Spirited Away
by Michael Su, Special Contributor and Joanna K. Lui, Editor-In-Chief

Typically, foreign films are imported to America and, after limited publicity and play, will generally sink back into obscurity. This trend is distressing because audiences are deprived of the cultural exposure brought by these films. This is especially true with Japanese animation films, which are typically seen as part of the realm of children's movies like Pokémon or that of diehard animé fans.

Currently playing in theatres is the highest grossing movie of all time in Japan, which just so happens to be an animé. Before arriving on our shores, this film has been critically acclaimed internationally as a masterpiece of animation. Upon arriving in America, it was also praised by almost every reviewer. So why haven't you seen trailers or commercials for this film? It's currently in limited release because nobody seems to believe it will succeed in America, even Disney, the company responsibly for bringing this movie to America. What is this movie you ask?

Spirited Away, or Sen To Chihiro Kamikakushi in its native Japanese, is the latest (and possibly last) work of Hayao Miyazaki, a legend in the world of animé. Often dubbed "the Disney of Japan," Miyazaki has been the brains behind other critically acclaimed (but obscure in America) hits such as Princess Mononoke and My Neighbor Totoro, the latter of which held the record for highest grossing film in Japanese history until Titanic and Spirited Away were released. However, Miyazaki's films differ from Disney movies in a significant way. Miyazaki films are distinguished by its attempts to tackle deeper issues that Disney would never dare to touch. It is not often that you can watch an animated film and take lessons of life with you. His films, presented in a visual splendor, leave you with a sense of well-being and a deeper understanding of the complexities of life. Disney films have often been criticized for their oversimplification of life, relegating their animations to the world of children. However, Spirited Away is as much, if not more, a movie for the enjoyment of adults as it is for children.

Spirited Away is about a girl, Chihiro, who moves to the country with her family. Afraid of the unknown and uncertain future, Chihiro grasps onto her past in the form of a note given to her by her best friend. On her way to her new home, her family gets sidetracked and ends up at what her parents think is an abandoned amusement park - but all is not as it seems. Feeling hungry, Chihiro's parents begin to indulge themselves with helpings of food left at a concession stand. Chihiro, being completely suspicious of the entire situation, goes out to explore on her own. She runs into a boy who warns her that she must leave before the sun sets. Of course, they do not get out in time and when the sun goes down, a strange new world is unveiled. Chihiro's parents are turned into pigs for stealing food and Chihiro is stuck in this strange new world full of demons, witches, and other fantastic creatures.

In order for her to stay in this new world long enough for her to save her parents, Chihiro is told that she must find a job. She finds employment at a bathhouse catering to and pampering the various spirits of the real world. It is owned by Yubaba, a witch who literally takes people's names and thus their identities upon signing a work contract. No longer Chihiro, she is given the name Sen. With a little help from some new found friends, Sen is put to work and must somehow save her parents, regain her name and return to her world.

As a dejected 10-year-old, Chihiro must summon up enough courage to face her daunting task and overcome her fears of the unknown. In her adventures she learns about friendship, devotion and even a little love. As Miyazaki said, Chihiro's "sense to live" is "awakened." But through her trials and through all the characters that we meet along the way, it seems that our own sense to live is awakened. Miyazaki's talent is revealed in the depth of his characters and what they reveal about humanity's flaws as well as its strengths.

For a film that has been met with so much positive response, why has the film not been given more publicity? In a recent Daily News article, Jack Matthews asked the very same question. Why did Disney, who purchased the rights to distribute it in America, spend money and put in the effort of dubbing the film, as opposed to just slapping subtitles on it, if they felt that nobody would go see it? In the past, Disney has spent millions to promote their films, even the flops, and yet has spent relatively little on a film that has made millions internationally. Disney decided not to risk too much on this film by not spending much money and as a result, it hasn't made much either.

As someone who has spent some time growing up in Taiwan (which is a little hop from Japan) and watching Japanese cartoons on the television, watching Spirited Away was nostalgic. It was like being five years old again except that this time, I could appreciate the artwork better and also understand the nuances and meanings behind the story. This is why I think anime in general is so appealing. For people in my generation and older, it provides a link to our pasts, to a simpler time that is no less important.

It is time that Americans come to realize that just because something is animated, it is not necessarily something only children can enjoy. As Chihiro reveals to those that she meets along her journey, even a child can teach important life lessons. Likewise, we soon realize at the end of this film, that a cartoon can also be the platform for meaningful and multi-layered expressions of life. Animation is a legitimate art form that can and should be taken seriously. It keeps us youthful at heart but still manages to satisfy our more mature demands. Maybe that is the secret to the longevity of the Japanese.