Editing Spirited Away

{{Short description|2001 film by Hayao Miyazaki}}
{{For|the concept in Japanese folklore which the film refers to|Spirit away}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox film
| image          = Spirited Away Japanese poster.png
| alt            = Chihiro, dressed in bathhouse work clothes is standing in front of an image containing a group of pigs and the city behind her. Text below reveal the title and film credits, with the tagline to Chihiro's right.
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| native_name    = {{Infobox Japanese| kanji = 千と千尋の神隠し
| revhep = Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi}}
| director       = [[Hayao Miyazaki]]
| writer         = Hayao Miyazaki
| producer       = [[Toshio Suzuki (producer)|Toshio Suzuki]]
| starring       = <!-- Order per poster. -->{{Plainlist|
* [[Rumi Hiiragi]]
* [[Miyu Irino]]
* [[Mari Natsuki]]
* Takashi Naito
* [[Yasuko Sawaguchi]]
* [[Tsunehiko Kamijō]]
* Takehiko Ono
* [[Bunta Sugawara]]
}}
| cinematography = Atsushi Okui
| editing        = [[Takeshi Seyama]]
| music          = [[Joe Hisaishi]]
| studio         = [[Studio Ghibli]]
| distributor    = [[Toho]]
| released       = {{Film date|df=y|2001|7|20}}
| runtime        = 125 minutes<!--Theatrical runtime: 124:33--><ref>{{cite web | url=https://bbfc.co.uk/releases/spirited-away-2003 | title=''Spirited Away'' (PG) | work=[[British Board of Film Classification]] | date=14 August 2003 | access-date=23 January 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150128112058/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/spirited-away-2003 | archive-date=28 January 2015 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
| country        = Japan
| language       = Japanese
| budget         = <!-- This is the reported PRODUCTION budget that is recorded in this citation. -->$19.2 million<ref name="howe" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Herskovitz |first=Jon |title='Mononoke' creator Miyazaki toons up pic |url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/mononoke-creator-miyazaki-toons-up-pic-1117759995/ |access-date=24 February 2020 |work=Variety |date=15 December 1999 |archive-date=24 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224222818/https://variety.com/1999/film/news/mononoke-creator-miyazaki-toons-up-pic-1117759995/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
| gross          = $396 million{{Efn|''Spirited Away''{{'}}s Worldwide Box Office:
* Original Run including re-release until Studio Ghibil Fest 2020 {{ndash}} {{US$|395,580,000|link=yes}} ({{JPY|47,030,975,000|link=yes}})<ref name="Spirited Away Gross 2020">{{Cite web|last=Harding|first=Daryl|title=Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Overtakes Your Name to Become 2nd Highest-Grossing Anime Film of All Time Worldwide|url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/02/15/demon-slayer-mugen-train-overtakes-your-name-to-become-2nd-highest-grossing-anime-film-of-all-time-worldwide|access-date=15 February 2021|website=Crunchyroll|language=en-us|archive-date=15 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210215113358/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2021/02/15/demon-slayer-mugen-train-overtakes-your-name-to-become-2nd-highest-grossing-anime-film-of-all-time-worldwide|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2021 re-release in Spain {{ndash}} {{Currency|186,772|EUR}}<ref>{{Cite web|last=España|first=Taquilla|date=24 May 2021|title=El viaje de Chihiro|url=https://www.taquillaespana.es/peliculas/el-viaje-de-chihiro/|url-status=live|access-date=2 July 2021|website=TAQUILLA ESPAÑA|language=es-ES|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181323/https://www.taquillaespana.es/peliculas/el-viaje-de-chihiro/}}</ref> ({{US$|222,070|2021|link=yes}})<ref>{{Cite web|title=Spirited Away 2021 Re-release (Spain)|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl813662977/weekend/|url-status=live|access-date=30 June 2021|website=Box Office Mojo|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709181345/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl813662977/weekend/}}</ref>|name=Spirited Away Worldwide Box Office Collection}}
}}

{{nihongo foot|'''''Spirited Away'''''|千と千尋の神隠し|Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi|{{translation|Sen and Chihiro's Spiriting Away}}|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 2001 Japanese [[Anime film|animated]] [[fantasy film]] written and directed by [[Hayao Miyazaki]]. It was produced by [[Toshio Suzuki]], animated by [[Studio Ghibli]], and distributed by [[Toho]].<ref name=bcdb>"[http://www.bcdb.com/cartoon/20695-Sen_To_Chihiro_No_Kamikakushi.html Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121204162958/http://www.bcdb.com/ |date=4 December 2012 }}". http://www.bcdb.com  , 13 May 2012</ref> The film stars [[Rumi Hiiragi]], alongside [[Miyu Irino]], [[Mari Natsuki]], Takashi Naito, [[Yasuko Sawaguchi]], [[Tsunehiko Kamijō]], Takehiko Ono, and [[Bunta Sugawara]]. In ''Spirited Away'', Chihiro "Sen" Ogino moves to a new neighborhood and inadvertently enters the world of ''[[kami]]'' (spirits of Japanese [[Shinto]] folklore).<ref name="ReferenceA">Boyd, James W. and Tetsuya Nishimura. [2004] 2016. "[https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1673&context=jrf Shinto Perspectives in Miyazaki's Anime Film 'Spirited Away' (PDF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200720192931/https://digitalcommons.unomaha.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1673&context=jrf |date=20 July 2020 }}." ''[[Journal of Religion & Film]]'' 8 (3):Article 4.</ref> After her parents are turned into pigs by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro takes a job working in Yubaba's [[Sentō|bathhouse]] to find a way to free herself and her parents and return to the human world.

Miyazaki wrote the screenplay after he decided the film would be based on the ten-year-old daughter of his friend Seiji Okuda, the film's associate producer, who came to visit his house each summer.<ref>{{cite AV media|people=Sunada, Mami (Director)|script-title=ja:夢と狂気の王国|trans-title=The Kingdom of Dreams and Madness|type=Documentary|url=http://yumetokyoki.com|language=ja|date=16 November 2013|publisher=Studio Ghibli|location=Tokyo|access-date=12 July 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140707082237/http://yumetokyoki.com/|archive-date=7 July 2014}} Interview with Toshio Suzuki</ref> At the time, Miyazaki was developing two personal projects, but they were rejected. With a budget of US$19 million, production of ''Spirited Away'' began in 2000. [[Pixar]] animator [[John Lasseter]], a fan and friend of Miyazaki, convinced [[Walt Disney Pictures]] to buy the film's North American distribution rights, and served as executive producer of its English-dubbed version.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/60237/15-fascinating-facts-about-spirited-away|title=15 Fascinating Facts About Spirited Away|date=30 March 2016|website=mentalfloss.com|language=en|access-date=16 May 2019|archive-date=22 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522022314/http://mentalfloss.com/article/60237/15-fascinating-facts-about-spirited-away|url-status=live}}</ref> Lasseter then hired [[Kirk Wise]] as director and [[Donald W. Ernst]] as producer, while screenwriters Cindy and Donald Hewitt wrote the English-language dialogue to match the characters' original Japanese-language lip movements.<ref name=latimes>{{cite news|first=Kenneth|last=Turan|title=Under the Spell of 'Spirited Away'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-20-et-turan20-story.html|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=20 September 2002|access-date=20 July 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619064427/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/20/entertainment/et-turan20|archive-date=19 June 2012}}</ref>

Released in Japan on 20 July 2001, ''Spirited Away'' was widely acclaimed and commercially successful,<ref name="metacritic" /> grossing {{USD|396 million}} at the worldwide box office.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pineda |first1=Rafael Antonio |title=Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Film Is 1st Since Spirited Away to Earn 30 Billion Yen |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-13/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-film-is-1st-since-spirited-away-to-earn-30-billion-yen/.167411 |access-date=15 December 2020 |work=[[Anime News Network]] |date=13 December 2020 |archive-date=15 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215060726/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-12-13/demon-slayer-kimetsu-no-yaiba-film-is-1st-since-spirited-away-to-earn-30-billion-yen/.167411 |url-status=live }}</ref> It became the [[List of highest-grossing films in Japan|highest-grossing film in Japanese history]] with a total of {{JPY|31.68 billion}}.<ref name="Ghibli Update">{{cite web |last1=Harding |first1=Daryl |title=Toho Updates Spirited Away Lifetime Japanese Box Office Gross as Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Inches Closer to #1 |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/12/15/toho-updates-spirited-away-lifetime-japanese-box-office-gross-as-demon-slayer-mugen-train-inches-closer-to-1 |website=Crunchyroll |access-date=15 December 2020 |language=en-us |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203134055/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/12/15/toho-updates-spirited-away-lifetime-japanese-box-office-gross-as-demon-slayer-mugen-train-inches-closer-to-1 |url-status=live }}</ref> It held the record for 19 years until it was surpassed by ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train]]'' in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Demon Slayer Overtakes Spirited Away as Japan's Highest Grossing Film Ever |url=https://screenrant.com/demon-slayer-movie-highest-grossing-box-office-japan/ |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=ScreenRant |date=29 December 2020 |language=en |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714164954/https://screenrant.com/demon-slayer-movie-highest-grossing-box-office-japan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Spirited Away'' was a co-recipient of the [[Golden Bear]] with ''[[Bloody Sunday (film)|Bloody Sunday]]'' at the [[2002 Berlin International Film Festival]] and became the first [[Hand-drawn animation|hand-drawn]], Japanese anime and non-English-language animated film to win the [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]] at the [[75th Academy Awards]]. The film is regarded as one of the [[List of films considered the best|greatest films of all time]] and has been included in various "best-of" lists, including ranking fourth on [[BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century]].

==Plot==
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 to 700 words only. Please check the word count before making any additions. Please discuss any major changes on the talk page. -->
Ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino and her parents Akio and Yūko travel to their new home. Akio, taking a shortcut, stops in front of a tunnel leading to what appears to be an abandoned [[resort town]], which Yūko insists on exploring over Chihiro's protestations. Upon finding a seemingly empty restaurant still stocked with food, Chihiro's parents immediately begin to eat. While exploring further, Chihiro finds an enormous [[Sentō|bathhouse]], sees a train pass beneath the bridge, and meets a boy named Haku, who warns her to return across the riverbed before sunset. However, spirits begin to appear, and Chihiro discovers her parents have been transformed into pigs and she cannot cross the now-flooded river.

Haku finds Chihiro and instructs her to ask for a job from the bathhouse's boiler-man, Kamaji, a [[yōkai]] commanding the [[susuwatari]]. Kamaji instead asks a worker named Lin to bring Chihiro to Yubaba, the witch who runs the bathhouse and cursed her parents, and is Haku's master. Yubaba tries to frighten Chihiro away, but eventually gives her a work contract. As Chihiro signs the contract with her name ({{lang|ja|千尋}}), Yubaba takes away the second [[kanji]] in her name, renaming her {{nihongo|Sen|千}}. She soon forgets her real name, and Haku later explains that Yubaba controls people by taking their names; if she completely forgets hers like he once did, she will never be able to leave the spirit world.

The other workers, except for Kamaji and Lin, frequently mock Sen. While working, she invites a silent creature named No-Face inside, believing him to be a customer. The spirit of a polluted river arrives as Sen's first customer. After she cleans him, he gives her a magic [[Vomiting#Emetics|emetic]] dumpling as a token of gratitude. Meanwhile, No-Face demands food from the bathhouse workers, granting gold copied from the river spirit in exchange. However, when Sen declines the gold and leaves, he angrily swallows some workers.

Sen sees paper [[shikigami]] attacking a dragon and recognizes the dragon as Haku metamorphosed. When the seriously injured Haku crashes into Yubaba's penthouse, Sen follows him upstairs. A shikigami that stowed away on her back shapeshifts into Yubaba's twin sister Zeniba, who turns Yubaba's son, Boh, into a mouse and creates a false copy of him. Zeniba tells Sen that Haku has stolen a magic golden seal from her that carries a deadly curse. Haku strikes the shikigami, causing Zeniba to vanish. Once he and Sen fall into the boiler room, she gives him part of the emetic dumpling to vomit up the seal and a slug that a disgusted Sen kills.

Sen resolves to return the seal and apologize to Zeniba. She confronts an engorged No-Face and feeds him the rest of the dumpling to regurgitate the workers. No-Face follows Sen out of the bathhouse, and Lin helps them leave. Sen, No-Face, and Boh travel to see Zeniba with train tickets gifted by Kamaji. Meanwhile, Yubaba nearly orders Sen's parents' slaughtering, but Haku reveals Boh is missing and offers to retrieve him if Yubaba releases Sen and her parents. Yubaba agrees, but only if Sen can pass a final test.

