FILM · 2001 · JAPAN
千と千尋の神隠し
- Directed by
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Runtime
- 125 min
- Studio
- Studio Ghibli, Tokuma Shoten, Nippon Television Network Corporation
199 archived facts 8 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
A young girl, Chihiro, becomes trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When her parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call upon the courage she never knew she had to free her family.
199 Interesting Facts About 千と千尋の神隠し
Interesting Facts (30)
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(at around 1h 27 mins) When Chihiro crushes the small, worm-like creature that lived inside Haku with her foot, Kamaji tells her to "Cut the line!" This gesture is a Japanese good-luck charm that involves a chopping motion made with the connected index fingers of another person. It is performed whenever someone is affected by impurity. During the dubbing process for the "Spirited Away" Nippon-TV Special, Rumi Hiiragi, which features Chihiro, the concept was unfamiliar to her and was explained by Hayao Miyazaki. A sound engineer remarked, "The young don't know it these days."
- #008
The character No Face bears a striking resemblance to a silkworm, a creature of great importance in Japanese culture. No Face seems to have a white face and a mouth below it. Silkworms have markings that resemble facial features, and their mouths are located below these markings. Silkworms and No Face eat constantly and overgrow. At the movie's end, No Face goes with Sen to visit Zeniba. No Face stays with Zeniba as a spinner.
- #009
The original Japanese names written in Kanji (Chinese characters) for many of the characters provide clues to their identities: Yubaba (hot-water crone), Zeniba (money crone), Kaonashi (no face), Bô (young boy/child), Kamajii (kettle/boiler pot/old man), Chihiro (thousand fathoms or thousand searches), Sen (thousand (pronunciation of chi kanji when isolated)).
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The theme of not looking back is an homage to the Shinto Myth of Izanagi (& Izanami) escaping from the Underground World of Death (Yomino Kuni), which is very similar to the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Many of the characters in this animation are based on Shinto Myth and have Shinto Gods' names. For example, Haku's actual name, 'Nigihayami Kohakunushi,' is taken from a real God's name, Nigihayahi.
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The character No Face bears a striking resemblance to the silkworm, a creature of great importance in Japanese culture. No Face appears to have a white face with a mouth beneath it. Silkworms have markings resembling facial features, and their mouths are located below these markings. Silkworms and No Face both eat constantly and grow excessively. At the end of the film, No Face goes with Sen to visit Zeniba. No Face stays with Zeniba as her spinner.
- #019
For most of the characters, the original Japanese names written in kanji (Chinese characters) provide clues to their identities: Yubaba (hot-water hag), Zeniba (money hag), Kaonashi (no face), Bô (young boy/child), Kamajii (water boiler/cauldron/old man), Chihiro (a thousand fathoms or a thousand searches), Sen (a thousand (the pronunciation of the chi kanji when isolated)).
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The theme of not looking back is a tribute to the Shinto legend of Izanagi (& Izanami) escaping from the Land of the Dead (Yomino Kuni), which closely resembles the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Many of the characters in this animation are based on Shinto legend and bear the names of Shinto gods. For example, Haku's real name, 'Nigihayami Kohakunushi,' is taken from Nigihayahi, the name of a real god.
- #024
The city to which Chihiro and her family were originally going to move is the fictional town of Tochinoki on Route 21, just north of Nagoya. Tochinoki is also the name of an amusement park north of Tokyo and a spa facility in southern Japan. The large hill where the dirt path in their neighborhood begins is called Green Hill.
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Chihiro's father drives a first-generation Audi A4 sedan. The level of detail the director included consists of Audi's trademarked "Quattro" four-wheel-drive system when Chihiro's father decides to take the car into the forest, and the ABS (anti-lock braking system) that pushes the brake pedal back when Chihiro's father slams on the brakes upon seeing the statue.
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Production Story (89)
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There are several instances in the English-dubbed version where additional dialogue was absent in the original Japanese release. In an interview with John Lasseter, he explained that it was a necessary addition to help clarify some aspects for American audiences. For example, what is a bathhouse to a Japanese viewer might not be apparent to an American viewer. This translation issue was resolved by having the character explain, "Oh, it's a bathhouse."
