SSC 49: Spirited Away (Miyazaki, 2001) Artwork

Single Serving Cinema

Single Serving Cinema looks at one critical scene in a movie every other week. We explore how the scene is constructed, what the scene achieves, and what it can tell us about the movie as a whole. Hosted by Tim & Tay.

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Single Serving Cinema

SSC 49: Spirited Away (Miyazaki, 2001)

April 26, 2023 • Season 2 • Episode 49

Tim & Tay talk about one of the most iconic animated movies of all time, Spirited Away. They discuss this timeless film's attention to the child's perspective, its careful development of her developing sense of agency, and director/writer Hayao Miyazaki's singular approach to his animation.

Synopsis
Spirited Away tells the story of 10-year-old Chihiro, who enters the spirit world after her parents are transformed into pigs. Chihiro takes a job at the spirits’ bathhouse in order to save her parents and find a way home.

Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and starring Rumi Hiiragi, Spirited Away was released July 20, 2021.

Where to watch Spirited Away.

Scene: 52:00-1:06:35

On Chihiro’s first day of work, she is tasked with washing the bathhouse's stinkiest guest, who turns out to be much more than meets the eye (or nose, for that matter).

Links

Recommendations

Tim: Only Yesterday (Takahata, 1991)—where to watch
Tay: The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya (Takahata, 2013)—where to watch

Next episode: Se7en (Fincher, 1995)—where to watch

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