Sen meets with Zeniba, who makes her a magic hairband and reveals that Yubaba used the slug to control Haku. Using his dragon form, Haku flies Sen and Boh back, while No-Face decides to stay with Zeniba. Mid-flight, Sen recalls falling into the Kohaku River years earlier and being washed safely ashore, correctly guessing Haku's real identity as {{nihongo|the spirit of the Kohaku River|ニギハヤミ コハクヌシ|Nigihayami Kohakunushi}}.

When they arrive at the bathhouse, Yubaba tests Sen to identify her parents among a group of pigs to leave. After she answers correctly that none of the pigs are her parents, her contract disappears and she is given back her real name. Haku takes her to the now-dry riverbed and vows to meet her again. Chihiro crosses the riverbed to her restored parents. Shortly before leaving for her new home, Chihiro looks back at the tunnel with her hairband from Zeniba still intact.

==Voice cast==

{{Plain row headers}}
{| class="wikitable plain-row-headers"
!scope="col" colspan="2" | Character name
!scope="col" colspan="2" | Voice actor
|-
!scope="col"|English
!scope="col"|Japanese
!scope="col"| Japanese

!scope="col"|English
|-
!scope="row"| Chihiro Ogino / Sen
|''Ogino Chihiro'' ({{Langx|ja|荻野 千尋|label=none}}) / ''Sen'' ({{Langx|ja|千|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "one thousand".}}
|[[Rumi Hiiragi]]||[[Daveigh Chase]]
|-
!scope="row"| Haku / Spirit of the Kohaku River
|''Haku'' ({{Langx|ja|ハク|label=none}}) / ''Nigihayami Kohakunushi'' ({{Langx|ja|饒速水小白主|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "flourishing swift-flowing amber [river] god".}}||[[Miyu Irino]]||[[Jason Marsden]]
|-
!scope="row"| Yubaba
|''Yubāba'' ({{Langx|ja|湯婆婆|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "bathhouse granny".}}|| rowspan="2" |[[Mari Natsuki]]|| rowspan="2" |[[Suzanne Pleshette]]
|-
!scope="row"| Zeniba
|''Zeniiba'' ({{Langx|ja|銭婆|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "money granny".}}
|-
!scope="row"| Kamaji
|''Kamajii'' ({{Langx|ja|釜爺|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "boiler grandad".}}||[[Bunta Sugawara]]||[[David Ogden Stiers]]
|-
!scope="row"| Lin
|''Rin'' ({{Langx|ja|リン|label=none}})||[[Yoomi Tamai]]||[[Susan Egan]]
|-
!scope="row"| Chichiyaku
|''Chichiyaku'' ({{Langx|ja|父役|label=none}})
|[[Tsunehiko Kamijō]]||[[Paul Eiding]]
|-
!scope="row"| Aniyaku (assistant Manager)
|Aniyaku ({{Langx|ja|兄役|label=none}})
|{{ill|Takehiko Ono|jp|小野武彦}}||[[John Ratzenberger]]
|-
!scope="row"| No-Face{{efn|name=Faceless|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "faceless".}}
|''Kaonashi'' ({{Langx|ja|顔無し|label=none}}){{efn|name=Faceless}}
|{{ill|Akio Nakamura|jp|中村彰男}}|| rowspan="2" |[[Bob Bergen]]
|-
!scope="row"| Aogaeru
|''Aogaeru'' ({{Langx|ja|青蛙|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "blue frog".}}
|{{ill|Tatsuya Gashūin|jp|我修院達也}}
|-
!scope="row"| Bandai-gaeru (foreman)
|''Bandai-gaeru'' ({{Langx|ja|番台蛙|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "reception desk frog".}}
|[[Yo Oizumi|Yō Ōizumi]]||[[Rodger Bumpass]]
|-
!scope="row"| Boh (baby)
|''Bō'' ({{Langx|ja|坊|label=none}})
|[[Ryunosuke Kamiki]]||[[Tara Strong]]
|-
!scope="row"| Akio Ogino (Chihiro's father)
|''Ogino Akio'' ({{Langx|ja|荻野 明夫|label=none}})
|{{ill|Takashi Naitō|jp|内藤剛志}}||[[Michael Chiklis]]
|-
!scope="row"| Yūko Ogino (Chihiro's mother)
|''Ogino Yūko'' ({{Langx|ja|荻野 悠子|label=none}})
|[[Yasuko Sawaguchi]]||[[Lauren Holly]]
|-
!scope="row"| River Spirit
|[[Kawa-no-kami|''Kawa no Kami'']] ({{Langx|ja|河の神|label=none}})
|{{ill|Koba Hayashi|jp|はやし・こば}}||[[Jim Ward (voice actor)|Jim Ward]]
|-
!scope="row"| Radish Spirit
|''[[Oshira-sama]]'' ({{Langx|ja|お白様|label=none}}){{efn|{{abbr|Lit.|Literal translation}} "Great White Lord".}}
|[[Ken Yasuda (actor)|Ken Yasuda]]||[[Jack Angel]]
|}

==Production==
===Development and inspiration===

{{Primary sources section |date=February 2025}}

{{Quote box|width=30em|align=left|quote="I created a heroine who is an ordinary girl, someone with whom the audience can sympathize [...]. [I]t's not a story in which the characters grow up, but a story in which they draw on something already inside them, brought out by the particular circumstances [...]. I want my young friends to live like that, and I think they, too, have such a wish."|source={{mdash}}Hayao Miyazaki<ref name="nausicaa" />}}
During summers, [[Hayao Miyazaki]] spent his vacation at a mountain cabin with his family and five girls who were friends of the family. The idea for ''Spirited Away'' came about when he wanted to make a film for these friends. Miyazaki had previously directed films for small children and teenagers such as ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'' and ''[[Kiki's Delivery Service]]'', but he had not created a film for ten-year-old girls. For inspiration, he read the [[shōjo manga]] magazines (like ''[[Nakayoshi]]'' and ''[[Ribon]]'') that the girls had left at the cabin, but felt they only offered subjects on "crushes" and romance. Miyazaki felt this was not what these young friends "held dear in their hearts", and resolved to make the film about a young heroine whom they could look up to.<ref name="nausicaa">[http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/sen.html Miyazaki on Spirited Away // Interviews //] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425061730/http://nausicaa.net/miyazaki/interviews/sen.html |date=25 April 2017 }}. Nausicaa.net (11 July 2001).</ref>

[[File:Hayao Miyazaki.jpg|thumb|upright|right|alt=Close up photograph of Hayao Miyazaki, smiling and wearing a suit and tie in front of a gold-colored mosaic.|Hayao Miyazaki used [[shōjo manga]] magazines for inspiration to direct ''Spirited Away''.]]
Miyazaki had wanted to produce a new film for years, but his two previous proposals{{mdash}}one based on the Japanese book {{nihongo|''Kiri no Mukō no Fushigi na Machi''|霧のむこうのふしぎな町}} by Sachiko Kashiwaba, and another about a teenage heroine{{mdash}}were rejected. His third proposal, which ended up becoming ''Spirited Away'', was more successful. The three stories revolved around a bathhouse that was inspired by one in Miyazaki's hometown. He thought the bathhouse was a mysterious place, and there was a small door next to one of the bathtubs in the bath house. Miyazaki was always curious about what was behind it, and he made up several stories about it, one of which inspired the bathhouse setting of ''Spirited Away''.<ref name="nausicaa"/>

[[File:Ogata Gekko - Ryu sho ten edit.jpg|thumb|A [[Japanese dragon]] ascends toward the heavens with [[Mount Fuji]] in the background in this print from [[Ogata Gekkō]]. ''Spirited Away'' is heavily influenced by Japanese Shinto-Buddhist folklore.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>]]
Production of ''Spirited Away'' commenced in February 2000 on a budget of {{¥|1.9 billion|link=yes}} (US$15 million).<ref name="howe" /> The film was produced in association with [[Tokuma Shoten]], [[Nippon Television Network]], [[Dentsu]], [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment|Buena Vista Home Entertainment]], [[Tohokushinsha Film]], and [[Mitsubishi Corporation|Mitsubishi]].<ref name="Elley 2002">{{cite magazine |last=Elley |first=Derek |title=''Spirited Away'' |magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=2002-02-18 |url=https://variety.com/2002/digital/features/spirited-away-2-1200551257/ |access-date=2025-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241127164558/https://variety.com/2002/digital/features/spirited-away-2-1200551257/ |archive-date=2024-11-27 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]]'s 10% investment allowed for the [[right of first refusal]] for North American distribution.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hill|first=Jim|date=14 April 2020|title=The Making of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away"&nbsp;– Part 1|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/alumni1/b/michael_howe/archive/2003/04/15/1391.aspx|access-date=11 October 2020|website=jimhillmedia.com|archive-date=30 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330025215/http://jimhillmedia.com/alumni1/b/michael_howe/archive/2003/04/15/1391.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fps">{{cite web|url=http://www.fpsmagazine.com/comment/spirited.php|title=Spirited Away by Miyazaki|work=FPS Magazine|access-date=11 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519193618/http://www.fpsmagazine.com/comment/spirited.php|archive-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>{{sps|date=February 2025}} As with ''[[Princess Mononoke]]'', Miyazaki and the [[Studio Ghibli]] staff experimented with computer animation. With the use of more computers and programs such as [[Softimage 3D]], the staff learned the software, but used the technology carefully so that it enhanced the story, instead of "stealing the show". Each character was mostly hand-drawn, with Miyazaki working alongside his animators to see if they were getting it just right.<ref name="howe">[http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/michael_howe/archive/2003/04/15/1391.aspx The Making of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away"&nbsp;– Part 1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312093531/http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/michael_howe/archive/2003/04/15/1391.aspx |date=12 March 2009 }}. Jimhillmedia.com.</ref>{{sps|date=February 2025}} The biggest difficulty in making the film was to reduce its length. When production began, Miyazaki realized it would be more than three hours long if he made it according to his plot. He had to delete many scenes from the story, and tried to reduce the "eye candy" in the film because he wanted it to be simple. Miyazaki did not want to make the hero a "pretty girl". At the beginning, he was frustrated at how she looked "dull" and thought, "She isn't cute. Isn't there something we can do?" As the film neared the end, however, he was relieved to feel "she will be a charming woman."<ref name="nausicaa"/>
[[File:Dogo onsen honkan long exposure.jpg|thumb|210px|alt=A medium shot photograph of a hot spring in the city of Matsuyama on the island of Shikoku, Japan.|[[Dōgo Onsen]]]]
[[File:Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum-insideabuilding.jpg|thumb|210px|alt=A wide photograph of a hallway from the Takahashi Korekiyo residence in the Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum, which was one of Miyazaki's inspirations in creating the spirit world's buildings.|The [[Takahashi Korekiyo]] residence in the [[Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum]] was one of Miyazaki's inspirations in creating the spirit world's buildings.]]During production, Miyazaki often sought inspiration by visiting the [[Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural Museum]] in [[Koganei, Tokyo]]. He based some of the buildings in the spirit world on the Pseudo-Western style buildings from the [[Meiji period]] that were available there. The museum made Miyazaki feel nostalgic, "especially when I stand here alone in the evening, near closing time, and the sun is setting&nbsp;– tears well up in my eyes."<ref name="nausicaa"/> Another major inspiration was the {{nihongo|Notoya Ryokan|能登谷旅館}}, a [[Ryokan (Japanese inn)|traditional Japanese inn]] located in [[Yamagata Prefecture]], famous for its exquisite architecture and ornamental features.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tenkai-japan.com/2010/05/29/notoya-in-ginzan-onsen-stop-businees-for-renovation/ |title=Notoya in Ginzan Onsen stop business for renovation. &#124; Tenkai-japan:Cool Japan Guide-Travel, Shopping, Fashion, J-pop |publisher=Tenkai-japan |date=1 July 2010 |access-date=6 May 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028211832/http://www.tenkai-japan.com/2010/05/29/notoya-in-ginzan-onsen-stop-businees-for-renovation/ |archive-date=28 October 2012 }}</ref>{{rs?|date=February 2025}} While some guidebooks and articles claim that the old gold town of [[Jiufen]] in Taiwan served as an inspirational model for the film, Miyazaki has denied this.<ref>{{cite web|title=Focus Newspaper: Hayao Miyazaki, 72-year-old Mischievous Youngster (from 3:00 mark)| date=13 September 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ9BnbkRzOg|publisher=TVBS TV|access-date=5 July 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710213935/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ9BnbkRzOg|archive-date=10 July 2015}}</ref> The [[Dōgo Onsen]] is also often said to be a key inspiration for the ''Spirited Away'' onsen/bathhouse.<ref>[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5502.html Dogo Onsen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613043628/http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5502.html |date=13 June 2009 }} japan-guide.com</ref>{{rs?|date=February 2025}}