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"Spirited Away" marks the first Studio Ghibli film adapted for the stage in Japan as a traditional play. The stage version, which features giant puppets and musical numbers while remaining largely faithful to the film, opened in Japan in February 2022 and premiered in London in 2024. A stage adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro (1988) debuted in London in October 2022. A kabuki version of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) premiered in Japan in December 2019. A British production of Princess Mononoke (1997) opened in London in April 2013.
- #035
Hayao Miyazaki wrote, directed, and drew the storyboards for the movie; many directors have claimed that he essentially 'writes his movie with drawings,' with films like this representing one person's work and vision. The filmmaker is so influential and involved in the production that the New Yorker once called him "the auteur of anime."
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Although it has a rich plot with well-developed characters, this film was not created with a script. Hayao Miyazaki's films have never used scripts during production. "I don't have the story finished and ready when we start work on a film," the filmmaker told Midnight Eye. "I usually don't have the time. So, the story develops as I begin drawing storyboards. The production starts while the storyboards are still evolving." Miyazaki doesn't know where the plot is heading, and he lets it develop naturally. "It's not me who makes the film. The film makes itself, and I have no choice but to follow."
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Despite having a rich plot and well-developed characters, the film was not created from a script. Hayao Miyazaki's films have never used a script during production. In an interview with Midnight Eye, the director said, "When I start a film, the story isn't ready and finished. Usually I don't have time. So the story develops as we start drawing the storyboards. Production begins while the storyboards are still evolving." Miyazaki does not know where the plot is going and lets it develop naturally. "I don't make the film. The film makes itself and I just have to follow."
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It is the first anime film to be nominated for and win an Academy Award. At the time, it had the longest runtime (125 minutes) among the other films nominated for or winning in that category. This record was later surpassed by films such as The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), also a Studio Ghibli production.
- #053
In the English-dubbed version, there are several examples of additional dialogue not present in the original Japanese version. In an interview with John Lasseter, he explained that this was a necessary addition to help clarify certain aspects for American audiences. For example, while it is clear to a Japanese viewer what a bathhouse is, the same may not be true for an American viewer. This translation issue was resolved by having the character explain, "Ah, this is a bathhouse."
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Hayao Miyazaki wrote, directed and drew the storyboards for the film; many directors have claimed that he essentially 'writes with drawings' and that such films represent the work and vision of a single person. The director is so influential and involved in the production that The New Yorker once called him "the auteur of anime."
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Spirited Away is the first Studio Ghibli film to be adapted for the stage as a traditional theatrical play in Japan. The stage version, featuring giant puppets and musical numbers and remaining largely faithful to the film, opened in Japan in February 2022 and premiered in London in 2024. A stage adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro (1988) opened in London in October 2022. A kabuki version of Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984) premiered in Japan in December 2019. A British production of Princess Mononoke (1997) opened in London in April 2013.
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This is the first animated film not produced by Disney or DreamWorks to win an Academy Award. It was also the ninth film nominated after Gulliver's Travels (1939), A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969), An American Tail (1986), Anastasia (1997), Quest for Camelot (1998), South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001) and The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002).
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Despite having a rich plot and well-developed characters, this film was not created from a script. Hayao Miyazaki's films never used a script during production. In an interview with Midnight Eye, the director said, 'When I start a film, the story is not ready and finished. Usually I don't have time. So the story develops as I start drawing the storyboards. Production begins while the storyboards are still evolving.' Miyazaki does not know where the story is going and lets it develop naturally. 'I don't make the film. The film makes itself and I just have to follow.'
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(At about 1 hour 27 minutes) When Chihiro crushes with her foot the small, worm-like creature living inside Haku, Kamaji tells her, 'Cut the line!' This gesture is a Japanese good-luck charm involving a chopping motion made with someone else's joined index fingers. It is performed when a person has been affected by impurity. During the dubbing of the 'Spirited Away' Nippon-TV Special, Rumi Hiiragi, who voiced Chihiro, was not familiar with this concept and it was explained to her by Hayao Miyazaki. A sound engineer said, 'Young people these days don't know this.'
