Spirited Away got its magical train ride scene thanks to Night on the Galactic Railroad, and although the train ride is different to Miyazakis original vision for it, he incorporated some similar images and motifs here as a nod to the film that inspired him. An ancient river spirit that Yubabas kinder twin sister. mosquito-bird and Bou-mouse, while No-Face stays on with Zeniba, having the end of the movie, when she becomes Chihiro again, her features First off, because Ghibli films are largely translated rather than localised, there are a lot of unspoken cultural elements in the story that are evident to Japanese audiences but missed by foreign audiences, and one of those elements is the constant references to Buddhism. come to the spirit world. And her brother pulled her hand to save her, but instead, he was swept away and never came back. Kamaji her first ally. What is noteworthy here is the description drawn on the storyboard. Chihiro volunteers to lives to Sen, who then confides to Zeniba that her real name is Chihiro. Who is that? In Night on the Galactic Railroad, the tutor says, "But it's all going to be alright; once we get to Southern Cross, all the pain will be gone," and the three of them get off at the Southern Cross station. Haku is not a complete god yet. If it were a real God, he would not be able to be seen until night time, when the lights are on and he is close to Aburaya. Next is the scene where Chihiro recalls the memory of that time. If Chihiro was beneath the water, who was the person with the shirt thrusting their hand into the water? that runs the boiler room. Its a heart-wrenching parting thats similar to the ending in Spirited Away. Haku helps Chihiro In contrast to Yubabas luxurious quarters, Zeniba lives in a modest Boh knows only what his mother chooses to tell him, until Sen expands
You can see the two houses side-by-side in this cued-up moment in Okadas video below. please check your inbox. One thing I noticed thats been largely missing from the discussion overseas is the fact that although the characters say Yubaba steals their names, if you read between the lines, theres another element at play here. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. Both films have absolute tearjerker endings, but they also sign off with a sense of hope the cat who has to live without his friend has learnt life lessons on his journey to another dimension and now vows to live for the true happiness of everyone, while Chihiro, who has to live without Haku, learnt life lessons on her journey to another dimension and now knows the value of helping others. Um, this is the main part of the first half of this discussion. pigs in front of her. In the midst of such a line of cats, these three, the tutor, the elder sister, and the younger brother, also dressed like worshippers, walk all the way. They Because Chihiro can see him. As they travel the path, the mosquito-bird tires This solitary houselooks remarkably similar in mood and composition to the houseseen from the train inNight on the Galactic Railroad. those she meets to respect, love, and help her. Then, I wonder if it's the spray from Chihiro's fall, but it's not, because the spray appears even before her hand reaches out. Sometimes it can end up there. A gangly, ten-year-old human Later, we learn he is a river spirit has been polluted. is turned into a fly by Zeniba. One of the biggest similarities, however, isSpirited Aways train scene. Please wait while we process your payment. along the way by a hopping lantern (styled as a homage to the character 'EVANGELION: 1.0 YOU ARE (NOT) ALONE.' be angry, Yubaba can't seem to do anything about it. in-depth analysis of Zeniba Someone's hand is reaching towards the splash of water where something has fallen. As a metaphor for a funeral or a corpse, the word "buried" is used to describe a river that has been buried and is no longer visible. The reason for this is that everyone is trying to understand "Spirited Away" from the story or, more importantly, from the dialogues. Chihiro rushes to embrace Haku, while Zeniba Haku can't even remember his own name, but he says, "But it's strange. According to anime producer, lecturer and author Toshio Okada, whos also the co-founder and former president of theGainax anime production company,these two characters knew each other long before we see them meet in the movie, as he believes theyre sister and brother. A child wearing a T-shirt is reaching for something. SoraNews24 -Japan News- / SOCIO CORPORATION, For those who want it thick Japanese vending machine allows you to choose drink thickness, Four train stations in Tokyo installed free groundwater pumps available 24-7, Virtual YouTuber finds a way to shake hands with real-world fans, give them high-fives in Japan, Studio Ghibli theme park announces VERY low daily attendance caps, start date for ticket sales, Japanese idol creates kawaii Gunpla, the worlds cutest Gundam modelsPhotos, Rent an entire folk house in Japan, surrounded by nature just outside Tokyo, Japanese curry rice appears at McDonalds, but not in the country youd expect, Katsudon for breakfast?