[[Toshio Suzuki (producer)|Toshio Suzuki]], the producer of the film, also cites European inspirations and influences in the production of ''Spirited Away''. He specifically invokes the structure of the film as European-inspired due to Miyazaki's own influences by European films such as [[The Snow Queen (1957 film)|''The Snow Queen'']] and ''The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mizukubo |first=Momoe |date= |title=It's Child's Play for Studio Ghibli |url=http://www.lookjapan.com/LBsc/02JuneCF.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020629065833/http://www.lookjapan.com/LBsc/02JuneCF.htm |archive-date=29 June 2002 |access-date=27 April 2022 |website=Look Japan}}</ref>

===Music===
{{main|Music of Spirited Away{{!}}Music of ''Spirited Away''}}
The [[film score]] of ''Spirited Away'' was composed and conducted by Miyazaki's regular collaborator [[Joe Hisaishi]], and performed by the [[New Japan Philharmonic]].<ref name="Record">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/miyazakis-spirited-away-film-score-mw0000223876|title=Miyazaki's Spirited Away|publisher=Milan Records|date=10 September 2002|medium=CD|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219131028/http://www.allmusic.com/album/miyazakis-spirited-away-film-score-mw0000223876|archive-date=19 February 2015}}</ref> The soundtrack received awards at the 56th Mainichi Film Competition Award for Best Music, the [[Tokyo International Anime Fair]] 2001 Best Music Award in the Theater Movie category, and the 17th Japan Gold Disk Award for Animation Album of the Year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mainichi.jp/enta/cinema/mfa/etc/history/56.html|title=第56回 日本映画大賞 (56th Japan Movie Awards)|work=Mainichi Shimbun|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215183416/http://mainichi.jp/enta/cinema/mfa/etc/history/56.html|archive-date=15 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2002/02/19/results-from-tokyo-anime-fair-awards/ |title=Results From Tokyo Anime Fair Awards |publisher=Anime Nation |date=19 February 2002 |access-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006114030/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2002/02/19/results-from-tokyo-anime-fair-awards/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/2002.html|title=The 17th Japan Gold Disc Award 2002|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006093734/http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/data/gdisc/2002.html|archive-date=6 October 2014}}</ref> Later, Hisaishi added lyrics to "One Summer's Day" and named the new version of the song {{nihongo|"The Name of Life"|いのちの名前|{{no italics|"}}Inochi no Namae{{no italics|"}}}} which was performed by [[Ayaka Hirahara]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ayaka-hirahara.com/discography/banka_s.html |title=晩夏(ひとりの季節)/いのちの名前 (The name of life/late summer) |publisher=Ayaka Hirahara |access-date=1 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215184400/http://www.ayaka-hirahara.com/discography/banka_s.html |archive-date=15 December 2013 }}</ref>

The closing song, {{nihongo|"Always With Me"|いつも何度でも|{{no italics|"}}Itsumo Nando Demo{{no italics|"}}|lit. 'Always, No Matter How Many Times'}} was written and performed by [[Youmi Kimura]], a composer and [[lyre]]-player from [[Osaka]].<ref name=yumi /> The lyrics were written by Kimura's friend Wakako Kaku. The song was intended to be used for {{nihongo|''Rin the Chimney Painter''|煙突描きのリン|Entotsu-kaki no Rin}}, a different Miyazaki film which was never released.<ref name="yumi">{{cite web|url=http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/sen/song.html|title=Yumi Kimura|publisher=Nausicaa.net|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120420174331/http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/sen/song.html|archive-date=20 April 2012}}</ref> In the special features of the Japanese DVD, Hayao Miyazaki explains how the song in fact inspired him to create ''Spirited Away''.<ref name=yumi /> The song itself would be recognized as Gold at the [[43rd Japan Record Awards]].<ref>{{cite web|title=第43回日本レコード大賞 (43rd Japan Record Award)|url=http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d2001.htm|publisher=[[Japan Composer's Association]]|access-date=2 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031009021346/http://www.jacompa.or.jp/rekishi/d2001.htm|archive-date=9 October 2003 }}</ref>

Besides the original soundtrack, there is also an [[Image song|image album]], titled {{nihongo|''Spirited Away Image Album''|千と千尋の神隠し　イメージアルバム|Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi Imēji Arubamu}}, that contains 10 tracks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tkma.co.jp/compi_detail/id=3539|title=久石譲 千と千尋の神隠し イメージアルバム (Joe Hisaishi Spirited Away Image Album)|publisher=Tokuma Japan Communications|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215183643/http://www.tkma.co.jp/compi_detail/id=3539|archive-date=15 December 2013}}</ref>

===English dub===
[[John Lasseter]], [[Pixar]] animator and a fan and friend of Miyazaki, would often sit with his staff and watch Miyazaki's work when encountering story problems. After seeing ''Spirited Away'' Lasseter was ecstatic.<ref name="howe3" /> Upon hearing his reaction to the film, Disney CEO [[Michael Eisner]] asked Lasseter if he would be interested in introducing ''Spirited Away'' to an American audience. Lasseter obliged by agreeing to serve as the executive producer for the English adaptation. Following this, several others began to join the project: ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' co-director [[Kirk Wise]] and ''[[Aladdin (1992 Disney film)|Aladdin]]'' co-producer [[Donald W. Ernst]] joined Lasseter as director and producer of ''Spirited Away'', respectively.<ref name="howe3">[http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/michael_howe/archive/2003/04/16/1393.aspx The Making of Hayao Miyazaki's "Spirited Away"&nbsp;– Part 3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317040600/http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/michael_howe/archive/2003/04/16/1393.aspx |date=17 March 2009 }}. Jimhillmedia.com.</ref>{{sps|date=February 2025}} Screenwriters Cindy Davis Hewitt and Donald H. Hewitt penned the English-language dialogue, which they wrote in order to match the characters' original Japanese-language lip movements.<ref name=latimes/>

The cast of the film consists of [[Daveigh Chase]], [[Jason Marsden]], [[Suzanne Pleshette]] (in her final film role before her death in January 2008), [[Michael Chiklis]], [[Lauren Holly]], [[Susan Egan]], [[David Ogden Stiers]] and [[John Ratzenberger]] (a Pixar regular). Advertising was limited, with ''Spirited Away'' being mentioned in a small scrolling section of the film section of ''[[Disney.com]]''; Disney had sidelined their official website for ''Spirited Away''<ref name="howe3" /> and given the film a comparatively small promotional budget.<ref name=fps /> Marc Hairston writing for [[FPS Magazine]] argues that this was a justified response to Studio Ghibli's retention of the merchandising rights to the film and characters, which limited Disney's ability to properly market the film.<ref name=fps />

==Themes==

=== Supernaturalism ===
The major [[Theme (arts)|themes]] of ''Spirited Away'', heavily influenced by Japanese [[Shinto]]-[[Buddhism in Japan|Buddhist]] folklore, centre on the protagonist, Chihiro, and her [[Liminality|liminal]] journey through the realm of spirits. The central location of the film is a Japanese bathhouse where a great variety of Japanese folklore creatures, including [[kami]], come to bathe. Miyazaki cites the solstice rituals when villagers call forth their local kami and invite them into their baths.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> Chihiro also encounters kami of animals and plants. Miyazaki says of this:{{blockquote|In my grandparents' time, it was believed that kami existed everywhere&nbsp;– in trees, rivers, insects, wells, anything. My generation does not believe this, but I like the idea that we should all treasure everything because spirits might exist there, and we should treasure everything because there is a kind of life to everything.<ref name="ReferenceA" />}}Chihiro's [[archetype|archetypal]] entrance into another world changes her status as one somewhere between child and adult. Chihiro also stands outside societal boundaries in the supernatural setting. The use of the word ''[[kamikakushi]]'' (literally 'hidden by gods') within the Japanese title, and its associated folklore, reinforces this liminal passage: "Kamikakushi is a verdict of 'social death' in this world, and coming back to this world from Kamikakushi meant 'social resurrection.'"<ref name="reider">Reider, Noriko T. 11 February 2009. "Spirited Away: Film of the Fantastic and Evolving Japanese Folk Symbols." ''[[Film Criticism (journal)|Film Criticism]]'' 29(3):4–27.</ref>

Additional themes are expressed through No-Face, who reflects the characters who surround him, learning by example and taking the traits of whomever he consumes. This nature results in No-Face's monstrous rampage through the bathhouse. After Chihiro saves No-Face with the emetic dumpling, he becomes timid once more. At the end of the film, Zeniba decides to take care of No-Face so he can develop without the negative influence of the bathhouse.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gomes, Paul|title=Lesson Plan&nbsp;– Spirited Away|url=http://web41.its.hawaii.edu/manoa.hawaii.edu/eastasia/wp/wp-content/uploads/2004/10/spiritedaway.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105170315/http://web41.its.hawaii.edu/manoa.hawaii.edu/eastasia/wp/wp-content/uploads/2004/10/spiritedaway.pdf|archive-date=5 November 2013|access-date=12 August 2013|publisher=UHM}}</ref>

==== Fantasy ====
The film has been compared to [[Lewis Carroll]]'s ''[[Alice's Adventures in Wonderland]]'' and ''[[Through the Looking-Glass|Through the Looking Glass]]'', as the stories are set in [[fantasy world]]s, involve disturbances in logic and stability, and there are motifs such as food having metamorphic qualities; though other developments and themes are not shared.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sunny Bay|date=22 June 2016|title=Beyond Wonderland: 'Spirited Away' Explores The Significance of Dreams in the Real World|url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/3975727|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814000655/http://moviepilot.com/posts/3975727|archive-date=14 August 2016|work=moviepilot.com}}</ref><ref name="Spark">{{cite web|date=2004|title=Influences on the Film {{!}} Spirited Away|url=http://www.sparknotes.com/film/spiritedaway/section5.rhtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814185733/http://www.sparknotes.com/film/spiritedaway/section5.rhtml|archive-date=14 August 2016|work=SparkNotes}}</ref>{{rs?|sure=yes|date=February 2025}}<ref name="NYT review" />

Yubaba has many similarities to [[the Coachman]] from the 1940 film ''[[Pinocchio (1940 film)|Pinocchio]]'', in the sense that she mutates humans into pigs in a similar way that the boys of [[Pleasure Island (Pinocchio)|Pleasure Island]] were mutated into donkeys. Upon gaining employment at the bathhouse, Yubaba's seizure of Chihiro's [[true name]] symbolically kills the child,<ref name="satoshi3">Satoshi, Ando. 11 February 2009. "Regaining Continuity with the Past: Spirited Away and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." ''[[Bookbird]]'' 46(1):23–29. {{doi|10.1353/bkb.0.0016}}.</ref> who must then assume adulthood. She then undergoes a [[rite of passage]] according to the [[monomyth]] format; to recover continuity with her past, Chihiro must create a new identity.<ref name="satoshi3" />

=== Traditional Japanese culture ===
''Spirited Away'' contains critical commentary on modern Japanese society concerning generational conflicts and environmental issues.<ref name="napier" /> Chihiro has been seen as a representation of the ''[[shōjo]]'', whose roles and ideology had changed dramatically since post-war Japan.<ref name="napier" /> Just as Chihiro seeks her past identity, Japan, in its anxiety over the economic downturn occurring during the release of the film in 2001, sought to reconnect to past values.<ref name="satoshi3" /> In an interview, Miyazaki has commented on this nostalgic element for an old Japan.<ref name="midnight-eye">{{cite web|last=Mes|first=Tom|date=7 January 2002|title=Hayao Miyazaki Interview|url=http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/hayao_miyazaki.shtml|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802193550/http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/hayao_miyazaki.shtml|archive-date=2 August 2009|access-date=1 August 2009|work=Midnight Eye}}</ref>

Japanese philosophy plays a huge role in ''Spirited Away'', specifically through concepts like ''[[Kami]]'' and principles like ''[[Mottainai]]'' and ''On''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://filmcolossus.com/spirited-away-2001-explained/ |title=Spirited Away: The Definitive Explanation |last1=Bean |first1=Travis |date=20 July 2023 |publisher=Film Colossus |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728205315/https://filmcolossus.com/spirited-away-2001-explained |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sps|sure=yes|date=February 2025}} The concept of Kami, for instance, involves various spirits that each represent different elements and aspects of nature. The principle of Mottainai, which is deeply ingrained in Japanese culture, embodies a sense of regret towards waste, valuing the complete utilization of an object or resource. While the principle of On, a key tenet of Japanese ethics that signifies a sense of moral indebtedness, plays a significant role in Chihiro's character development.{{cn|date=February 2025}}

