Spirited Away follows a girl named Chihiro whose parents are turned into pigs after entering a mysterious land. Chihiro must get a job at a bathhouse to survive and turn her parents back to normal. The film is similar to Disney movies in its use of animation and portrayal of good triumphing over evil. However, it differs by blending Japanese culture, having less clear-cut villains, and featuring uglier characters. While both are enjoyable, the author prefers Disney films for their predictable storylines and ability to be enjoyed by all ages.

1. Compare ‘Spirited Away’ by Studio Ghibili with any
Disney Films of your choice, considering audience
response and any other useful film theory.
Hannah Knipe

2. About Spirited Away
In ‘spirited Away’ they are on a car journey to there new house, they end up at a building with a tunnel and
the parents want to investigate, but the girl doesn’t. they then all go through the tunnel not knowing what to
expect. They end up in the mysterious land. The dad realises it’s a theme park so they go and look for food.
The mum and dad eat the food and it turns them into pigs. The girl runs of turns to dark and she goes back to
the mum and dad. She runs to the end of the path and the coat comes and then the man comes and tells
her that she should be here. They have to walk over a bridge holding her breathe to stay invisible, but she
breathes and everyone sees her. They ran on to get away from everyone. She then has to try and get a job
in the boiler room so she can stay human and stay there. He wont give her a job so he gets Lynn to take her
to the supervisor. She goes to the top of the tower to find the horrible sister and gives her a contract. She
then starts to work and whilst doing so she lets no face in. Then a stinky monster comes in and it is her job to
clean him. She gets a ball that turns pigs back into humans that she wants to keep for her mum and dad.
Haku is in trouble so she tries to help him then the dragon flies to the top of the tower. She then chases him
with a paper think which is Yabbu’s sister. She then gets to an office. The paper lets go and we find out that it
is Yabbu’s sister. Then they try to chuck Haku down a hole. Then we find out that Haku stole Yabbu’s golden
seal. Then she turn the baby into a house. They then push the dragon down the hole. They then end up in the
boiler room again. Chihro gets the gold seal there's a black worm on the seal and as it runs away she
accidently squishes it. then we find out that she killed the spirit, so it changes the dragon back to Haku. Then
No face, Chihro, the ouse and the bird get the train to Yabbu’s sisters house, in the swop. She returns the
gold thing and she takes the curse of Haku. They then fly back and Haku then remembers his name and turns
human. He then remembers the river named after him. Yubba asks Chihro to make a deal, if she guesses the
pig right she gets to leave with her parents. If she guesses wrong she has to work for Yubba for the rest of her
life. She guesses right that none of the pigs shown to her are her parents. The parents end up noral on the
other side of the island and Chihro meets them there. The parents don’t know anything about what
happened. They then go back through the tunnel back to the car to continue there journey.

3. Similarities of Spirited away and Disney
Films
‘Spirited Away’ is similar to many Disney films, such as ‘Alice in
Wonderland’, for example, when Chihro and her Mum and Dad
go through the tunnel, it is similar to when ‘Alice in Wonderland’
falls down the whole. ‘Spirited Away’ has talking creatures and
in Disney films such as ‘Shrek’ etc they have talking creatures and
animals. Although this is extremely unrealistic, it brings the atmosphere and the
humor to the film. In both ‘Spirited Away’ and many different Disney films, such as
‘Sleeping Beauty’ and ‘Snow White’, the good always wins over the evil. This is
predictable and you know it is going to happen. Although you still feel the
adrenalin when the evil are in control. ‘Spirited Away’ and all Disney films are
animated films. Animation is the rapid display of a sequence of images of 2D or
3D artwork or model positions in order to create an illusion of movement.

4. Differences of Spirited away and Disney
Films
‘Spirited Away’ can also differ great deal to Disney films. For example
‘Spirited Away’ is a mixture of different Cultures. It is based in Japan,
where as a Disney like ‘Shrek’ is based in America. Most Disney films
such as ‘Shrek’ have someone well known and famous playing a major
role in the film. Although we cannot see the characters face, we know
who they are from there distinctive voice. For example the Donkey in
‘Shrek’ is played by Eddie Murphy. In the Disney films it is always clear
who the evil are, where as in ‘Spirited Away’ it was not clear who was
the evil. For example first of all because of the way that Haku spoke to
Chihiro, I first of all thought that Haku was the baddie. But it was not till
later on that I realised Haku wanted to help Chihiro. And we find out
that Yabu is the baddie. The characters in ‘Spirited Away’ are ugly, unattractive
characters, where as in the Disney films they characters are attractive cuddly
characters, for example Blue in ‘The Jungle Book’.

5. What would I prefer to watch Disney
films or ‘Spirited Away’
After analysing both ‘Spirited Away’ and Disney films, I think I would rather watch
a Disney film because, I like the typical story line for the Disney films, I also believe
that there isn’t one Disney film that I dislike. Disney films can be watched with
anyone. For example my 3 year old cousin loves them and so does my 80 year old
Nan. This is obvious to us that Disney films have been made for every generation
and for family entertainment.