Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
Hayao Miyazaki is known for creating strong female protagonists in his movies. From the brave and vicious heroine ofPrincess Mononoke, the adventurous little witch inKiki’s Delivery Service,to the two adorable siblings inMy Neighbor Totoro, Studio Ghibli movies have always created exceptional female leads.
Miyazaki’s first Oscar winner,Spirited Away, is no different. However, you might find a slight difference in this movie as compared to the rest of his filmography. As opposed to others, Chihiro is just a simple girl who has been put in the spot by unseen circumstances,
Hayao Miyazaki found Chihiro to be a dull character while creatingSpirited Away
In aninterview with Animagein 2001,Hayao Miyazakipointed out some of the the biggest difficulties he faced while creatingSpirited Away. As usual, after the production began, he realized that the movie would become three hours long if he followed his plot, which led to a lot of cuts. But there was also another issue that he personally faced.
I didn’t want to make the heroine a pretty girl, but even I was frustrated at the beginning of the movie: I thought, “What a dull girl she is” (laughs). When I saw the rushes, I thought, “She isn’t cute. Isn’t there something we can do?”
Miyazaki was makingSpirited Awayfrom the perspective of an ordinary man. Thus, he reduced the eye-candy factor as much as possible and made Chihiro a simple girl. While he did not want to make a pretty female lead, he was also stuck in a dilemma because she looked too plain.
“They should all learn Japanese”: Hayao Miyazaki’s Blunt Response to Making ‘Spirited Away’ Make Sense to Americans
But as the movie’s production neared its end, the director was relieved as he realized that the character would be a charming woman nonetheless. While Chihiro has never been a conventionally pretty character, fans have loved her regardless. At the end of the day, Miyazaki was able to make the masses relate to this simple little girl.
The wholesome inspiration behind creating Chihiro
In the interview, Miyazaki recounted that Ghibli has previously made movies for different age groups.My Neighbor Totorowas made for small children.Castle in the Skyis about a boy who sets out on a journey.Kiki’s Delivery Serviceis about a teenager who has to live alone. However, Ghibli did not make any films for 10-year-old girls who are in their first stage of adolescence.
“That isn’t my purpose”: Hayao Miyazaki Revealed His Real Message in Spirited Away That Many Originally Felt Was Satire
Miyazaki spends his summers at his mountain cabin, where he meets five young girls the same age as Hiragi Rumi, the 13-year-old voice actress of Chihiro. Thus,he wanted to make a movie that they could enjoy, which is the true purpose behindSpirited Away. As he delved into the research, he realized a huge gap between what the young girls were interested in and what they were catered.
I felt this country only offered such things as crushes and romance to 10-year-old girls, though, and looking at my young friends, I felt this was not what they held dear in their hearts, not what they wanted. And so I wondered if I could make a movie in which they could be heroines…
In his mind,if these girls foundSpirited Awayto be exciting, it would be a success for himsince they cannot lie. This is why he created a heroine who is just an ordinary girl, someone with whom the audience can empathize. It was important to make the character plain and unexaggerated. Through Spirited Away, Miyazaki wanted to have a story that drew out something already present inside the character.
Spirited Awayis available to watch on Max, Hulu and Disney+.
Aaheli Pradhan
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :1557
Aaheli is an Anime Content Writer at FandomWire with 1300+ published articles. With five years of experience under her belt, she is a living, breathing encyclopedia for anime and manga. From Shonen and Shojo to the most niche anime, nothing escapes her radar. Her poisons of choice are Assassination Classroom, Gintama, Ouran High School Host Club and every Ghibli movie ever. She believes in living a slow life, surrounded by incomplete art projects and her beloved cats.
More from Aaheli Pradhan
Top 5 Best Time Skips in Anime
‘Gintama’ Creator Admits New Movie Is “A tool for dirty adults to make a quick buck”
Fighting Girls Review and Ending Explained: Koume and Tiara’s Rivalry Hid a Deeper Loneliness
Recommended
Spider-Man: Brand New Day – How the 2008 Comic Arc Could Shape Tom Holland’s Next Movie
One Piece: Why Luffy’s Final Fight Will Break Shonen (& It Won’t Be Against Imu or Blackbeard)
‘Bachelor in Paradise’ Season 10 Episode 9: Release Date and What to Expect
NYT Strands July 21, 2025 Hints and Solution
You Can Finally Watch Brad Pitt’s ‘F1’ Blockbuster at Home: Digital Release Date Revealed - Report
NYT Pips Solution for July 05, 2025
Hayao MiyazakiSpirited AwayStudio Ghibli
