67 pages • 2 hours read
Hayao MiyazakiSpirited Away
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | YA | Published in 2002A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Background
Authorial Context
Spirited Away, Book 1 is based on a film of the same named, written and directed by Hiyao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. As referenced in the included author biography, Miyazaki is the most popular animator in Japan. He has produced several films, all of which received critical and popular acclaim in Japan and worldwide. Miyazaki’s works often focus on spirituality and nature, and he is inspired by Japanese (especially Shinto) folklore. Spirited Away was the highest-grossing film in history in Japan for 19 years. Miyazaki was inspired to create the film when he witnessed the sullen state of a close friend’s 10-year-old daughter. His films are also motivated by Miyazaki’s dissatisfaction with modern children’s entertainment; he wishes to insert something more meaningful, traditional, detailed, and vibrant into his work.
Cultural Context
Large portions of the plot line, characters, and themes of Spirited Away are inspired by Japanese folklore and the Shinto religion. Examples of the Shinto religion found throughout Book 1 include the Hokora, the Dosojin, and the Suijin. As her father drives through the forest, Chihiro notices Hokora—discarded in a pile as if the religion is being forgotten. A Dosojin guards the entrance to