=== Western consumerism ===
Similar to the Japanese concept of ''On'', the film can be partly understood as an exploration of the effect of greediness and Western [[consumerism]] on traditional Japanese culture.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|last=Gold|first=Corey|date=14 July 2016|title=Studio Ghibli letter sheds new light on Spirited Away mysteries|publisher=SoraNews24|url=http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/07/14/studio-ghibli-letter-sheds-new-light-on-spirited-away-mysteries/|url-status=live|access-date=24 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307000504/http://en.rocketnews24.com/2016/07/14/studio-ghibli-letter-sheds-new-light-on-spirited-away-mysteries/|archive-date=7 March 2017}}</ref>{{rs?|date=February 2025}} For instance, Yubaba is stylistically unique within the bathhouse, wearing a Western dress and living among European décor and furnishings, in contrast with the [[Minimalism|minimalist]] Japanese style of her employees' quarters, representing the Western [[capitalism|capitalist]] influence over Japan in its [[Meiji (era)|Meiji period]] and beyond. Along with its function within the ostensible [[coming of age]] theme, Yubaba's act of taking Chihiro's name and replacing it with Sen (an alternate reading of ''chi'', the first character in Chihiro's name, {{lit|one thousand}}) can be thought of as symbolic of [[capitalism]]'s single-minded concern with value.<ref name="napier">[[Susan J. Napier|Napier, Susan J.]] 11 February 2009. "Matter Out of Place: Carnival, Containment and Cultural Recovery in Miyazaki's Spirited Away." ''[[Journal of Japanese Studies]]'' 32(2):287–310. {{doi|10.1353/jjs.2006.0057}}.</ref>

The film's setting encapsulates Miyazaki's commentary on modern Japanese values and the erosion of cultural heritage. The bathhouse, situated within an abandoned theme park, symbolizes Japan's distorted cultural identity. This once-traditional locale is marred by neon signs and Westernization, exemplifying cultural degradation. Early scenes highlight economic concerns and consumerism. The film's visuals underscore the commercialization of Japanese culture. The failed theme park serves as a metaphor for the unsuccessful fusion of ideologies. The Meiji design of the park is the setting for Chihiro's parents' metamorphosis&nbsp;– the family arrives in an imported [[Audi]] car and the father wears a European-styled [[polo shirt]], reassuring Chihiro that he has "credit cards and cash", before morphing into literal consumerist pigs because of their bad habits.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/bakersensei/ext_japanese1.pdf|title=HSC Extension course|publisher=[[Department of Education (New South Wales)|New South Wales Department of Education and Training]]|access-date=7 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130074502/https://www.quia.com/files/quia/users/bakersensei/ext_japanese1.pdf|archive-date=30 January 2017}}</ref> Miyazaki has stated:{{blockquote|Chihiro's parents turning into pigs symbolizes how some humans become greedy. At the very moment Chihiro says there is something odd about this town, her parents turn into pigs. There were people that "turned into pigs" during Japan's [[bubble economy]] ([[Consumerism#Consumerism as cultural ideology|consumer society]]) of the 1980s, and these people still haven't realized they've become pigs. Once someone becomes a pig, they don't return to being human but instead gradually start to have the "body and soul of a pig". These people are the ones saying, "We are in a recession and don't have enough to eat." This doesn't just apply to the fantasy world. Perhaps this isn't a coincidence and the food is actually (an analogy for) "a trap to catch lost humans".<ref name=":1" />}}
The bathhouse of the spirits cannot be seen as a place free of ambiguity and darkness.<ref name="thrupkaew">Thrupkaew, Noy. "Animation Sensation: Why Japan's Magical Spirited Away Plays Well Anywhere." [[American Prospect]] 13.19: 32–33. Academic OneFile. Gale. 11 February 2009.</ref> Many of the employees are rude to Chihiro because she is human, and corruption is ever-present;<ref name="napier" /> it is a place of excess and greed, as depicted in the initial appearance of No-Face.<ref name="harris">Harris, Timothy. "Seized by the Gods". ''[[Quadrant (magazine)|Quadrant]]'' 47.9: 64–67. Academic OneFile. Gale. 11 February 2009.</ref> In stark contrast to the simplicity of Chihiro's journey and transformation is the constantly chaotic carnival in the background.<ref name="napier" />

=== Environmentalism ===
Commentators have often referred to environmental themes in the films of Miyazaki. In ''Spirited Away'', two major instances of allusions to environmental issues have been noted. [[Pam Coats]], for example, a Vice President of Walt Disney Feature Animation, describes Chihiro dealing with the "stink spirit", who, it turns out, is actually a river spirit but is so corrupted with filth that one cannot tell what it is at first glance. It only becomes clean again when Chihiro pulls out a huge amount of trash, including car tires, garbage, and a bicycle. This alludes to human pollution of the environment, and how people can carelessly toss away things without thinking of the consequences and of where the trash will go.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coats |first1=Pam |title=Making of Spirited Away |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ7ymWBf7XE |website=YouTube |date=27 January 2011 |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-date=30 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220430163206/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ7ymWBf7XE |url-status=live }}</ref>

The second allusion is seen in Haku himself. Haku does not remember his name and lost his past, which is why he is stuck at the bathhouse. Eventually, Chihiro remembers that he used to be the spirit of the Kohaku River, which was destroyed and replaced with apartments. Because of humans' need for development, they destroyed a part of nature, causing Haku to lose his home and identity. This can be compared to deforestation and destruction of natural habitats; humans tear down nature, cause imbalance in the ecosystem, and demolish animals' homes to satisfy their want for more space (housing, malls, stores, etc.) but do not think about how it can affect other living things.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Saporito|first1=Jeff|title=What does "Spirited Away" say about Environmentalism?|url=http://screenprism.com/insights/article/what-does-spirited-away-say-about-environmentalism|website=ScreenPrism|access-date=1 March 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170303201035/http://screenprism.com/insights/article/what-does-spirited-away-say-about-environmentalism|archive-date=3 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=What does "Spirited Away" say about Environmentalism? |url=https://the-take.com/watch/what-does-spirited-away-say-about-environmentalism |website=The Take |date=19 November 2015 |access-date=30 April 2022 |archive-date=19 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819105243/https://the-take.com/watch/what-does-spirited-away-say-about-environmentalism |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Release==
===Box office and theatrical release===
''Spirited Away'' was released theatrically in Japan on 20 July 2001 by distributor [[Toho]]. It grossed a record ¥1.6 billion ($13.1 million) in its first three days, beating the previous record set by ''[[Princess Mononoke]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Groves |first=Don |title=Dinos + Ogre = Monster o'seas B.O.|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=12|date=30 July 2001}}</ref> It was [[List of 2001 box office number-one films in Japan|number one at the Japanese box office]] for its first eleven weeks and spent 16 weeks there in total.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Groves |first=Don |title='Raider' rules Japan; 'Rouge' rosy in France|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=15|date=15 October 2001}}</ref> After 22 weeks of release and after grossing $224 million in Japan, it started its international release, opening in Hong Kong on 13 December 2001.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=24 December 2001|title='Rings' tolls in bright B.O. day o'seas|last=Boland|first=Michaela|page=9}}</ref> It was the first film that had grossed more than $200 million at the worldwide box office excluding the United States.<ref>{{cite news|first=G. Allen|last=Johnson|title=Asian films are grossing millions. Here, they're either remade, held hostage or released with little fanfare|date=3 February 2005|work=San Francisco Chronicle|url=http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/02/03/DDGHFB40EG1.DTL|access-date=11 August 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407091913/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2005%2F02%2F03%2FDDGHFB40EG1.DTL|archive-date=7 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=22 October 2001|title=Romance, laffs boos o'seas B.O.|last=Groves|first=Don|page=12}}</ref> It went on to gross ¥30.4 billion to become the [[List of highest-grossing films in Japan|highest-grossing film in Japanese history]], according to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan.<ref name=WSJ>{{cite news |first=Yoko |last=Sudo |title='Frozen' Ranks as Third-Biggest Hit in Japan |date=4 June 2014 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/06/04/frozen-ranks-as-third-biggest-hit-in-japan/ |access-date=27 June 2014 |quote=Walt Disney's ''Frozen'' has surpassed ¥21.2 billion (about $212 million) in box office sales as of this week and now ranks as the third-highest-grossing movie ever in Japan, according to the company&nbsp;... Having topped ''Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'', ''Frozen'' now trails only ''Titanic'', which opened in 1997 and grossed ¥26.2 billion, and Hayao Miyazaki's ''Spirited Away'', which opened in 2001 and brought in ¥30.4 billion, according to the Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan Inc. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206060409/http://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2014/06/04/frozen-ranks-as-third-biggest-hit-in-japan/ |archive-date=6 February 2017 }}</ref> It also set the all-time attendance record in Japan, surpassing the 16.8 million tickets sold by ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=1 October 2001|title=H'wood makes 'Rush' into Japan|last=Groves|first=Don|page=16}}</ref> Its gross at the Japanese box office has since increased to {{JPY|31.68 billion}}, {{as of|2020|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harding |first1=Daryl |title=Toho Updates Spirited Away Lifetime Japanese Box Office Gross as Demon Slayer: Mugen Train Inches Closer to #1 |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/12/15/toho-updates-spirited-away-lifetime-japanese-box-office-gross-as-demon-slayer-mugen-train-inches-closer-to-1 |website=[[Crunchyroll]] |date=15 December 2020 |access-date=5 January 2021 |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203134131/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2020/12/15/toho-updates-spirited-away-lifetime-japanese-box-office-gross-as-demon-slayer-mugen-train-inches-closer-to-1 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="kogyotsushin">{{cite news |script-title=ja:歴代興収ベスト100 |trans-title=All-time box-office top 100 |language=ja |publisher=Kogyo Tsushinsha |url=http://www.kogyotsushin.com/archives/alltime/ |access-date=31 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808031813/http://www.kogyotsushin.com/archives/alltime/ |archive-date=8 August 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2002, [[Wild Bunch (company)|Wild Bunch]], an international sales company that had recently spun off from its former parent [[StudioCanal]], picked up the international sale rights for the film outside of Asia and France.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/wild-bunch-adds-spirited-away-amongst-others/408281.article|title=Wild Bunch adds Spirited Away, amongst others|access-date=13 September 2021|archive-date=13 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210913163147/https://www.screendaily.com/wild-bunch-adds-spirited-away-amongst-others/408281.article|url-status=live}}</ref> The company would then on-sell it to independent distributors across the world. On 13 April 2002, [[The Walt Disney Company]] acquired the Taiwanese, Singapore, Hong Kong, French and North American sale rights to the film, alongside Japanese Home Media rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2002/04/13/national/copyrights-to-spirited-away-sold-to-disney/|title = Copyrights to 'Spirited Away' sold to Disney|date = 13 April 2002|access-date = 18 October 2021|archive-date = 18 October 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211018214758/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2002/04/13/national/copyrights-to-spirited-away-sold-to-disney/|url-status = live}}</ref>

Disney's English dub of the film, supervised by Lasseter, premiered at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] on 7 September 2002<ref>{{cite news|last=Ball|first=Ryan|title=Spirited Away Premieres at Toronto Int'l Film Fest|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/spirited-away-premieres-at-toronto-intl-film-fest/|access-date=2 June 2011|newspaper=Animation Magazine|date=9 September 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009061259/http://www.animationmagazine.net/features/spirited-away-premieres-at-toronto-intl-film-fest/|archive-date=9 October 2012}}</ref> and was later released in the United States on 20 September 2002. The film grossed $450,000 in its opening weekend from 26 theatres. ''Spirited Away'' had very little marketing, less than Disney's other B-films, with a maximum of 151 theatres showing the film in 2002.<ref name=fps /> After the [[75th Academy Awards|2003 Oscars]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=1 December 2021 |title=Hollywood Flashback: 'Spirited Away' Broke Records and Made Oscar History |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spirited-away-film-oscars-records-history-1235052088/ |access-date=19 November 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US |archive-date=19 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231119175738/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spirited-away-film-oscars-records-history-1235052088/ |url-status=live }}</ref> it expanded to 714 theatres. It ultimately grossed around $10 million by September 2003.<ref name=box>{{cite web|title=Spirited Away Box Office and Rental History|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spirited_away/numbers.php|access-date=21 April 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060116171321/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spirited_away/numbers.php <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date= 16 January 2006}}</ref> Outside of Japan and the United States, the movie was moderately successful in both South Korea and France where it grossed $11 million and $6 million, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spirited Away&nbsp;– Original Release |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/releasegroup/gr1694585349/ |access-date=25 October 2019 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129013240/http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=spiritedaway.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> In Argentina, it is in the top 10 anime films with the most tickets sold.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultracine.com/index.php/entrevistas/entrevista/97-los-films-de-anime-que-lideran-la-taquilla-argentina|title=Los films de anime que lideran la taquilla argentina|last=Oliveros|first=Mariano|publisher=Ultracine|date=23 July 2015|access-date=14 November 2015|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117014552/http://www.ultracine.com/index.php/entrevistas/entrevista/97-los-films-de-anime-que-lideran-la-taquilla-argentina|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref>{{fv|date=February 2025}}{{rs?|date=February 2025}}

