It is important that you have an opinion about the film. An examiner wants to see that you have personally engaged with the text.
The film was made primarily for Japanese audiences but there are elements that look toward a global audience. For example, the characters are quite European in their facial features. Thesis a feature of Anime but do you think this is a conscious decision on the part of the animators? We have an American dub for the voices which allows Western audiences a different perspective as the language will be different. Do you think this affects a western audiences reading of the film?
A lot of the cultural references will be lost on a Western audience if they are unfamiliar with Japanese history and culture. What do we learn about Japan from the film?
Here are some responses from primary research. They offer an isight into different readings of the film.
It seems like a disjointed series of scenes. It looks great but the narrative doesn't hang together. It was confusing, Give me Moanna any day, It went on for ages and lost my interest. Would rather it had subtitles as the American accent gets annoying Watch it without prejudice. See it on the big screen and let it wash over you. It about a world that adults don't understand. they cannot see the magic, they cannot see the fairies, they have lost the ability to see other worlds and use their imagination. It's well dark for a cartoon.
Use the theory of Stuart Hall to define three different readings of the film.
You could put this film in the genre of 'coming of age' films. The protagonist goes on a journey, there is an inciting incident which peoples them on a quest and the voyage of self discovery begins. Usually the hero becomes a better person by the end or has learned some truths about life.
We identify with the young female protagonist and her journey. It is through kindness and love that she conquest all. A common theme in film and an aspirational message for young people.
Chihiro gains followers through her innocence, hope and positivity, improving lives and inspiring others. It is her sort of super power.
It is also about overcoming fears like a lot of coming of age films especially American teen horrors. IN this case it is the fear of moving to a new place with new friends and a new school. By the end Chihiro has learned to embrace change and avoid fear. See the possibilities and engage with life.
Chihiro goes down the rabbit hole and discovers herself in this imaginary world just like Alice. She learns bout the harsh truths of life such as greed and injustice and comes across characters as vivid as the Queen of Hearts and the Mad Hatter. It is like a fevered dream or a nightmare but our heroine comes out stronger, focused and informed.
As John Lasseter says in the extras,the film asks the question ' how do you keep your innocence and good nature and not become a stroppy teen.' Also how do you avoid being influenced by the negative role models or monetsr that might surround you?
Other themes that you can explore in the film include;
concern for the environment
valuing cultural heritage
celebrating Japanese culture
exploring the spiritual elements of Japanese culture and religion
the clash between westernisation and traditional Japanese culture
The Ghibli studio has links with Disney who help to distribute the film globally but Studio Ghibli films are a very different to more mainstream Disney films.
It is worth studying the similarities and differences between the two studios and the representations of young female characters. Studio Ghibli films often have a strong female protagonist.
The music is similar and a soundtrack is composed using classical music to guide the emotions of an audience. For example, listen to the music in the opening scene. It is sad to begin with to evoke Chihiro's emotion at leaving her old home. It reaches a crescendo when her father drives fast and is forced to brake suddenly.
The use of a soundtrack remind me of a classic Disney film 'Fantasia' which includes The Sorcerer's Apprentice'. The music is an essential component and the film was made when talking films were just beginning. The orchestral arrangement is paramount to understanding although we tend to remember the visual part of film.
You may get a question like, 'How is sound used in 'Spirited Away'?
Another area that is likely to be a focus is representation and here you can discuss Disney films and how they have represented women in the past. You could look at older Disney classics like Snow White, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. The idea being that traditionally Disney has been conservative and represented young women as being defined by stereotypical societal roles. They aspire to be kissed by a Prince and being happy ever after through marriage. Japan is also quite a conservative society that would want film to promote these traditional roles and values.
Only recently have Disney films started to challenge these defined roles for young women. Analyse the representations in these two films and explain how they differ from traditional Disney films.
In relation to your film. How does the character of Chihiro reflect the changing representations of young women in animated films?
The film is lauded for its imaginary dreamscapes and for creating such a wonderful magical world full of vivid colour and detail. The studio has links with Disney who help to distribute the film globally but Studio Ghibli films are a very different to more mainstream Disney films.
