Knowledge Builders

what is the black spirit in spirited away

by Mrs. Eve Cruickshank Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

No-Face

Full Answer

Who is the most powerful spirit in Spirited Away?

Haku is one of Spirited Away 's most beloved characters, and for good reason. Yubaba's reluctant henchman is a charmer and a great friend to Chihiro, but he's also one of the film's most powerful spirits. Unfortunately for Haku, much of the film finds him at the whims of his coercive employer.

What is the story behind Spirited Away?

Spirited Away is just one of the many artistic masterpieces created by award-winning director and animator, Hayao Miyazaki. The film's memorable characters and storyline awarded Miyazaki his first Oscar. The story follows a young girl named Chihiro on her quest to save her parents as she navigates her way through a mystical bathhouse.

What does~ no face mean in Spirited Away?

~ No Face. No-Face is a major character in the award-winning 2001 Japanese animated film Spirited Away. He is a dark spirit who devours other spirits and absorbs their emotions, causing him to take on their attitudes, especially negative ones. He serves as an antagonist until his redemption .

What are the soot sprites in Spirited Away?

The Soot Sprites (すすワタリ, susuwatari, lit. "travelling soot", "soot sprites") are spirits that appear in the films My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away. They are small, round balls made from the soot that dwells in old and abandoned houses and leave black dirt in their wake.

See more

image

Why does No-Face want Chihiro?

No-Face becomes obsessed with Chihiro, and wants to see her and her only. He becomes extremely volatile after being fed the River Spirit's emetic dumpling by Chihiro, and while fleeing from the obviously now-hostile spirit, Chihiro calls out to him twice to follow her.

What was the dirty spirit in Spirited Away?

Stink SpiritA Stink Spirit is, apparently, a spirit so disgusting that it appears as a large, smelly mass of sludge or ooze. One such Stink Spirit appeared in Spirited Away. However, the Stink Spirit that appeared was actually just a River Spirit that had been too polluted by garbage that needed to be removed.

What does the masked spirit in Spirited Away represent?

No Face from Spirited Away most likely represents loneliness and the longing to get noticed. In his first few appearances, despite the eerie background music, he seems like a gentle spirit who does not speak much and only observes his surroundings.

What are the soot sprites eating in Spirited Away?

If they don't do their work then their purpose goes unfulfilled and the spell wears of. Whereas we don't know what the soot sprites in "Totoro" eat, or if they eat, the sprites in "Spirited Away" are fed konpeitō (kon-payee-toh), a type of colorful sugar candy introduced to Japan by the Portuguese in the early 1500s.

Why was the river spirit so dirty?

The River Spirit is assumed to be the spirit of a very large and powerful river in the Human World. Due to humans consistently dumping their trash and filth into his river, the River Spirit was transformed into a filthy, muddy creature called a Stink Spirit that leaves a trail of sludge wherever he walks.

What does No-Face represent?

No-Face is a multifaceted entity representing so much of Chihiro's fears of abandonment, loneliness, and identity. It is, in its vacant form and need for friendship, that No-Face mirrors Chihiro's crisis.

Why did Haku tell Chihiro not to look back?

In my vantage point, Haku told Chihiro not to look back because she would've been somehow stuck between the two dimensions. If not that, Haku just probably didn't want her to remember looking back at his face while she was leaving the spiritual world.

What does the big baby represent in Spirited Away?

Yubaba has a giant baby because everyone has a grating weakness they find difficult to manage. Whatever Zeniba's seal represents, Yubaba wants it because she's greedy and grasping for power. Chihiro falls into the spirit world because she's on a hero's journey, and everything follows from there.

Was No-Face a human?

One theory is that No-Face is actually a human being trapped in the Spirit World with no way out. His transparency, along with the see-through nature of Chihiro when she first enters the Spirit World, and the transparency of the passengers on the train, is what people use as evidence to support this particular theory.

What was Chihiro eating?

Onigiri is a big food for Chihiro; it's seen throughout the movie with Chihiro enjoying these delicious rice balls with her parents in the beginning, to eating it later with Haku as comfort food.

What was the dust balls job in Spirited Away?

They work in the Bathhouse in return for small star-shaped food, called Konpeitō. They are seen carrying coal to help power the boiler in Kamajī's Boiler Room. The have super strength relative to their body weight.