In the United Kingdom, then-independent based film distributor [[Optimum Releasing]] acquired the rights to the movie from Wild Bunch in January 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.screendaily.com/optimum-brings-japanese-mega-hit-spirited-away-to-uk/4011927.article |title=Optimum brings Japanese mega-hit Spirited Away to UK {{!}} News {{!}} Screen<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911154429/https://www.screendaily.com/optimum-brings-japanese-mega-hit-spirited-away-to-uk/4011927.article |url-status=live }}</ref>{{fv|date=February 2025}}{{psi|date=February 2025}} The company then released it theatrically on 12 September 2003.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://optimumreleasing.com/detail.php4?id=60 |title=Spirited Away |publisher=Optimum Releasing |accessdate=15 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031002025214/http://optimumreleasing.com/detail.php4?id=60 |archive-date=2 October 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A1171667| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051130214144/http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/A1171667|title=BBC Collective&nbsp;– Spirited Away|publisher=BBC|archive-date=30 November 2005 |access-date=9 August 2013}}</ref> The movie grossed $244,437 on its opening weekend from 51 theatres, and by the end of its theatrical run in October, the movie has grossed $1,383,023 in the country.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3680666625/weekend/ |title=Spirited Away |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=27 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627135738/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3680666625/weekend/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

About 18 years after its original release in Japan, ''Spirited Away'' had a theatrical release in China on 21 June 2019. It followed the theatrical release in China of ''My Neighbour Totoro'' in December 2018.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hayao Miyazaki's 2001 Classic 'Spirited Away' Finally Gets Release in China |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hayao-miyazakis-spirited-away-screen-china-18-years-late-1213764 |access-date=15 June 2019 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=27 May 2019 |archive-date=9 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609024811/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hayao-miyazakis-spirited-away-screen-china-18-years-late-1213764 |url-status=live }}</ref> The delayed theatrical release in China was due to long-standing political tensions between China and Japan, but many Chinese became familiar with Miyazaki's films due to rampant video piracy.<ref>{{cite news |title=These five Studio Ghibli films really should be released in China |url=https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2178326/five-studio-ghibli-films-due-china-release-after-my-neighbour-totoro |access-date=15 June 2019 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=17 December 2018 |archive-date=25 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625224802/https://www.scmp.com/culture/film-tv/article/2178326/five-studio-ghibli-films-due-china-release-after-my-neighbour-totoro |url-status=live }}</ref> It topped the Chinese box office with a {{US$|28.8-million|long=no}} opening weekend, beating ''[[Toy Story 4]]'' in China.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Coyle |first1=Jake |title='Toy Story 4' opens big but below expectations with $118M |url=https://www.apnews.com/69b4991cd5b945cc83c64b16cea841b8 |access-date=23 June 2019 |work=[[AP News]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=23 June 2019 |archive-date=23 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623195102/https://apnews.com/69b4991cd5b945cc83c64b16cea841b8 |url-status=live }}</ref> In its second weekend, ''Spirited Away'' grossed a cumulative {{US$|54.8 million|long=no}} in China, and was second only behind ''[[Spider-Man: Far From Home]]'' that weekend.<ref>{{cite web |title=Daily Box Office |url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=06%20/30%20/2019 |website=EntGroup |date=30 June 2019 |access-date=1 July 2019 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807110802/http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=06%20%2F30%20%2F2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> {{As of|2019|7|16}}, the film has grossed {{US$|70 million|long=no}} in China,<ref name="china">{{cite web |title=Daily Box Office |url=http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=07%20/08%20/2019 |website=EntGroup |date=8 July 2019 |access-date=9 July 2019 |archive-date=17 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217023608/http://english.entgroup.cn/boxoffice/cn/daily/?date=07%20%2F08%20%2F2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> bringing its worldwide total box office to {{US$|346 million|long=no}} {{as of|2019|7|8|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spirited Away&nbsp;– All Releases |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0245429/?ref_=bo_gr_ti |access-date=25 October 2019 |archive-date=26 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191026000255/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0245429/?ref_=bo_gr_ti |url-status=live }}</ref>

''Spirited Away''{{'s}} worldwide box office total stands at US$395,802,070.{{Efn|name=Spirited Away Worldwide Box Office Collection}}

===Home media===

{{Unreliable sources section |date=February 2025}}

''Spirited Away'' was first released on VHS and DVD formats in Japan by [[Buena Vista Home Entertainment]] on 19 July 2002.<ref name="JPNreleases">{{cite web|url=http://disney-studio.jp/product/index.jsp?cid=252|script-title=ja:千と千尋の神隠し|publisher=Walt Disney Japan|language=ja|access-date=17 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219020257/http://disney-studio.jp/product/index.jsp?cid=252|archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> The Japanese DVD releases include storyboards for the film and the special edition includes a Ghibli [[DVD player]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20020510/buena.htm|title=ブエナビスタ、DVD「千と千尋の神隠し」の発売日を7月19日に決定|language=ja|access-date=17 November 2012|date=10 May 2002|publisher=AV Watch|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730141842/http://av.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20020510/buena.htm|archive-date=30 July 2013}}</ref> ''Spirited Away'' sold 5.5{{nbsp}}million home video units in Japan by 2007,<ref>{{cite news |last=均 |first=中村 |title=110万冊無料配布。"ゲドを読む。"の狙いを読む 宮崎吾朗監督作品「ゲド戦記」DVDのユニークなプロモーション |url=https://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/manage/20070521/125248/ |work=[[Nikkei Business Publications|Nikkei Business]] |publisher=[[Nikkei Business Publications]] |date=23 May 2007 |language=ja-JP |access-date=16 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816194818/https://business.nikkeibp.co.jp/article/manage/20070521/125248/ |archive-date=16 August 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and holds the record for most home video copies sold of all time in the country {{As of|2014|lc=y}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-14/frozen-home-video-tops-spirited-away-as-fastest-to-sell-2-million-copies-in-japan/.77587|title=Frozen Home Video Tops Spirited Away as Fastest to Sell 2 Million Copies in Japan|date=14 August 2014|work=[[Anime News Network]]|access-date=14 August 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814183517/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-14/frozen-home-video-tops-spirited-away-as-fastest-to-sell-2-million-copies-in-japan/.77587|archive-date=14 August 2014}}</ref> The movie was released on [[Blu-ray]] by [[Walt Disney Studios Japan]] on 14 July 2014, and DVD was also reissued on the same day with a new HD master, alongside several other [[Studio Ghibli]] movies.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.disney.co.jp/studio/ghibli/0252.html |title=千と千尋の神隠し｜ブルーレイ・DVD・デジタル配信｜ディズニー公式<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=11 September 2021 |archive-date=27 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227165628/https://www.disney.co.jp/studio/ghibli/0252.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Amazon.co.jp： 千と千尋の神隠し [Blu-ray]: 宮崎駿: DVD|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00J2O3CU0/|access-date=28 May 2014|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203134057/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00J2O3CU0/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In North America, the film was released on DVD and VHS formats by Walt Disney Home Entertainment on 15 April 2003.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Conrad|first1=Jeremy|title=Spirited Away|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/14/spirited-away|website=IGN|access-date=2 June 2016|date=14 March 2003|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409215418/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/03/14/spirited-away|archive-date=9 April 2016}}</ref> The attention brought by the Oscar win resulted in the film becoming a strong seller.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Reid|first=Calvin|title='Spirited Away' Sells like Magic|magazine=Publishers Weekly|date=28 April 2003|volume=250|issue=17|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030428/30838-spirited-away-sells-like-magic.html|access-date=29 April 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219022255/http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/print/20030428/30838-spirited-away-sells-like-magic.html|archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> The bonus features include Japanese trailers, a making-of documentary which originally aired on [[Nippon Television]], interviews with the North American voice actors, a select storyboard-to-scene comparison and ''The Art of Spirited Away'', a documentary narrated by actor [[Jason Marsden]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/studioghibli/spiritednews.html|title=Studio Ghibli&nbsp;– The Official DVD Website|publisher=Disney|access-date=1 September 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130801195733/http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/studioghibli/spiritednews.html|archive-date=1 August 2013}}</ref> The movie was released on Blu-ray by and North America by [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] on 16 June 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Spirited-Away-2-Disc-Blu-ray-Combo/dp/B00V3QQF6I/|title=Amazon.com: Spirited Away (2-Disc Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack): Daveigh Chase, Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Mardsen, Tara Strong, Susan Egan, John Ratzenberger, David Ogden Stiers, Hayao Miyazaki, Original Story And Screenplay By Hayao Miyazaki: Movies & TV|website=Amazon|date=16 June 2015 |access-date=14 September 2017|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203134116/https://www.amazon.com/Spirited-Away-2-Disc-Blu-ray-Combo/dp/B00V3QQF6I/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427837697&sr=8-2&keywords=Spirited+Away|url-status=live}}</ref> [[GKIDS]] and [[Shout! Factory]] re-issued the film on Blu-ray and DVD on 17 October 2017 following the expiration of Disney's previous deal with Studio Ghibli in the country in North America.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/gkids-studio-ghibli-ink-home-entertainment-deal-1021746|title=Gkids, Studio Ghibli Ink Home Entertainment Deal|first=Carolyn|last=Giardina|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=17 July 2017|access-date=17 July 2017|archive-date=3 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803090028/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/behind-screen/gkids-studio-ghibli-ink-home-entertainment-deal-1021746|url-status=live}}</ref> On 12 November 2019, GKIDS and Shout! Factory issued a North-America-exclusive ''Spirited Away'' collector's edition, which includes the film on Blu-ray, and the film's soundtrack on CD, as well as a 40-page book with statements by Toshio Suzuki and Hayao Miyazaki, and essays by film critic [[Kenneth Turan]] and film historian [[Leonard Maltin]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Bui |first=Hoai-Tran |date=13 August 2019 |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/spirited-away-collectors-edition/ |title='Spirited Away' Special Collector's Edition Will Be Available For a Limited Time This November |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108003627/https://www.slashfilm.com/spirited-away-collectors-edition/ |archive-date=8 November 2020 |work=[[Slashfilm]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://ghiblicollection.com/product/spirited-away-collector-s-edition?product_id=7231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820212149/https://ghiblicollection.com/product/spirited-away-collector-s-edition?product_id=7231 |archive-date=20 August 2020 |title=Spirited Away [Collector's Edition] |work=The Studio Ghibli Collection |location=Los Angeles |publisher=GKIDS |asin=B07W8LJLB3}}.</ref> Along with the rest of the Studio Ghibli films, ''Spirited Away'' was released on digital markets in the United States for the first time, on 17 December 2019.