- #071
The character No-Face bears a striking resemblance to the silkworm, a creature of great importance in Japanese culture. No-Face appears to have a white face and a mouth beneath it. It has markings resembling the facial features of silkworms, and their mouths are located beneath these markings. Silkworms and No-Face constantly eat and grow excessively. At the end of the film, No-Face goes with Sen to visit Zeniba. No-Face stays by Zeniba's side as a spinner.
- #072
The first anime film to be nominated for and win an Academy Award. At the time, it had the longest running time (125 minutes) among the other films nominated for or winning in this category. This record was later surpassed by films such as The Tale of the Princess Kaguya (2013), also from Studio Ghibli.
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The English-dubbed version contains some additional dialogue not present in the original Japanese version. In an interview with John Lasseter, he explained that this was a necessary addition to help clarify certain aspects for American audiences. For example, while it is clear to a Japanese viewer what a bathhouse is, it may not be clear to an American viewer. This translation problem was solved by having the character explain, 'Ah, this is a bathhouse.'
- #075
The original Japanese names of many characters, written in Kanji (Chinese characters), give hints about their identities: Yubaba (hot-water hag), Zeniba (money hag), Kaonashi (no-face), Bô (little boy/child), Kamajii (kettle/boiler/old man), Chihiro (thousand fathoms or thousand seeking), Sen (thousand (the reading of the chi kanji on its own)).
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Hayao Miyazaki wrote, directed and drew the storyboards for the film; many directors claim that he writes his films with drawings, and this film reflects his personal vision. The director is so influential and involved in the production that The New Yorker called him 'the auteur of anime.'
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Haku's movements as a dragon were inspired by the swimming motion of an eel. For the scenes in which he is attacked, Hayao Miyazaki cited the example of a live eel at a fish market before it is gutted. When he realized that none of his animators had ever seen this, Miyazaki remarked sarcastically, 'Japanese culture is ruined.'
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The theme of not looking back is a tribute to the Shinto myth of Izanagi's (& Izanami's) escape from the Land of the Dead (Yomino Kuni), which closely resembles the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Many characters in this animation are based on Shinto myth and bear the names of Shinto gods. For example, Haku's real name, 'Nigihayami Kohakunushi,' is taken from Nigihayahi, an actual name of a god.
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The city Chihiro and her family initially move to is the fictional town of Tochinoki on Route 21, just north of Nagoya. Tochinoki is also the name of an amusement park north of Tokyo and a hot spring resort in southern Japan. The large hill in the neighborhood where the dirt road begins is called Green Hill.
- #092
Chihiro's father drives a first-generation Audi A4 sedan. The level of detail the director included covers the Audi's proprietary 'Quattro' four-wheel-drive system when Chihiro's father decides to enter the forest, and the ABS (anti-lock braking system) that pushes the brake pedal back when he brakes hard at the sight of the statue.
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This is the first animated film not produced by Disney or DreamWorks to win an Academy Award. It is also the ninth film to be nominated, after Gulliver's Travels (1939), Charlie Brown (1969), An American Tail (1986), Anastasia (1997), Quest for Camelot (1998), South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001) and The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002).
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Behind the Scenes (13)
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Contains a major spoiler — show
(at around 1h 14 mins) In the English-language version, John Ratzenberger (Aniyaku) totally improvised the song he sings when praising the rich customer No-Face ("Welcome the rich man, he's hard for you to miss..."). The original script's song was "Welcome the rich man--he's pretty big, you see/so all bow down and get on bended knee."
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Haku's dragon movements were inspired by the swimming undulations of an eel. For the scenes in which he is attacked, Miyazaki cited a live eel at a fish market before it was gutted as an example. When he realized that none of his animators had seen this, he said sarcastically, 'Japanese culture is ruined.'
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The town to which Chihiro and her family move is the fictional town of Tochinoki, located on Route 21 just north of Nagoya. Tochinoki is also the name of an amusement park north of Tokyo and a hot spring resort in southern Japan. The large hill where the dirt path begins is called Green Hill.