How old is Chihiro?

ten-year-oldChihiro is a ten-year-old girl who is moving to a new city with her mother and father. On the way to their new house, they take a wrong turn and find themselves at an abandoned and dilapidated theme park, which is a replica of an old-style Japanese village.

What did the stink spirit give Chihiro?

1) The "Stink Spirit" scene has multiple layers Upon removal of all the garbage and debris from it, the spirit is revealed to be an old River Spirit. It thanked Chihiro by giving her medicine and a sack of gold.

What kind of spirit is Yubaba?

River SpiritAfter Chihiro successfully removed large amounts of junk and debris from the spirit, Yubaba hugged her in happiness, revealing that the dirty spirit was actually a River Spirit, and a very wealthy and powerful figure in the Spirit Realm.

Is Haku the stink spirit?

Haku, a young river spirit, and the ancient river spirit that was first mistaken as a Stink Spirit, as depicted in Spirited Away (2001). ... ... the male protagonist, cannot return home because he has forgotten his name. Viewers learn that Haku is a river spirit that can take the form of a white dragon ( Figure 6).

What kind of spirit is Haku?

river spiritThough appearing to be a young boy, Haku is actually a river spirit - Nigihayami Kohakunushi (translated as "God of the Swift Amber River"; or "Spirit of the Kohaku River" in the English dub).

Kamaji AKA The Boiler Man

Kamaji is the six-armed boiler man who runs all of the water through the bathhouse. While some of the other spirits at the bathhouse don't have much in the way of powers, Kamaji can stretch his arms to infinite lengths. He starts out being very uninterested in the wellbeing of Chihiro and wants nothing to do with a human in his boiler room.

Soot Sprites

These little balls with unexplainable strength are a fan favorite across Studio Ghibli films. From fan art to plush toys, the soot spirits are too cute to ignore, not to mention, they become a quick friend for Chihiro from the start.

The Radish Spirit

"The Radish Spirit!" said in Lin's all-too distinguishable voice, is certainly a fan-favorite character when it comes to Studio Ghibli creatures. Although his role is small, he has a large presence on screen, towering over Chihiro and Lin in his little red hat and apron.

The Otori-Sama

These guys aren't on screen for more than a few minutes, but they are regular customers at Yubaba's bathhouse. The duck-like creatures can only be spotted in large groups and are akin to groups of friends hanging out in a hot tub together.

No-Face

No-Face is a complex creature. He represents both good and evil as he transitions between these forces throughout the film. His creepy form and unique features start off as kind, but as he grows greedy for Chihiro's attention, he becomes ugly.

The Kashira

The Kashira are some of the most unique creatures of Ghibli's creation, resembling three green angry heads and based on the image of Japanese Daruma dolls. They have seemingly no purpose in the bathhouse besides providing company for Yubaba, but some fans speculate that they act as her bodyguard.

Aogaeru

Most fans likely find Aogaeru annoying, and they aren't wrong. He is the most annoying of all the creatures, a loudmouth, a suck-up, and extremely greedy. Because of this, he is the first employee that No-Face eats, and for the majority of the film, fans know Aogaeru as the voice of No-Face.

What does Boh know about his mother?

Boh knows only what his mother chooses to tell him, until Sen expands his world. Although Boh is huge, he’s completely helpless. Boh is, in fact, what Chihiro might have turned out to be if she hadn’t come to the spirit world. Later, Zeniba turns Boh into a mouse, which allows him to escape his isolated state.

What does No Face do when Sen tries to repay Sen?

A sad, voiceless spirit. When No-Face tries to repay Sen for her kindness to him, the results are disastrous. He takes on a frog/worker’s voice after he eats the worker.

What happens to Sen after she is changed?

After her name is changed to Sen, she becomes brave and self-sufficient enough to free herself and her parents from the spirit world. As Sen evolves, her voice becomes less grating and her expression lifts and glows. By the end of the movie, when she becomes Chihiro again, her features appear much more mature.

How do Yubaba heads move?

Three disembodied heads that act as attendants for Yubaba. They move by bouncing around on the floor and make odd ponging noises, like video game characters.

What begins the chain of events that binds Chihiro in virtual slavery?

His arrogance begins the chain of events that binds Chihiro in virtual slavery.