In the United Kingdom, the film was released on DVD and VHS as a rental release through independent distributor High Fliers Films PLC following the film's limited theatrical release. It was later officially released on DVD in the UK on 29 March 2004, with the distribution being done by Optimum Releasing themselves.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/156955/Spirited-Away/Product.html|title=Spirited Away (2 Discs) (Studio Ghibli Collection)|publisher=Play|access-date=9 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719053347/http://www.play.com/DVD/DVD/4-/156955/Spirited-Away/Product.html|archive-date=19 July 2013}}</ref> In 2006, the DVD was reissued as a single-disc release (without the second one) with packaging matching other releases in Optimum's "The Studio Ghibli Collection" range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press.optimumreleasing.net/theatrical.php?id=65|title=Optimum Releasing&nbsp;– Spirited Away|publisher=Optimum Releasing|access-date=9 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016234456/http://press.optimumreleasing.net/theatrical.php?id=65|archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref> The then-renamed [[StudioCanal UK]] released the movie on Blu-ray on 24 November 2014, A British 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition, similar to other Studio Ghibli anniversary editions released in the UK, was released on 25 October 2021.<ref name="Amie">{{cite web |last1=Amie |first1=Cranswick |title=StudioCanal announces Spirited Away 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition |url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2021/07/studiocanal-announces-spirited-away-20th-anniversary-collectors-edition/ |website=Flickering Myth |access-date=29 October 2021 |date=20 July 2021 |archive-date=8 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108072254/https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2021/07/studiocanal-announces-spirited-away-20th-anniversary-collectors-edition/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the United States, the 2015 Blu-ray release grossed $9,925,660 from 557,613 physical units sold {{As of|2021|2|21|lc=y}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (2001) – Video Sales |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Sen-to-Chihiro-no-Kamikakushi#tab=video-sales |access-date=25 April 2021 |website=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |archive-date=8 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108172921/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Sen-to-Chihiro-no-Kamikakushi#tab=video-sales |url-status=live }}</ref> In the United Kingdom, the film's Studio Ghibli anniversary release appeared several times on the annual lists of best-selling [[foreign language film]] on [[home video]], ranking number six in 2015,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2016.pdf |title=Statistical Yearbook 2016 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |year=2016 |location=United Kingdom |pages=144 |access-date=25 April 2022 |archive-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520120749/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2016.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> number five in 2016,<ref name=":22">{{Cite book |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2017.pdf |title=Statistical Yearbook 2017 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |year=2017 |location=United Kingdom |pages=140–1 |access-date=25 April 2022 |archive-date=20 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220520211817/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2017.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and number one in 2019.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/industry-data-insights/statistical-yearbook |title=BFI Statistical Yearbook 2020 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |year=2020 |location=United Kingdom |pages=94 |access-date=26 April 2022 |archive-date=27 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427094931/https://www.bfi.org.uk/industry-data-insights/statistical-yearbook |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Television ===
The film was aired on [[Nippon TV]] (NTV) in Japan, on 24 January 2003. It became NTV's most-watched film of all time with a 46.9% [[Audience measurement|audience rating]], surpassing the 35.1% record previously set by ''Princess Mononoke'' in 1999.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hamano |first1=Keiji |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/18620778/the-japanese-market-for-uk-films-bfi |title=The Japanese Market for UK Films |last2=Kitae |first2=Hiroyuki |last3=Udagawa |first3=Shoji |last4=Watanabe |first4=Yasuko |last5=Uchiyama |first5=Takashi |date=November 2007 |publisher=Cinema Alliance Limited, [[UK Film Council]], [[British Film Institute]] |pages=58–9 |access-date=22 April 2022 |via=[[Yumpu]] |archive-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923134131/https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/18620778/the-japanese-market-for-uk-films-bfi |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the United Kingdom, the film was watched by 670,000 viewers on [[BBC2]] in 2010. This made it the year's most-watched foreign-language film on [[BBC]], and the year's second highest foreign film on UK television (below the Indian [[Bollywood]] film ''[[Om Shanti Om]]'').<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=2011 |title=Statistical Yearbook 11 |pages=109 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2011.pdf |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=16 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516061604/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/bfi-statistical-yearbook-2011.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Spirited Away'' was later watched by 300,000 UK viewers on BBC2 in 2011, making it the year's most-watched foreign-language film on BBC2.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012 |title=BFI Statistical Yearbook 2012 |pages=125 |publisher=[[British Film Institute]] (BFI) |url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/uk-film-council-statistical-yearbook-2010.pdf |access-date=21 April 2022 |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423012731/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/downloads/uk-film-council-statistical-yearbook-2010.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Combined, the film drew a {{Nowrap|{{#expr:670+300}},000}} UK television viewership on BBC2 between 2010 and 2011.

==Reception==
===Critical response===
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds a 96% approval rating based on 221 reviews, with an average rating of 8.6/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "''Spirited Away'' is a dazzling, enchanting, and gorgeously drawn fairy tale that will leave viewers a little more curious and fascinated by the world around them."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spirited_away |title=Spirited Away (2002) |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]] |access-date=18 July 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055754/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/spirited_away |url-status=live }}</ref> The site ranked it 28th on their "300 Best Movies of All Time" list in 2025.<ref>{{cite web |title=300 Best Movies of All Time |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/best-movies-of-all-time/ |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=24 April 2025 |access-date=24 April 2025}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], it has a weighted average score of 96 out of 100 based on reviews from 41 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/spirited-away|title=Spirited Away (2002)|website=[[Metacritic]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|access-date=24 June 2019|archive-date=14 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614181840/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/spirited-away|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film a full four stars, praising the work and Miyazaki's direction. Ebert also said that ''Spirited Away'' was one of "the year's best films", as well as adding it to his "[[The Great Movies|Great Movies]]" list.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/spirited-away-2002|title=Spirited Away|last=Ebert|first=Roger|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=20 September 2002|access-date=16 February 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927142938/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20020920%2FREVIEWS%2F209200306%2F1023|archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref> [[Elvis Mitchell]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' positively reviewed the film and praised the animation. Mitchell drew a favorable comparison to Lewis Carroll's ''[[Through the Looking-Glass]]'', and wrote that Miyazaki's "movies are as much about moodiness as mood" and that "the prospect of animated figures' not being what they seem&nbsp;– either spiritually or physically&nbsp;– heightens the tension".<ref name="NYT review">{{cite news|title=Movie Review&nbsp;– Spirited Away|last=Mitchell|first=Elvis|work=The New York Times|date=20 September 2002|access-date=2 September 2011|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9504E0DB1030F933A1575AC0A9649C8B63|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511225637/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9504E0DB1030F933A1575AC0A9649C8B63|archive-date=11 May 2011}}</ref> Derek Elley of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' said that ''Spirited Away'' "can be enjoyed by sprigs and adults alike" and praised the animation and music.<ref name=variety>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117917040/|title=Spirited Away Review|last=Elley|first=Derek|magazine=Variety|date=18 February 2002|access-date=2 September 2011|archive-date=3 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203134057/https://variety.com/2002/digital/features/spirited-away-2-1200551257/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Kenneth Turan]] of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' praised Miyazaki's direction and the voice acting, as well as saying that the film is the "product of a fierce and fearless imagination whose creations are unlike anything a person has seen before."<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-20-et-turan20-story.html|title= Under the Spell of 'Spirited Away'|first= Kenneth|last= Turan|work= Los Angeles Times|date= 20 September 2002|access-date= 2 September 2011|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120619064427/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/20/entertainment/et-turan20|archive-date= 19 June 2012|df= dmy-all}}</ref> ''[[Orlando Sentinel]]''{{'s}} critic Jay Boyar also praised Miyazaki's direction and said the film is "the perfect choice for a child who has moved into a new home."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2002/10/11/spirited-away-a-magic-carpet-ride/ |last=Boyar |first=Jay |title='Spirited Away'&nbsp;– A Magic Carpet Ride |work=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |date=11 October 2002 |access-date=1 September 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004170927/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2002-10-11/entertainment/0210100393_1_chihiro-john-lasseter-sorceress |archive-date=4 October 2012 }}</ref>

In 2004, ''[[Cinefantastique]]'' listed the film as one of the "10 Essential Animations".<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Persons|first1=Dan|title=The Americanization of Anime: 10 Essential Animations|magazine=[[Cinefantastique]]|date=February–March 2004|volume=36|issue=1|page=48|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ly0nAQAAIAAJ&q=editions:0AFLRE736LO1AnqYXhN92VLUi3o6sFT1GgYU-Fw2cLmjwIZk1c7q9_ZE|access-date=28 April 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428143017/https://books.google.com/books?id=ly0nAQAAIAAJ&dq=editions:0AFLRE736LO1AnqYXhN92VLUi3o6sFT1GgYU-Fw2cLmjwIZk1c7q9_ZE|archive-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> In 2005, ''Spirited Away'' was ranked by [[IGN]] as the 12th-best animated film of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title = The Top 25 Animated Movies of All-Time |url = http://movies.ign.com/articles/650/650717p4.html |work = [[IGN Entertainment]] |access-date = 6 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120413172425/http://movies.ign.com/articles/650/650717p4.html |archive-date = 13 April 2012 }}</ref> The film is also the ninth highest-rated film of all time on Metacritic, being the highest rated traditionally animated film on the site. The film ranked tenth in [[Empire (film magazine)|''Empire'']] magazine's "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema" in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Best Films of World Cinema&nbsp;– 10. Spirited Away|url=https://www.empireonline.com/features/100-greatest-world-cinema-films/default.asp?film=10|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018203119/http://www.empireonline.com/features/100-greatest-world-cinema-films/default.asp?film=10|archive-date=18 October 2012|work=Empire}}</ref> In 2010, Rotten Tomatoes ranked it as the thirteenth-best animated film on the site,<ref>{{cite web|title=Best Animated Films&nbsp;– Spirited Away|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_animated_films/spirited_away/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227072955/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_animated_films/spirited_away|archive-date=27 December 2012|access-date=6 May 2010|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=Flixster}}</ref> and in 2012, as the seventeenth.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Best Animated Films|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_animated_movies_2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115000725/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/guides/best_animated_movies_2012|archive-date=15 January 2018|access-date=2 February 2018|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]}}</ref> In 2019, it topped the site's list of 140 essential animated films.<ref>"[https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/essential-animated-movies/2/ 140 essential animated movies to watch now] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807222431/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/essential-animated-movies/2/ |date=7 August 2020 }}." ''Rotten Tomatoes''. 2019. Retrieved 28 August 2020.</ref> The film was ranked at number 46 on ''[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out]]'' magazine's list of "The 100 Best Movies of All Time".<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Best Movies of All Time|work=Time Out New York |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/movies/best-movies-of-all-time|date=8 April 2021|access-date=21 May 2021|archive-date=6 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606054932/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/movies/best-movies-of-all-time|url-status=live}}</ref> The film is listed within the top ten on the [[British Film Institute]]'s list of "Top 50 films for children up to the age of 14".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120525190334/http://www.bfi.org.uk/education/conferences/watchthis/top50.html "Watch This: Top fifty films for children up to the age of 14".]  Archived 25 May 2012.</ref> In 2016, it was voted the [[BBC's 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century|fourth-best film of the 21st century]] by the [[BBC]], as picked by 177 film critics from around the world, making it the highest-ranking animated film on the list.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films | title=The 21st Century's 100 greatest films | work=BBC | date=23 August 2016 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131124228/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films | archive-date=31 January 2017 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 2017, ''[[The New York Times]]'' ranked it as the second best film of the 21st Century so far.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/09/movies/the-25-best-films-of-the-21st-century.html|title=The 25 Best Films of the 21st Century So Far.|date=9 June 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=12 June 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708065541/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/09/movies/the-25-best-films-of-the-21st-century.html|archive-date=8 July 2017}}</ref> In 2021, the [[Writers Guild of America]] ranked ''Spirited Away''{{'s}} screenplay the 67th greatest of the 21st century so far.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Erik |date=6 December 2021 |title=101 Greatest Screenplays Of The 21st Century: Horror Pic Tops Writers Guild's List |url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/greatest-screenplays-of-21st-century-list-writers-guild-get-out-1234885622/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206184612/https://deadline.com/2021/12/greatest-screenplays-of-21st-century-list-writers-guild-get-out-1234885622/ |archive-date=6 December 2021 |access-date=16 October 2022 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> In 2022, the film was ranked number 75 on ''[[Sight & Sound]]''{{'s}} greatest films list, being one of two animated films to make the list (alongside Miyazaki's own ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'').<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ugwu |first=Reggie |date=1 December 2022 |title=Chantal Akerman's 'Jeanne Dielman' Named Greatest Film of All Time in Sight and Sound Poll |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/01/movies/jeanne-dielman-greatest-film-of-all-time-sight-and-sound-poll.html |access-date=2 December 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201201633/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/01/movies/jeanne-dielman-greatest-film-of-all-time-sight-and-sound-poll.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Greatest Films of All Time |url=https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/greatest-films-all-time |access-date=2 December 2022 |website=BFI |language=en |archive-date=18 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318214144/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/greatest-films-all-time |url-status=live }}</ref>

In his book ''Otaku'', [[Hiroki Azuma (critic)|Hiroki Azuma]] observed: "Between 2001 and 2007, the [[otaku]] forms and markets quite rapidly won social recognition in Japan," and cites Miyazaki's win at the Academy Awards for ''Spirited Away'' among his examples.<ref>{{cite book|last=Azuma|first=Hiroki|date=10 April 2009|title=Otaku|url=https://archive.org/details/otaku-hiroki-azuma/page/n11/mode/2up|location=Minneapolis|publisher=University of Minnesota Press|chapter=Preface|page=xi|isbn=978-0816653515|access-date=31 August 2023}}</ref><!--<ref>{{Cite book |last=Azuma |first=Hiroki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HhuHWI0Giu0C&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=Otaku: Japan's Database Animals |date=2009 |publisher=U of Minnesota Press |isbn=978-0-8166-5351-5 |language=en}}</ref>-->

=== Accolades ===

{{Main list|List of accolades received by Spirited Away{{!}}List of accolades received by ''Spirited Away''}}

