Well, did you know that the writer and director, Hayao Miyazaki … & 9 Other Questions About Ash's Rival, Answered, Iron Fist - Heart of the Dragon #1 Celebrates the Marvel Martial Artist, Future State: Nightwing #1 Puts the Boy Wonder Back in the Spotlight, Future State: Superman - Worlds of War #1 Expands the Hero's Legacy, Future State: Immortal Wonder Woman #1 Is a Neon-Lit Fantasy, Savage #1 Gives Valiant's Ultimate Survivalist a Punk Rock Relaunch. Vol. As soon as she does so, her name Chihiro is taken away and she’s given a new name – Sen, which is interestingly written in Chinese. A magical take about a young girl who has to work in a bathhouse for gods to save her parents! This is a sad remnant of its cultural history. Noragami focuses on a down-on-his-luck… 1 views • 1 day ago. By the same token, those who seem bad in the beginning,such as Zeniba, Kamaji, and Lin, become instrumental in Chihiro’sescape. Another original character by Miyazaki, Kamajī, still resembled a “Tsuchiguo,” another Yokai of Japanese folklore. The level of imagination alone is astounding, and rightfully, much has been made of the attention to detail in the visual art and its mythic … They are usually shown as troublemakers, but Miyazaki spun his own twist in his movie on the portrayal of water spirits, and also made an excellent commentary on how human pollution is affecting everyone in nature. But before Chihiro helps him remember who he is, Haku casts a distraction spell during their first meeting, blowing Sakura-like petals toward the onsen. However, in some cases, Yamauba is thought of as a more benevolent guardian of the mountains. He possesses superhuman strength, great courage, and the ability to communicate with animals. Which is why references to a bastion of myth … 1 Depicts a Vibrant Past... and an Already-Dated Future? The River Spirit then flies away from the onsen as a Dragon. A one-stop shop for all things video games. In addition to the examples noted, Spirited Away makes numerous references to other mythology and folklore throughout its run. Right from the symbolism of the bathhouse to Miyazaki’s commentary on Japan’s dwindling cultural values, here are 10 Japanese folklore that inspired this classic. But we can see the Dōsojin also represented in other forms like the roadside statues Chihiro notices in the forests and the one that forces her family to stop. RELATED: Spirited Away: Which Character Are You Based on Your Myers-Briggs Type? This is another Japanese notion, albeit a very sexist one, where old women who were unable to fend for themselves used to be taken to faraway places and left there. This Oscar winning anime created waves internationally, and rightfully so. 10 Ponyo - The Little Mermaid After Lzanagi escapes the underworld and his sister in the Japanese creation myth, he bathes in a river to purify himself. The people who practiced it were called Onmyoji and were said to have power over the Shikigami spirits. Following after, Chihiro notices transparent shadow Kami, who traditionally do not take a visible form to the human eye. If you want to support my work, please consider donating here: Game of Thrones: House Stark’s Ancient Hidden Truths and Dark Origins, Wonder Woman 1984: Breakdown of The Real Problems Behind the Camera, What Happened to Azula After ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ and Zuko’s Mother, A Closer Look into the Cinematography of LOTR: The Fellowship & Two Towers, The Color Psychology Behind Disney Heroes and Villains, ‘La La Land’ Musing Set Design of Modern and Old Hollywood Allure, Warner Bros. 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