The page of the fantastical inevitably draws one towards Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli’s essential classic. The film centers around 10-year-old Chihiro, who moves to an unfamiliar neighborhood and suddenly finds herself in the world of Kami (spirits). Though the premise is somewhat Coraline-esque (like Coraline, her parents also disappear), Chihiro’s universe is infused with Japanese culture, and Shinto folklore in particular. As such, given that a core tenet of Shintoism is the endeavor to create a pure heart, Chihiro works in a bathhouse in an attempt to free herself and her parents from that strange world of spirits.
With characters that range from sauna chickens to twin witches, Spirited Away is true to its title: it steals you away on an otherworldly adventure.