{| class="wikitable sortable plain-row-headers"
|-
! scope="col" | Award
! scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Category
! scope="col" | Recipient
! scope="col" | Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{refh}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan=3| 56th [[Mainichi Film Awards]]
| style="text-align: center;" rowspan="3" |2001
| [[Mainichi Film Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| ''Spirited Away''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align: center;" rowspan="3" | <ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ja:毎日映画コンクール 第56回（2001年） |url=https://mainichi.jp/mfa/history/056.html |access-date=March 3, 2025 |work=[[Mainichi Shimbun]] |language=ja}}</ref>
|-
| [[Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film|Best Animated Film]]
| ''Spirited Away''
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Mainichi Film Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
| [[Hayao Miyazaki]]
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" | 25th [[Japan Academy Prize (film)|Japan Academy Award]]
| style="text-align: center;" rowspan="3" |2002
| [[Japan Academy Prize for Picture of the Year|Best Film]]
| ''Spirited Away''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref name="japanacademy">{{cite web |url=http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=25 |title=List of award-winning films at the 25th Japan Academy Awards |access-date=14 May 2012 |work=Japan Academy Awards Association |language=ja |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305164115/http://www.japan-academy-prize.jp/prizes/?t=25 |archive-date=5 March 2012 }}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" |[[Tokyo Anime Award]]
| Animation of the Year
| ''Spirited Away''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align: center;" rowspan="2" | <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tokyoanime.jp/taf2006/taf2005/2002/j/vote/index.htm |script-title=ja:新世紀東京国際アニメフェア21|publisher=[[Tokyo Anime Award]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070329040643/http://www.tokyoanime.jp/taf2006/taf2005/2002/j/vote/index.htm |archive-date=March 29, 2007 |url-status=dead| access-date=March 29, 2007 |language=ja}}</ref>
|-
| Best Director
| Hayao Miyazaki
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="row" | [[75th Academy Awards]]
| style="text-align: center;" rowspan="4" |2003
| [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
|  ''Spirited Away''
|  {{won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/75th-winners.html | title=The 75th Academy Awards (2003) Nominees and Winners | publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | access-date=9 August 2013 | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130043610/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/75th-winners.html | archive-date=30 November 2011 | df=dmy-all }}</ref>
|-
! scope="rowgroup" rowspan="2" | [[30th Annie Awards]]
| [[Annie Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]]
|  ''Spirited Away''
|  {{won}}
| style="text-align: center;" rowspan="2" | <ref>{{cite news|url=http://annieawards.org/30thwinners.html |title=Legacy: 30th Annual Annie Award Nominees and Winners (2002) |access-date=February 20, 2009 |publisher=[[Annie Awards]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220190143/http://annieawards.org/30thwinners.html |archive-date=February 20, 2009 }}</ref>
|-
| [[Annie Award for Directing in a Feature Production|Directing in an Animated Feature Production]]
| Hayao Miyazaki
| {{won}}
|-
! scope="rowgroup" | [[29th Saturn Awards]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Animated Film|Best Animated Film]]
| ''Spirited Away''
| {{won}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Jevon |date=March 7, 2003 |title='Towers,' 'Report' top Saturn nominees |url=https://variety.com/2003/digital/markets-festivals/towers-report-top-saturn-nominees-1117881826/ |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |access-date=March 3, 2025 }}</ref><!-- nomination --><br/><ref>{{cite web |title=Minority Report & The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers win big at the 29th Annual Saturn Awards |url=http://www.saturnawards.org/ |publisher=Saturn Awards |access-date=May 25, 2003 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030525055901/http://www.saturnawards.org/ |archive-date=May 25, 2003 }}</ref><!-- winner -->
|-
! scope="row" | [[57th British Academy Film Awards]]
| style="text-align: center;" | 2004
| [[57th British Academy Film Awards#Best Film Not in the English Language|Best Film Not in the English Language]]
| ''Spirited Away''
| {{nominated}}
| style="text-align: center;" | <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=2003 | title=Film Nominations 2003 | publisher=[[BAFTA]] | access-date=November 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103192448/http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/nominations/?year=2003 |archive-date=November 3, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><br/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3490323.stm |title=Bafta awards 2004: The winners |publisher=BBC News |date=February 15, 2004 |access-date=March 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325041841/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3490323.stm |archive-date=March 25, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|}

== Impact and legacy ==
[[File:LTZ1423-15-20240430-193650.jpg|thumb|[[Double-decker bus]] in [[London]] carrying an advertisement banner for the stage adaption cast of ''Spirited Away'' in April 2024]]

=== Film industry ===
''Spirited Away'' is frequently regarded as one of the best films of the 21st century as well as one of the [[List of films considered the best#Animation (shorts and features)|greatest animated films ever made]].<ref name="Paste">{{cite web|date=3 November 2009|title=The 50 Best Movies of the Decade (2000–2009)|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/50-best-movies-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111212193238/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2009/11/50-best-movies-of-the-decade-2000-2009.html|archive-date=12 December 2011|access-date=14 December 2011|work=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]]}}</ref><ref name="Metadecade">{{cite web|date=3 January 2010|title=Film Critics Pick the Best Movies of the Decade|url=https://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-the-best-movies-of-the-decade|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204092604/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/film-critics-pick-the-best-movies-of-the-decade|archive-date=4 February 2017|access-date=4 September 2012|website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Top 100 Animation Movies|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies/?category=2|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509065911/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies/?category=2|archive-date=9 May 2013|access-date=6 May 2013|website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> ''[[Comic Book Resources]]'' wrote that the film "set the bar extremely high for all anime movies that followed it – including Studio Ghibli's" and further explained that "It's a movie many people re-watch due to its comfort and nostalgia, and since Netflix brought the Ghibli movies to North America last year, it's become even more accessible".<ref>{{cite web|last=Waxman|first=Nicole|url=https://www.cbr.com/spirited-away-20-year-anniversary-legacy/|title=Spirited Away's Powerful Legacy Lives On, 20 Years Later|date=22 July 2021|website=CBR.com|accessdate=16 April 2022|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416210823/https://www.cbr.com/spirited-away-20-year-anniversary-legacy/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rs?|reason=Comic Book Resources is considered questionable after 2016. ([[WP:CBR]])|date=February 2025}} Swapnil Dhruv Bose from ''[[Far Out Magazine]]'' declared the film to be "the greatest animated film of all time" and explained that it "resonated with audiences all over the world despite the existence of cultural barriers is because of its brilliantly devised universality" and has the ability to "generate fascinating multiplicities which morph according to the age of the viewer". In another article detailing [[Hayao Miyazaki]]'s wide impact to the film industry, he wrote "The influence of ''Spirited Away'' can be easily observed in Disney productions like ''[[Brave (2012 film)|Brave]]'' and ''[[Frozen (2013 film)|Frozen]]'', thanks to John Lasseter's (the Chief Creative Officer of Pixar) efforts to introduce it to Western audiences".<ref>{{cite web|last=Dhruv Bose|first=Swapnil|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/hayao-miyazaki-spirited-away-greatest-animated-film-of-all-time/|title=20 years of a Hayao Miyazaki masterpiece: Why 'Spirited Away' is the greatest animated film of all time|date=26 June 2021|magazine=Far Out Magazine|accessdate=16 April 2022|archive-date=26 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426173726/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/hayao-miyazaki-spirited-away-greatest-animated-film-of-all-time/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Dhruv Bose|first=Swapnil|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/hayao-miyazaki-studio-ghibli-life-career-films/|title=Hayao Miyazaki: The life and lasting influence of the Studio Ghibli auteur-animator|date=5 January 2021|magazine=Far Out Magazine|accessdate=16 April 2022|archive-date=5 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105115729/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/hayao-miyazaki-studio-ghibli-life-career-films/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]'' also declared ''Spirited Away'' to be the all-time best animated film and wrote that the film "showed how breathtaking, heartfelt, and serious animation can be" that "[[Pixar]], [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]], and other mainstream animators have still failed to genuinely realize 15 years later".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ewens|first=Hannah|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/spirited-away-ghibli-miyazaki-15th-15-year-anniversary-best-animation-hannah-ewens/|title=Why 'Spirited Away' Is the Best Animated Film of All Time|date=20 July 2016|magazine=Vice|access-date=16 April 2022|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416212916/https://www.vice.com/en/article/8geg4b/spirited-away-ghibli-miyazaki-15th-15-year-anniversary-best-animation-hannah-ewens|url-status=live}}</ref>

Film director [[Steven Spielberg]] said that ''Spirited Away'' might be "better than any Disney films" he has ever seen.<ref>{{cite web|last=Peters|first=Megan|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/steven-spielberg-hayao-miyazaki-influence-anime/|title=Steven Spielberg Reveals How Hayao Miyazaki Inspires Him|date=25 April 2018|magazine=comicbook|accessdate=16 April 2022|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416225608/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/steven-spielberg-hayao-miyazaki-influence-anime/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Rayna Denison]], professor of film, television, and media studies, told ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' that "This is a film made by a master animator at the height of his powers and it is one where the quality of the animation really does set it apart from everything else around it. Nobody else was making films that looked like this or that were as inventive as this was at this time".<ref>{{cite web|last=Moon|first=Kat|url=https://time.com/6081937/spirited-away-changed-animation-studio-ghibli/|title=How Spirited Away Changed Animation Forever|date=20 July 2021|magazine=Time|accessdate=17 April 2022|archive-date=5 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805005044/https://time.com/6081937/spirited-away-changed-animation-studio-ghibli/|url-status=live}}</ref> The film has been cited as influence for various [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]] and [[Pixar]] animated films. Production designer [[Harley Jessup]] said that he initially looked at ''Spirited Away'' and was inspired by the spiritual feelings elements to utilize them in ''[[Coco (2017 film)|Coco]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bui|first=Hoai-Tran|date=28 August 2017|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/552987/world-of-coco/|title=How 'Coco' Was Influenced By 'John Wick', 'Spirited Away,' And Mexican History|website=Slash Film|accessdate=16 April 2022|archive-date=16 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416215328/https://www.slashfilm.com/552987/world-of-coco/|url-status=live}}</ref> Co-writers Ken and Ryan Firpo cited the film as one of the influences that helps them explore "ideas of morality and humanity" in ''[[Eternals (film)|Eternals]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=McGlynn|first=Anthony|url=https://www.thedigitalfix.com/marvel-cinematic-universe/eternals-spirited-away-final-fantasy-7|title=Eternals was inspired by Spirited Away and Final Fantasy 7|date=15 November 2021|website=The Digital Fix|accessdate=17 April 2022|archive-date=17 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417153216/https://www.thedigitalfix.com/marvel-cinematic-universe/eternals-spirited-away-final-fantasy-7|url-status=live}}</ref>  ''[[Turning Red]]''{{'s}} director [[Domee Shi]] named ''Spirited Away'' as one of her favorite animated films and one of the influences for her film.<ref>{{cite web|last=Havis|first=Richard James|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3169814/animes-influence-pixars-turning-red-spirited-away-director|title=Anime's influence on Pixar's Turning Red – Spirited Away is director Domee Shi's favourite movie – and how its giant panda is a metaphor for the pains of growing up|date=9 March 2022|website=South China Morning Post|accessdate=16 April 2022|archive-date=15 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220415215834/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3169814/animes-influence-pixars-turning-red-spirited-away-director|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Commercial and cultural significance===
According to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'', ''Spirited Away'' "arrived at a time when animation was widely perceived as a genre solely for children, and when cultural differences often became barriers to the global distribution of animated works" but it "shattered preconceived notions about the art form and also proved that, as a film created in Japanese with elements of Japanese folklore central to its core, it could resonate deeply with audiences around the world". Denison emphasized that [[John Lasseter]] and [[Walt Disney Animation Studios|Disney]] "boosted ''Spirited Away''{{'s}} visibility in America by heavily campaigning for the film to be considered for the Academy Awards", and cited it as one of the reasons why it won [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Moon|first=Kat|url=https://time.com/6081937/spirited-away-changed-animation-studio-ghibli/|title=How Spirited Away Changed Animation Forever|date=20 July 2021|magazine=Time|accessdate=16 April 2022|archive-date=5 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230805005044/https://time.com/6081937/spirited-away-changed-animation-studio-ghibli/|url-status=live}}</ref> Writer [[Jonathan Clements]], whose published works revolve around East Asian culture, [[anime]], and Japanese television dramas, emphasized that the film's Oscar win was "a wake-up call for a lot of people in the film business who had been disregarding Japanese animation for years".<ref>{{cite book|title=Anime: A History|last=Clements|first=Jonathan|date=28 November 2013|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |edition=1st|isbn=978-1844573905}}</ref> Susan Napier, professor of Japanese studies at [[Tufts University]], called ''Spirited Away''{{'s}} wins at major Western award shows "a very big shot in the arm to the Japanese animation industry". She further explained that [[cartoon]]s in the West have often been seen as "childish, vulgar, things that you didn't take seriously" but after the film took home the Academy Award, people were starting to see animation as "a real art form".<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art]] |last=Napier |first=Susan J. |authorlink=Susan J. Napier |publisher=[[Yale University Press]] |year=2018 |isbn=978-0-300-22685-0}}</ref>{{page needed|date=August 2024}}

