Deeper Meaning makes for a Fantastically Customizable film

Rating: 10/10 (30 May 2007)

This is a film with a very simple plot but with very thick meaning. In short, Spirited Away is about a young girl, Chihiro, who witnesses her parents self destruction via a greedy modernist mentality. In order to save them from the self dug trap of modernity, Chihiro, later renamed Sen, goes into a magical world symbolic of tradition. That's it! --- Parents are sucked into modernity and are saved through their daughter's traditional experience. --- Now to get into the nitty gritty of the film. There is a plethora of symbolism for the viewer to ponder upon. Some of these symbols are quite obvious while others require a brief knowledge of the principles they represent. Here is a brief look at some of these principles:
1. Confucianism- the film is filed with Confucian references to a hierarchy and a respect given to elders. Without spoiling anything, look at the references to obedience found in the film and how Hayao Miyazaki presents this principle.
2. Buddhism- Buddhist believe in a life of nonattachment. This principle of rejecting attachment is one of the tools Buddhists are given to stop the cycle of suffering  An idea that is paramount to the understanding of the film. Also important to note with regard to Buddhism is the importance placed on the Middle Way  an idea similar to Taoist balance  this stresses not favoring one extreme over another  find the middle. The aversion to extremes is an important thread within the deeper meaning of the film.
3. Taoism- In inherent to Taoist principles is the idea one should follow their heart. Taoism also strongly values the idea of balance as represented by the Ying-Yang. This means that black and white, good and bad, warm and cold, all exist at the same time and when a good balance is found, there can be peace. Take this knowledge and apply it to the ideas presented in the film of following one's heart. Also pay particular attention to the balances, or maybe even lack there of, and what is happening when there is or is not a sense of balance.
Now that the basic knowledge has been established, watch the film and see how many different meanings are embedded in the picture. There are thousands! Every brush stroke that gives this anime life has meaning and this is what makes the film so fantastic. Aside from an entertaining storyline on the surface, the deeper meanings (which can be found by applying some of the principles above) are what make the film customizable for each viewer. The thought provoking nature of the film will leave an indelible mark on any viewer.
I strongly recommend that anybody who is interested in being 'wowed' watch this film. Even with the deeper meanings aside, the artwork and flow of the story are phenomenal. The techniques used to give the picture life, light, texture, setting, have just as much if not more meaning that the contextual aspects of the film. And once again, even if you are not looking for a movie that requires a little bit of thought, everything which gives this film great meaning, are fantastically entertaining on their own without deeper meaning attached.