What does Sen give Sen to clean him?

An ancient river spirit that has been polluted. To thank her for cleaning him, he gives Sen a food reward that enables her to purge others of what ails them.

What are Chihiro's qualities?

These qualities cause those she meets to respect, love, and help her. Read an in-depth analysis of Chihiro/Sen.

What do Susuwatari eat?

One can feed Soot Sprites like how a farmer feeds chickens, throwing handfuls of Kompeitō (a hard Japanese candy) from a bucket onto the ground for them to pick up and eat. The Susuwatari are not seen eating anything else other than kompeitō in the film.

Why do the Soot Sprites turn back into soot?

It is mentioned that, because the Soot Sprites in the film are magically conjured, they will turn back into soot without a job for them to do. While they are not capable of speaking the human language, they are shown to be able to understand it, and respond to orders given to them by Kamajī.

How does Lin help Chihiro?

After that, Lin comes Kamaji helps Chihiro by sending her to Yubaba. So Chihiro takes off her shoes and socks to walk better on the wooden floor of the Bathhouse , putting the removed socks inside the removed shoes, and the Sootballs intentionally carry them in their burrow to keep them safe.

Why do the kumamas work in the bathhouse?

They work in the Bathhouse in return for small star-shaped food, called Konpeitō. They are seen carrying coal to help power the boiler in Kamajī 's Boiler Room. The have super strength relative to their body weight. Even Chihiro Ogino couldn't take a piece of coal without overextending herself.

What movies were in the 1970s?

Hustle Punch (1965) • Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968) • Animal Treasure Island (1971) • Lupin the Third Part I (1971) • Panda! Go, Panda! (1972) • Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974) • Dog of Flanders (1975) • Future Boy Conan (1978) • Anne of Green Gables (1979) Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) • Chie the Brat (1981) • 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1981) • Gauche the Cellist (1982) • Sherlock Hound (1984) • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

Do soot sprites speak human language?

Soot Sprites are not capable of speaking human languages and instead make certain, squeaky, murmuring sounds when they are excited, angry, annoyed or ecstatically happy. It is mentioned that, because the Soot Sprites in the film are magically conjured, they will turn back into soot without a job for them to do. While they are not capable of speaking the human language, they are shown to be able to understand it, and respond to orders given to them by Kamajī. They are also capable of exhibiting very human emotions, such as anger and happiness. They are also capable of showing affection to an individual, as seen when they begin to respect and support Chihiro in small ways after she is accepted by the workers of the bathhouse (mainly Kamajī and Lin ). They carry Chihiro (or Sen)'s shoes and socks when she can't find them, showing that they care for Chihiro.

What is No Face's vocabulary?

No-Face is a lonely spirit who begins to follow Chihiro Ogino after having developed an interest in her sincerity. His vocabulary consisted of grunts and moans as opposed to coherent words. Not knowing much about the Bathhouse or about other spirits in general, No-Face learned by example and adapted to his surroundings.

What does No Face want to see?

No-Face becomes obsessed with Chihiro, and wants to see her and her only. He becomes extremely volatile after being fed the River Spirit 's emetic dumpling by Chihiro, and, while fleeing from the obviously now-hostile spirit, she calls out to him twice to follow her.

Where does No Face go when Chihiro leaves?

He returns to his timid self and follows Chihiro to a train platform where they travel to Zeniba's home at Swamp Bottom to return a stolen sigil. As Chihiro leaves, No-Face is told by Zeniba to stay with her. He is last seen with Zeniba and her Hopping Lantern bidding Chihiro farewell as she flies off on Haku's back.

How did No Face get into the bathhouse?

No-Face reappears after he is let into the Bathhouse by a considerate Chihiro, who worried that he would get wet while waiting out in the rain. He emerges again next to the Foreman, stealing a Bath Token for Chihiro. Happy that she thanked him, No-Face subsequently steals more tokens, but is ultimately rejected by Chihiro, who told him that she only needed one. Disheartened, No-Face disappears, leaving the tokens to fall to the floor.

How does No Face look?

