Social and Psychoanalytical Influences in Spirited Away
- Shu Han
- Mar 28, 2021
- 3 min read
Anime, can be defined as a specific form of cinematographic art as it closely ties with the Japanese culture. It is indeed largely based on the major "artistic traditions of twentieth century cinema and photography" and Japanese traditional arts a Kabuki and the woodblock print.
In Japan, anime is very popular and inevitably connected to major issues existing in the contemporary Japan society. Considered as one of the best animator in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki created Spirited Away to emphasize the importance of cultural identity of Japan.
Spirited Away is regarded as the film who cuts across generational lines to be embraced by everyone from children to grandparents. Therefore, it is sufficient to say that this particular film is a gift from Miyazaki to all Japanese people. Ghibli studio produced film usually consists of didactic storytelling elements, which it makes viewers think about really important things.
Maturation of young Japanese
Maturation of young Japanese is the first social issue Miyazaki emphasized in the film Spirited Away. The protagonist of the anime, Chihiro represented today’s generation of apathetic Japanese youth at the start of the film. Throughout the film, she experienced the suffering and trials of real society, thus she became matured and tougher at the end of the film. Spirited Away emphasized the importance of younger generations of Japan being more sincere, helpful, and active. Chihiro, the dedicated protagonist is a very inspirational character that makes young people more active and responsive through her character development.
Cultural identity of Japan
Besides the maturation of young Japanese, cultural identity is also one of the contemporary issues that exist in the Japanese society. It closely relates to the moment when Chihiro and Haku talk about heir names. Haku repeats several times that people become slaves when they do not remember their names.
Miyazaki uses this scene to stress that it is necessary to remember who people are and cherish their culture or else they will be destroyed as a nation. The setting of Spirited Away also shows that when people remember the real self, they will become truly free and complete personalities. The Japanese society in Miyazaki's observation consists of people who understands and trying hard to preserve their names/identities like Haku, there are also people who don't understand cultural identity like Chihiro, not excluding those who just don't care like the vast majority of the world of spirits.
Miyazaki also portrays the Spirited Away world as Japan, because it is totally different from the rest of the world. No-Face represents the influences of the Western world (corrupted and negative) which penetrates the bathhouse. The influence is unperceivable at first, but then it grows stronger and makes people act or behave differently throughout the times. Miyazaki uses this film to show that Japanese people are becoming more concerned with consumption rather than spiritual development.
One great example is the spirits of the bathhouse are driven away with the lust for gold by No-Face. As the story goes, the gold is nothing and turns to mud when No-Face is taken from the bathhouse, to a place where it has no influence or corruption. Thus, Miyazaki again emphasized the importance of cultural and identity preservation, as it is the key to save Japanese society from negative influence of other nations.
Environmentalism in Japan
Last but not least, environmental issues is one of the social influences portrayed in Spirited Away. Chihiro's first client in the bathhouse, the stink spirit is actually a spirit of water that suffers from pollution. The protagonist managed to clean the spirit, and it gives her the dumpling which saves the life of No-Face and Haku later in the film. Miyazaki indicated being responsible towards environmental issues will help develop Japan into a better future.
In summary, Spirited Away revealed a series of contemporary issues in Japan's society. Miyazaki calls people of Japan to understand the importance of cultural and self identity to become more active and responsible. Japan are capable of becoming a well-developed nation if these traits were adopted.
Written by Shu Han
685 words
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