Representation of Young Chihiro

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?

helpless, scared, spoilt, vulnerable, weak, spindly. sullen, sluggish, confused

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.