When first introduced, No-Face appeared in a semi-transparent state while shifting in and out of visibility. His organs are visible, pulsating in several states. His figure resembles that of a long, black tube. While it is unknown if No-Face has a physical body, it is shown that he can develop arms and legs with the capability of leaving footprints as he walks. An ominous, expressionless mask with grey-violet highlights is painted on his "head" of sorts, and while there is a "mouth" painted on the mask, No-Face has shown that his real, expertly-hidden mouth is larger than the one present on his mask.

How does No Face help Chihiro?

No-Face helps Chihiro by giving her the token. While the rest of the workers celebrated after the leave of the Unnamed River Spirit, No-Face was seen sitting in a corner, watching as the workers fought and argued for leftover gold on the ground.

Why is No Face called No Face?

We just named him No-Face because his expression never changes; that's all. But I do think there are people like him everywhere, people who want to glom on to someone but have no sense of self.".

What does Chihiro reveal to Yubaba?

Besides his physical stature, which makes him a handful for even his mother to control, he reveals to Chihiro a cunning ability to manipulate Yubaba's actions, unsurprisingly by throwing fits. Even so, he's neutralized by Zeniba and transformed into a tiny mouse for the majority of the film.

What is Kim's interest?

They are interested in experimental shorts, chick flicks, reality TV, and more. In their free time, you can find them watching all of those things, walking their dog, cooking, and playing music.

What is a no face?

No-Face is an oddity in the spirit world. While many of the magical realm's other inhabitants appear related and communicate extensively, he's a non-verbal drifter capable of disappearing at will, and he only gains a voice after consuming others.

Who is Zeniba in Yubaba?

Zeniba is Yubaba's twin sister, a witch who is physically identical to the bathhouse owner but who turns out to be markedly different in personality. Her magical mastery makes her one of the most obviously powerful characters in the film. She's one of only two characters in the film who are able to best Haku (who himself is a clearly important river spirit), a dramatic confrontation Chihiro witnesses when Zeniba's flock of paper birds attacks Haku's dragon form.

Is Chihiro the most powerful character in Spirited Away?

Considering Spirited Away tells the story of a young girl facing countless tests when she's made to fend for herself in a magical world, it's no surprise that she isn't the most powerful among the characters. But crucially, Chihiro is able to use her evolving street smarts and intuition to best even the most awe-inspiring magical figures she encounters. While many of these characters demonstrate seemingly limitless power, others are quickly revealed as downright helpless.

Where does Zeniba appear in Yubaba?

Although viewers don't see a ton of tricks from Zeniba, she's able to cause all kinds of havoc in the brief time she appears in Yubaba's suite at the bathhouse, transfiguring two of the latter's henchmen (as well as her baby).

Is Haku a river spirit?

Even before he is revealed to be a river spirit (one of two such beings viewers encounter), Haku demonstrates the ability to pull off stunning spells and a transformation into an imposing dragon form. After Chihiro finally remembers his name and thus frees Haku from his curse and subservience to Yubaba, the limits of his powers are anyone's guess.

Why is Yubaba so exciting?

Yubaba is a super exciting character to me because most people are in constant contact with the mental voice that Yubaba represents.

What does Chihiro refuse to do?

Chihiro tries to refuse the journey, but it’s too late. Just before they cross the corridor, the father is confronted with a spiritual journey but does not recognize it as such, and, by means of ignorance he is not intimidated by the corridor; he steps forward to explore the corridor right away.

What does the Sun represent in Spirited Away?

This will help us understand some of the characters depicted in Spirited Away. The Sun represents the External and the Moon represents the Internal. In the Tarot cards, card XVII — The Star shows a female character naked ( nothing to hide, like Chihiro) pouring the contents of two pots into the ground and into a lake.

What does "spirited away" mean?

Meaning of Chihiro’s journey — Spirited Away. The point of view that makes the most sense to me when applied to Spirited Away, is that the movie is set at the center of the mind and each character represents a type of mental abstraction.

What happens when you venture deeper into the spirit world?

As we venture deeper into the spirit world — perhaps it’s better to think of it as the mental landscape — the physical world starts to fade.

What is the car and its passengers?

The car and its passengers are a representation of the entire individual navigating through the tides of life.

How to get rid of embarrassing memories?

Regularly take the time off your day to consciously clean whatever embarrassing memory your mind brings up. Perhaps write them down and try to really dig in and ask yourself:

Why does Boh wake up?