===Stage adaptation===
A stage adaptation of ''Spirited Away'' was announced in February 2021 with a world premiere planned in Tokyo on 28 February 2022. It is written and directed by [[John Caird (director)|John Caird]], with [[Toho]] as the production company, with Studio Ghibli's blessing. The role of Chihiro is played by both [[Kanna Hashimoto]] and [[Mone Kamishiraishi]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://deadline.com/2021/02/spirited-away-stage-adaptation-hayao-miyazaki-john-caird-toho-japan-1234700789/ | title = 'Spirited Away': Hayao Miyazaki's Classic Animated Oscar Winner To Be Adapted For The Stage | first = Nancy | last = Tartaglione | date = 25 February 2021 | access-date = 25 February 2021 | work = [[Deadline Hollywood]] | archive-date = 26 February 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210226022302/https://deadline.com/2021/02/spirited-away-stage-adaptation-hayao-miyazaki-john-caird-toho-japan-1234700789/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://soranews24.com/2021/11/10/first-look-at-studio-ghiblis-new-spirited-away-live-action-stage-play/ |title=First look at Studio Ghibli's new Spirited Away live-action stage play |work=SoraNews24.com |last=McGee |first=Oona |date=10 November 2021 |access-date=7 January 2022 |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117195157/https://soranews24.com/2021/11/10/first-look-at-studio-ghiblis-new-spirited-away-live-action-stage-play/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2023, it was announced that the production would have its European premiere at the [[London Coliseum]] from April 2024,<ref>{{cite web |title=European premiere of Spirited Away to be staged in London |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/european-premiere-of-spirited-away-to-be-staged-in-london_1515898/ |website=[[WhatsOnStage.com]] |date=2 August 2023 |access-date=2 August 2023 |archive-date=2 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802100550/https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/european-premiere-of-spirited-away-to-be-staged-in-london_1515898/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with most of the cast reprising their roles.<ref>{{cite web |title=Full cast announced for SPIRITED AWAY European premiere |url=https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/spirited-away-london-cast |website=[[London Box Office]] |date=1 March 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3" |Main Cast
|-
!Character name
! colspan="2" |Actor (Double Cast)
|-
|''Chihiro'' (千尋) 
|[[Kanna Hashimoto]]
|[[Mone Kamishiraishi]]
|-
|''Haku'' (ハク) 
|Kotarou Daigo
|[[Hiroki Miura]]
|-
|''Kaonashi'' (顔無し)
|[[Koharu Sugawara]]
|Tomohiko Tsujimoto
|-
|''Rin'' (リン)
|Miyu Sakihi
|Fuu Hinami
|-
|''Kamajī'' (釜爺)
|[[Tomorowo Taguchi]]
|[[Satoshi Hashimoto]]
|-
|''Yubāba'' (湯婆婆) / ''Zenība'' (銭婆)
|[[Mari Natsuki]]
|[[Romi Park]]
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Anime and manga|Film|Japan|Speculative fiction|Fantasy}}
* [[2000s in film]]
* ''[[Isekai]]''
* [[List of highest-grossing anime films]]
* [[List of highest-grossing films in Japan]]
* ''[[Noppera-bō]]'': Japanese "no-face" spirit

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Boyd, James W., and Tetsuya Nishimura. 2004. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20160501075434/http://www.unomaha.edu/jrf/Vol8No2/boydShinto.htm Shinto Perspectives in Miyazaki's Anime Film 'Spirited Away']." ''[[The Journal of Religion and Film]]'' 8(2).
* {{cite journal|last1=Broderick|first1=Mick|title=Intersections Review, Spirited Away by Miyazaki's Fantasy|journal=Intersections: Gender, History and Culture in the Asian Context|date=2003|issue=9|url=http://intersections.anu.edu.au/issue9/broderick_review.html|access-date=5 June 2016}}
* Callis, Cari. 2010. "Nothing that Happens is ever Forgotten." In ''Anime and Philosophy'', edited by J. Steiff and T. D. Tamplin. New York: Open Court. {{ISBN|9780812697131}}.
* {{Citation | author1=Cooper, Damon | title=Finding the spirit within: a critical analysis of film techniques in spirited Away.(Critical essay) | magazine=Babel | date=1 November 2010 | publisher=Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers Associations | volume=45 | issue=1 | pages=30(6) | issn=0005-3503 }}
* {{cite book | last=Coyle | first=Rebecca | year=2010 | title=Drawn to Sound: Animation Film Music and Sonicity | publisher=Equinox Publishing | isbn=978-1-84553-352-6 | quote=Drawn to Sound focuses on feature-length, widely distributed films released in the period since World War II, from producers in the USA, UK, Japan and France-from Animal Farm (1954) to Happy Feet (2006), Yellow Submarine (1968) to Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005), Spirited Away (2001) and Les Triplettes de Belleville (2003). }}
*{{cite book|last=Denison|first=Rayna|year=2008|chapter=The global markets for anime: Miyazaki Hayao's Spirited away (2001)|editor1-last=Phillips|editor1-first=Alastair|editor2-last=Stringer|editor2-first=Julian|title=Japanese Cinema: Texts and Contexts|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0-415-32847-0}}
*{{cite book | last=Fielding | first=Julien R. | year=2008 | title=Discovering World Religions at 24 Frames Per Second | publisher=Scarecrow Press | isbn=978-0-8108-5996-8 | quote=Several films with a 'cult-like' following are also discussed, such as ''Fight Club'', ''Princess Mononoke'', ''Spirited Away'', and ''Jacob's Ladder''. }}
* {{cite web|author=Fox, Kit |url=http://www.animerica-mag.com/features/11.05/sareview.html |title=Spirited Away |work=Animerica |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040407174919/http://www.animerica-mag.com/features/11.05/sareview.html |archive-date= 7 April 2004 |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite book|last=Galbraith IV|first=Stuart|year=2008|title=The Toho Studios Story: A History and Complete Filmography|publisher=Scarecrow Press|isbn=978-0-8108-6004-9|quote=Since its inception in 1933, Toho Co., Ltd., Japan's most famous movie production company and distributor, has produced and/or distributed some of the most notable films ever to come out of Asia, including ''Seven Samurai'', ''Godzilla'', ''When a Woman Ascends the Stairs'', ''Kwaidan'', ''Woman in the Dunes'', ''Ran'', ''Shall We Dance?'', ''Ringu'', and ''Spirited Away''.}}
* {{cite book | last=Geortz | first=Dee | year=2009 | chapter=The hero with the thousand-and-first face: Miyazaki's girl quester in Spirited away and Campbell's Monomyth | editor1-last=Perlich | editor1-first=John | editor2-last=Whitt | editor2-first=David | title=Millennial Mythmaking: Essays on the Power of Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature, Films and Games | publisher=McFarland | isbn=978-0-7864-4562-2 }}
* {{cite book | last=Hooks | first=Ed | year=2005 | chapter=''Spirited Away'' | title=Acting in Animation: A Look at 12 Films | publisher=Heinemann Drama | isbn=978-0-325-00705-2 }}
* {{Citation | author1=Knox, Julian | title=Hoffmann, Goethe, and Miyazaki's Spirited Away.(E.T.A. Hoffmann, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Hayao Miyazaki)(Critical essay) | journal=[[Wordsworth Circle]] | date=22 June 2011 | publisher=Wordsworth Circle | volume=42 | issue=3 | pages=198(3) | doi=10.1086/TWC24043148 | s2cid=169044013 | issn=0043-8006 }}
* {{Citation | author1=Matthews, Kate | title=Logic and Narrative in 'Spirited Away' | journal=Screen Education | date=2006 | issue=43 | pages=135–140 | issn=1449-857X }}
*{{cite book|last=Napier|first=Susan J.|year=2005|title=[[Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle: Experiencing Contemporary Japanese Animation]]|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-4039-7051-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Osmond |first=Andrew |author-link=Andrew Osmond (journalist) |title=Spirited Away |publisher=[[Palgrave Macmillan]] |date=2008 |isbn=978-1-8387-1952-4}}
*Suzuki, Ayumi. 2009. "[http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc51.2009/SpiritedAway/ A nightmare of capitalist Japan: Spirited Away]", ''[[Jump Cut (journal)|Jump Cut]]'' 51
*Yang, Andrew. 2010. "The Two Japans of 'Spirited Away'." ''[[International Journal of Comic Art]]'' 12(1):435–52.
*{{cite book | last=Yoshioka | first=Shiro | year=2008 | chapter=Heart of Japaneseness: History and Nostalgia in Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away | editor-last=MacWilliams | editor-first=Mark W | title=Japanese Visual Culture: Explorations in the World of Manga and Anime | pages=268–285 | publisher=M.E. Sharpe | doi=10.4324/9781315703152-19 | doi-broken-date=1 November 2024 | isbn=978-0-7656-1601-2 | url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315703152-19/heart-japaneseness-history-nostalgia-hayao-miyazaki-spirited-away-shiro-yoshioka | access-date=7 February 2022 | archive-date=7 February 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207205900/https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315703152-19/heart-japaneseness-history-nostalgia-hayao-miyazaki-spirited-away-shiro-yoshioka | url-status=dead }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Spirited Away}}
{{wikiquote}}
<!-- * {{Official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20021205220352/http://bventertainment.go.com/movies/spiritedaway/index2.html}} -->
* {{IMDb title|0245429}}
* {{TCMDb title|437090}}
* {{anime News Network|anime|377}}
* [http://www.jmdb.ne.jp/2001/dy002010.htm ''Spirited Away''] at the Japanese Movie Database {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/75th-winners.html 75th Academy Awards Winners | Oscar Legacy | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences]

{{Hayao Miyazaki}}
{{Studio Ghibli Films}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''Spirited Away''
|list =
{{Academy Award for Best Animated Feature}}
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Movie for Grownups Who Refuse to Grow Up}}
{{Animation Kobe Feature Film Award}}
{{Annie Award for Best Animated Feature}}
{{Blue Ribbon Award for Best Film}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Golden Bear 2000-2019}}
{{Japan Academy Prize for Best Film}}
{{Japan Media Arts Festival for Animation of the Year}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Mainichi Film Award for Best Film}}
{{Mainichi Film Award - Animation Film Award}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Film}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Satellite Award Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature Film}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Tokyo Anime Award for Animation of the Year}}
{{Tokyo Anime Award for Theatrical Film}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 anime films]]
[[Category:2001 fantasy films]]
[[Category:2001 films]]
[[Category:2000s children's animated films]]
[[Category:2000s children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:2000s coming-of-age films]]
[[Category:2000s Japanese-language films]]
[[Category:Animated coming-of-age films]]
[[Category:Animated films about dragons]]
[[Category:Animated films about families]]
[[Category:Animated films about parallel universes]]
[[Category:Animated films about pigs]]
[[Category:Animated films about shapeshifting]]
[[Category:Animated films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Animated films set in Japan]]
[[Category:Anime films with original screenplays]]
[[Category:Best Animated Feature Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Animated Feature Annie Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Animated Feature Broadcast Film Critics Association Award winners]]
[[Category:Coming-of-age anime and manga]]
[[Category:Films about curses]]
[[Category:Films about frogs]]
[[Category:Films about kidnapping]]
[[Category:Films directed by Hayao Miyazaki]]
[[Category:Films produced by Toshio Suzuki]]
[[Category:Films scored by Joe Hisaishi]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Hayao Miyazaki]]
[[Category:Golden Bear winners]]
[[Category:Isekai anime and manga]]
[[Category:Japanese animated fantasy films]]
[[Category:Japanese children's fantasy films]]
[[Category:Japanese coming-of-age films]]
[[Category:Japanese fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Japanese ghost films]]
[[Category:Japanese mythology in anime and manga]]
[[Category:Nippon Television films]]
[[Category:Picture of the Year Japan Academy Prize winners]]
[[Category:Satellite Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
[[Category:Studio Ghibli animated films]]
[[Category:Toho animated films]]
[[Category:Tohokushinsha films]]
[[Category:Tokuma Shoten anime]]
[[Category:Yōkai in anime and manga]]