- #127
Chihiro's father drives a first-generation Audi A4 sedan. Among the details the director added are the Audi's 'Quattro' four-wheel-drive system when her father decides to drive the car into the forest, and ABS (anti-lock braking system), which pushes the brake pedal back when he brakes hard at the statue.
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Characters & Cast (14)
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At around the 8th minute, for the scene in which Chihiro's mother talks while eating, voice actress Yasuko Sawaguchi (in the original Japanese version) recorded her dialogue while eating a piece of KFC chicken. In the English version, Lauren Holly performed the same scene while eating an apple.
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At around 1 hour 14 minutes, in the English version, John Ratzenberger (Aniyaku) completely improvised the song he sings while praising the wealthy customer No-Face ('Welcome the rich man, he's hard for you to miss...'). The song in the original script was 'Welcome the rich man--he's pretty big, you see/so all bow down and get on bended knee'.
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Easter Eggs & References (9)
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The city that Chihiro and her parents are moving to at the start is the fictional town of Tochinoki along Route 21, just north of Nagoya. Tochinoki is also the name of an amusement park north of Tokyo and a spa resort in southern Japan. The large hill in their neighborhood, where the dirt road begins, is called Green Hill.
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Chihiro's father drives a first-generation Audi A4 sedan. The level of detail included by the director consists of Audi's trademark "Quattro" four-wheel drive system when Chihiro's father decides to take the car in the forest, along with the ABS (anti-lock brake system), which pushes the brake pedal back when Chihiro's father brakes hard seeing the statue.
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Contains a major spoiler — show
A minor dubbing error causes Haku's name to be slurred. His actual given name in "Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi" is Kohakunushi Nigihayami, while "Spirited Away" just refers to the Kohaku River, ignoring the rest of his name entirely, and therefore changing the meaning of his name drastically.
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Deeper Meaning (26)
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There is a common misconception that the film takes place in a brothel. This is false; Hayao Miyazaki made this film with young females in mind. Another quote from the creator that disproves this claim states he is unhappy with how the sex industry has become more focused on including children.
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When Chihiro crushes the small worm-like creature living inside Haku with her foot, Kamaji tells her, "Cut the line!" This gesture is a Japanese good-luck charm performed by joining the index fingers in a cutting motion. It is done when a person has been affected by impurity. During the dubbing of the "Spirited Away" Nippon-TV special, Rumi Hiiragi, who voiced Chihiro, was unfamiliar with this concept and it was explained to her by Hayao Miyazaki. A sound engineer said, "These days young people don't know this."
- #163
The character No-Face bears a striking resemblance to the silkworm, a creature of great importance in Japanese culture. No-Face has a white face and a mouth beneath it. Silkworms have markings resembling facial features, and their mouths are located beneath these markings. Silkworms and No-Face eat constantly and grow excessively. At the end of the film, No-Face goes with Sen to visit Zeniba. No-Face stays by Zeniba's side as a spinner of thread.
- #164
When the original Japanese names of many characters are written in kanji (Chinese characters), they give clues about their identities: Yubaba (hot water witch), Zeniba (money witch), Kaonashi (no-face), Bô (boy child/child), Kamajii (kettle/kettle old man), Chihiro (thousand fathoms or thousand seeking), Sen (thousand (the reading of the chi kanji when isolated)).
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The theme of not looking back is a tribute to the Shinto myth of Izanagi's (& Izanami's) escape from the Underworld of the Dead (Yomino Kuni), which closely resembles the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Many characters in this animation are based on Shinto myth and bear the names of Shinto gods. For example, Haku's real name, 'Nigihayami Kohakunushi,' is taken from Nigihayahi, the name of a real god.
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Career & Awards (16)
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This was the first animated film not produced by Disney or DreamWorks to win an Academy Award. It was also the ninth to be nominated, after Gulliver's Travels (1939), A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969), An American Tail (1986), Anastasia (1997), Quest for Camelot (1998), South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999), Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001), and The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002).
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First anime film to be nominated for (and win) an Academy Award. At the time, it had the longest runtime of any other film nominated or winning in that category (125 minutes). It has since been surpassed by, among other films, The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013), also from Studio Ghibli.
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Life & Family (2)
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