The Many Shades of Love in Spirited Away’s Cinematic Artistry

“Once you meet someone, you never really forget them. It just takes a while for your memory to come back to you.”

— Zeniba from Spirited Away

When I watched the movie, I could not help but pour out something in the form of words. A contemplative late-night viewing of Spirited Away proved that there is no better choice than this award-winning masterpiece. Simply a short Instagram story with some fleeting remarks will not be sufficient for me to explore the multitude of love being shown in the movie.

Though this movie may not be new to most people, I had never found the interest to watch it—until its re-release. On a night tangled with my thoughts, I finally decided to give it a try.

Before reading further, be aware that the story and plotline of the movie may be revealed. Additionally, these reflections stem from my personal opinions and ideas. Proceed at your own risk.

Love is a journey, and it is the journey.

The movie begins with a small family moving to a new homeland. However, Chihiro’s true adventure—filled with changes, challenges, and growth—begins when she sets out to rescue her parents from an evil spell triggered by their greed for eating food meant for spirits. From then, she explored the uncharted region of spirits, guided only by her innocent love for her parents, which fueled the courage that helped her overcome all obstacles.

Her grateful love for Haku is also the guiding light that led her to his rescue from the curse that bound him and his servitude to Yubaba. Even when faced with uncertainty about her return, she ventured to Zeniba’s cottage, selflessly determined to help Haku and uncover the truth. This act of courage and devotion showcases how love can inspire resilience and altruism.

Love is being true.

Sometimes, love is nothing grander than embracing your true self—a self defined by honesty, vulnerability, and a commitment to act with kindness. There is a point when you realize that regardless of how much opulence you possess, what matters the most are kindness, sincerity, and actions from the heart.

Just like the way Chihiro—then went on with the new name Sen—truly cared about No-Face when he stood under the rain, she acknowledged his presence and later invited him inside the bathhouse. Despite this, he eventually became despised by other staff in the bathhouse due to his chaotic behavior. While others despise him for his greed and troublemaking, Chihiro sees beyond that, striving to help him return to his true self. She resists the temptation of the gold he offers and focuses on what truly matters: restoring the balance in his spirit.

Similarly, through her determination and the use of the River Spirit’s medicine, Chihiro intentionally expelled the evil creature that served as a spell within Haku’s body, which finally helped break the curse and set him free. She could have saved the medicine to help her parents, but she prioritized Haku—the one in immediate need—because of the bond they had formed and her gratitude for his unwavering support throughout her journey.

Love is to be grateful.

It is hard to tell if gratitude led to love, or vice versa: love led to gratitude. In the main story between Chihiro and Haku, Chihiro is always grateful for the help Haku gave her the very first moments she set foot into the worrisome land of the spirits.

That gratitude is the driving force for her to work to rescue him afterward, enduring trials such as navigating the dangerous and unfamiliar spirit world, confronting Yubaba’s challenges, and overcoming her own fears—all while remaining steadfast in her commitment to Haku. That, to me, is not merely a feeling of pity or a sense of obligation to repay what she received from him, but a genuine act of love rooted in gratitude.

Even the River Spirit reflects this theme. Because of the gratitude for Chihiro’s help in getting rid of all the trash stuck inside his body, the River Spirit gifted her with a herbal cake—a mystic medicine that we later learned can heal and restore balance. This act of gratitude becomes a pivotal part of the story, enabling Chihiro to help both Haku and No-Face.

And what comes from the heart will reach the heart.

Throughout the story, there are many times when we witness the temptation of greed and the frightful challenges that could have lured Chihiro away from her main goal: to rescue her parents. However, her only way to deal with all of this was to stay true to her heart, what she eventually got back was deserving.

We explored many themes of love so far, but it would not be sufficient if we did not mention the sacrifice. Love is, sometimes, one’s sacrifice to the extent of nearly one’s destruction or disadvantage.

While Chihiro could have reserved the River Spirit’s mystic medicine mentioned earlier, for turning her parents back to human form, she sacrificed that to help No-Face and to bring Haku back from the threshold of death and destruction.

Despite all the dangers Chihiro posed to this spiritual world, Haku decided to guide and help her hideaway, waiting for a suitable time to rescue her parents. Thus, in return, Chihiro risked all of her safety, not scared of getting injured, trying to find ways to rescue Haku.

The clarification at the end of the movie about the backstory between the two protagonists is even more tear-jerking. As we know from the film, one way to win back your freedom in this spiritual world is to remember your true name. That, however, was stripped away from all of the creatures because Yubaba wanted to enslave them.

When Chihiro nearly forgot her name, Haku helped her remember who she truly was by reminding her of its importance and encouraging her to hold on to her essence. He knew her name long before that because he had rescued her long ago when she fell into the river, an encounter that left a lasting bond between them. This story helped Chihiro to finally remember that Haku’s real name is after the name of the river and finally freed him from Yubaba’s spell.

Had the two characters not shared their heart’s content for each other, could they remember each other’s name? Moreover, would they have been capable of such profound acts of sacrifice?

To conclude

It’s easy to utter the word “love.” It’s even easier to tell a love story. But to live love wholeheartedly takes far more than just words. Chihiro’s journey is a testament to the power of love, sacrifice, and gratitude.

“Love is a language spoken by everyone, but understood only by the heart.”

— Paulo Coelho

And this blog cannot end without a mention of the original theme song. So, let’s enjoy it together.