Boh first appears as Chihiro Ogino tries to get a job at the bathhouse, while Chihiro argues with Yubaba Boh wakes up because of the commotion and starts crying and breaking through the door leading from his room to Yubaba's office. After Boh breaks through the door Yubaba gives Chihiro the job, as them arguing is what caused Boh to wake up ...

What is Kintarou's name?

His appearance and personality are inspired by the Kintarou of a Japanese tale. In folklore, Kintarou wears a red Harakake, a bib, with his short name Kin on it. Boh is just a short name. His mother Yubaba, who is a witch, frequently spoils him. It is unknown who is Kintarou's father.

What movies were in the 1970s?

Hustle Punch (1965) • Horus, Prince of the Sun (1968) • Animal Treasure Island (1971) • Lupin the Third Part I (1971) • Panda! Go, Panda! (1972) • Heidi, Girl of the Alps (1974) • Dog of Flanders (1975) • Future Boy Conan (1978) • Anne of Green Gables (1979) Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro (1979) • Chie the Brat (1981) • 3000 Leagues in Search of Mother (1981) • Gauche the Cellist (1982) • Sherlock Hound (1984) • Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984)

What is Boh's fear of germs?

He was used to getting all the attention, gifts and food he wanted from Yubaba. He also developed a fear of germs (mysophobia), demonstrated by his initial hindrance in leaving his nursery.

Did Boh walk before meeting Chihiro?

By the end of these adventures, we see him literally standing up to his mother to help Chihiro. It is also suggested that, prior to meeting Chihiro, Boh had not been seen walking or even standing up on his own. This is seen through Yubaba's surprise at seeing Boh standing after his return to her with Chihiro and Haku.

Who voices Bubbles in Powerpuff Girls?

He was voiced by Tara Strong , the voice of Bubbles from Cartoon Network's The Powerpuff Girls.

image

1.What does the black spirit "No Face" represent in Spirited …

Url:https://www.sportskeeda.com/anime/what-black-spirit-no-face-represent-spirited-away

2 hours ago  · Spirited Away is one of Hayao Miyazaki's most popular works, with many fans agreeing that it remains their favorite even today. The movie portrays the adventures of a ten …

2.The 10 Best Spirits & Creatures In Spirited Away

Url:https://screenrant.com/best-spirits-creatures-spirited-away/

9 hours ago  · Kamaji is the six-armed boiler man who runs all of the water through the bathhouse. While some of the other spirits at the bathhouse don't have much in the way of …

3.Spirited Away: Character List | SparkNotes

Url:https://www.sparknotes.com/film/spiritedaway/characters/

5 hours ago Spirited Away is one of Hayao Miyazaki's most popular works, with many fans agreeing that it remains their favorite even today.

4.No-Face (Spirited Away) | Villains Wiki | Fandom

Url:https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/No-Face_(Spirited_Away)

19 hours ago  · No-Face (顔無し, Kaonashi, lit. "Faceless") is a character in the film, Spirited Away. He is shown to be capable of reacting to emotions and ingesting other individuals in order to …

5.Susuwatari | Ghibli Wiki | Fandom

Url:https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Susuwatari

19 hours ago  · Haku is one of Spirited Away's most beloved characters, and for good reason. Yubaba's reluctant henchman is a charmer and a great friend to Chihiro, but he's also one of the …

6.No-Face | Ghibli Wiki | Fandom

Url:https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/No-Face

1 hours ago  · When it’s night, the bathhouse in Spirited Away is flushed with spirits. This is a reference to the physiological process that takes place during the deepest stages of sleep.

7.Spirited Away: The Main Characters, Ranked Least To …

Url:https://screenrant.com/spirited-away-characters-most-least-powerful/

9 hours ago Bō (坊, Bō), also known as Boh or Baby, is the baby son of Yubaba in the film, Spirited Away. Boh first appears... "If you make Sen cry, I won't like you anymore!"

8.The Deeper Meaning of Spirited Away — 20 Years of …

Url:https://medium.com/cabbanis/the-deeper-meaning-of-spirited-away-20-years-of-chihiros-journey-76ac9629f376

16 hours ago

9.Boh | Ghibli Wiki | Fandom

Url:https://ghibli.fandom.com/wiki/Boh

30 hours ago

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9