Unlike a lot of mainstream animation Ghibli films are bizarre, intelligent, and challenging. Audiences are given credit for wanting more than simple fairy tales. Young people want to be shocked and at points horrified or terrified to take them out of their comfort zone. They can deal with complex narratives and explore 'adult' themes ad sophisticated concepts. Where Disney reduce things to their simplest form for an American audience they possibly underestimate, Ghibli are willing to offer a creative and imaginative experience that asks more of an audience. They are willing to provide a sinister edge and magical worlds which do not always make total sense.
The studio creates dreamworlds such as the 'bathhouse' and grotesques, monsters that might seem scary to younger audiences. They are taking a risk doing this but one that has gained them new audiences globally which Disney are keen to align themselves with. Audiences that want more than the traditional Disney fare.
Part of the joy of this film is watching the weird and wonderful creations imagined by the animators. My favourite are the sootballs carrying coal like the sorcerer's apprentices.
This colourful world reminds me of surrealist cinema of Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali. In places the dreamscapes of Dali are evident such as the lantern with a jumping foot. The narrative is somewhat disjointed and dreamlike also which fits with the ethos of surrealism.
Perhaps the most surreal character is No Face. As in Dali's art the challenge is how we interpret the image to gain meaning. No Face is meant to be read as a symbol of greed and the effects of consumerism whether Japanese, Western or global. It is the adult world that has lost its way and like the parents they have become pigs. Selfish and greedy, obsessed with the desire for more.
Some say that film cannot do metaphor. What is the symbolism of no-face?
What does this character represent ?
Perhaps over indulgence, greed, narcissism or the adult world itself, a word of sin, ugliness, greed and pollution. This character is tamed by the good nature of Chihiro. Love conquers all and the poison is extracted. the pigs are also a metaphor used in other Ghibli films of adults who have been corrupted. In Porco Rosso adults become pigs due to their desire for war.
Claude Levi Strauss came up with the theory of binary opposites which you could apply to this film.
In 'The Poetics' Aristotle suggested that all drama is conflict.
To take this further we could say that narratives are driven by conflict between opposites.
Genres can be identified by these opposites such as The Western. At a basic level most Westerns are the struggle between civilisation and wilderness. Cowboys versus Indians.
Identify further oppositions in a chosen genre.
What are the opposites that drive the narrative in Spirited Away ?
Good / Evil
Young /Old
Spirit world /Real world
Dream/Reality
Grotesque/Beauty/
Greed/Selflessness
Pollution / Health
Here is a very brave teacher explaining the theory in a video.
Haku is introduced as the foil for Chihiro at the start of the film.
Study Vladimir Propp's character functions
What function does Haku fulfil? The messenger ? The donor?
He is the binary opposite (Levi Strauss) to the naive Chihiro. How would you describe the way he is represented?
strong, resourceful, fearless, quick witted, decisive, mature, resilient
His intervention is the catalyst for her journey of self discovery. He is her mentor and inspiration.
Haku is able to shape shift and metamorphose into an animal. This is a trope used in other films and works of fiction. Where have you seen this convention used before?
In Philip Pullman's Trilogy Lyra Belacqua is similar to Chihiro. In these stories starting with Northern Lights the children have daemons which represent them and are their shadows selves in the form of an animal. For example, Lyra's daemon is a pine marten and her friend Will has a cat whilst the questionable baddies have nastier pets. In the novels the adults are trying to separate the children from their daemons and take away their spirit.
A recent film where this idea is used is 'the Lobster' which is an eccentric film where single people are sent to a hotel to find a partner. If they don't find their soul mate in 40 days they are turned into an animal of their choice.
Both examples use dystopian parallel worlds to make points about the nature of existence and comment about the nature of humanity. These are themes that Miyazaki also explores.
Studio Ghibli films are famous for the way they represent younger characters. This is likely to be the focus of your question in the exam.
Chihiro goes through a process of development in her narrative journey. You must focus on this character and note how she develops.
This type of narrative is often called coming of age narrative
Collate a range of other films or novels that can be considered 'coming of age' films. Once you start you will see there are lots...
Stand By Me
IT
E.T.
Alice in Wonderland
The Goonies
Great Expectations
Compare the narrative of Spirited Away with Alice In Wonderland. What similarities do you notice?
What do they discover?
At the start of the film you must explain how Chihiro is represented?
Focus on the opening 10 minutes.
How does she act in the back of the car?
Pick out some facial expressions and body language to illustrate your points
How well and in what manner does she communicate with her parents?
How would you describe the way she is represented?
John Lasseter (Pixar) calls her ' apathetic, whiny and complaining' would you agree?
Like Alice she goes down the rabbit hole to discover an imaginary world where she will find herself and grow as a person. What is the symbolism of this journey?
Here is an interesting analysis of the film and the theme of childhood.
At the beginning of the film Chihiro is presented as innocent, naive and spoilt or a little truculent. The opening is a key scene so here are some pointers from the exam board.
Mise-en-scène is deliberately grey (colour of
cars, roads, buildings) drawing attention to
the wires, retaining walls and other modern
elements of urban life. This then contrasts with
the distinctly green and natural colours that
emerge as the family begin to lose their way.
A success story for British film with a creative genius behind it in Nick Park.
Using claymation to produce a style of animation unique to the studio
Films becomes much loved and the studio 'a national treasure'
Wallace and Gromit short films and feature film 'The Curse of the WereRabbit' are outstanding works of art with attention to detailing the animation that stuns the viewer
Here are our well loved Brits enjoying a cup of tea on the moon and trying the cheese.
'Chicken Run' was a first attempt at a feature film using humour and intertextuality to appeal to a wide audience and a range of ages
Further research. To gain wider understanding of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli find to about these films. Which ones would you like to see?
Miyazaki films
Porco Rosso 1992
Howl's Moving Castle 2004
Ponyo 2008
The Wind Rises 2013
Nausicaa 1984
Castle in the Sky 1986
My Neighbour Totoro (1988)
Kiki's Delivery service (1989)
Princess Mononoke (1997)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Your global non-English language film is 'Spirited Away'. This was chosen as the class expressed an interest in Anime. It is a good choice and should allow you to write confidently in the exam.
It won an OSCAR for best animated film in 2003
It is the most successful film in terms of sales in Japan
All the cells have been hand drawn rather than using CGI which is quite an artistic feat
There is no glitchiness as they used 30fps rather than 24fps
It is a 'shojo' narrative which is a man/ anime term for stories told from the perspective of a young female protagonist.
Firstly, let us find out what you know about the country of Japan to provide some context.
Research task
Religion
History
Famous films
Geography
Politics
Economy
You now know a little about Japan and its key landmarks in history. This should enable you to understand the themes and issues in the film.
For many years Japan was quite an isolated country and even after WW2 many in the West found the culture hard to penetrate. It can be seen as a Pandora's box for those willing to take time to study Japanese culture and history and certainly in film terms it has a long tradition which has fed into Western film culture.
Akira Kurosawa is perhaps the most famous director that Japan has produced. He often used stories from Japanese history which had profound human truths that all audiences could identify with. He took inspiration from Shakespeare for many of his films such as my favourite 'Ran', restored in a spectacular 4k version a few years ago, which follows the story of King Lear. His most famous film is or probably 'The Seven Samurai' which was used as the basis for a successful American film 'The Magnificent Seven.'
Although film cultures overlap there have been some terrible films made which appropriate culture and offer representations which are problematic. One such film is 'The Last Samurai' where Hollywood A lister Tom Cruise travels to Japan and whilst finding himself emotionally and spiritually he almost singlehandedly helps the Japanese people to conquer the enemy.
It is hard to avoid the tragic consequences of WW2 in any discussion of Japanese film and history. The dropping of atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are lessons to mankind to avoid such horror at all costs.
'Tora,tora,tora!' is Japanese for attack and this famous film is about the attack on Pearl Harbour in Hawaii which brought America into the war.
The war plays a strong role in representations of Japanese people in the West particularly for an older generation. Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence is about a prisoner of war camp and stars David Bowie who has a forbidden attraction to a prison guard. Perhaps one of the best film songs ever.
Another great film is John Boorman's classic set on a Pacific island where two stranded soldiers cannot move on from their traditional enmity and act as if the war is still raging. There is little dialogue but the actors are perhaps the best of their generation Lee Marvin and Toshiba Mifune.
A younger generation associates Japan with high technology and futuristic cityscapes and possibly horror.
Influential films like 'The Ring' and 'Battle Royale' have been made in Hollywood but the originals take some beating. This genre show the influence that Japanese cinema continues to have on its Western equivalents.
