“Spirited Away,” Hayao  Miyazaki’s 2001 award winning animated feature is one of my favorite movies.  Chihiro aka Sen, the young heroine is truly “Spirited Away” to a magical, mystical world inhabited by witches, ghosts, gods and monsters.  She is forced to live and work in this enchanted realm while she tries to find a way to break the spell her parents are under – they have been turned (Transfigured) into pigs with no memories (Obliviate!) of ever being human… and even worse, captive to a  bleak future of being served up as some mythical god’s pork chop or BLT dinner!

Even though this film is based on an original story by Mr. Miyazaki and it highlights Japanese mythology it still shares many enchanting and enchanted facets with Harry Potter and his magical world.  Each tale is unique too.  For example, Chihiro, who is ten, and her parents are moving to a new and (it seems to me) more rural town far away from where they did live.  While driving through the new area Chihiro’s parents point out her new school to their daughter.  Unlike Harry, an orphan, who is thrilled to leave his familiar Aunt and Uncle’s home and attend a new school, Chihiro mopes, whines and complains.  Also unlike Harry, Chihiro is not brave or humble from the start; but that all changes as she faces her challenges alone in a far off place and she learns and grows to become a responsible, courageous, and yes, spirited young woman.

Nevertheless there are lots of similarities between our two main characters, the supporting characters, and the rest of the story.  In lieu of an ancient castle in the Scottish highlands (or London’s Ministry of Magic) Chihiro finds a castle-like bath house, a deluxe spa resort for Japanese gods, in a remote area of Japan.  It has a dungeon in the guise of a boiler room that is home, hearth, and workplace to Kamaji, a half-human, half-giant spider who is also a “potions” expert concocting magical herbal bath recipes.  (Could he be a half-blood prince in disguise… maybe but that’s another story, I’m sure.)

The master (or mistress) of the bath house is a great (and some would say terrible) wizardess Yubaba, who has an identical twin named Zeniba. (Zeniba lives several miles away in a small thatched-roof cottage and contrary to how Fred and George get on, Zeniba and Yubaba do not get on well together… sibling rivalry would sum it up.)

No one should face their demons (pardon the pun) alone and Chihiro is soon befriended by Haku (with an “H”), a boy with amazing magical powers (but no glasses).   

Charms by any other name (or no name at all) are still charms and “Spirited Away” is enchanted to the brim with ‘em.  In the beginning of the film Chihiro and her parents seem to be drawn into the magical world as if by a summoning charm.  And a little later Yubaba whooshes Chihiro to her tower-at-the-top office just like Harry summoned his Firebolt broomstick to his side in GOF.  Other charms include transfiguration, unplotable enchantments, vanishing spells, magical food and herbal potions, and memory charms, the latter being one of Yubaba’s specialties.

And what would a terrific story be if there weren’t  magical trains and enchanted ceilings?  The train in “Spirited Away” doesn’t have a particular name like the Hogwarts Express but it is nonetheless an integral part of the tale as is the skylight in Yubaba’s baby’s room (OK… the skylight’s not an integral part but it is reminiscent of the great hall’s ceiling at Hogwarts).

Of course, the very mention of people being turned into pigs should remind everybody of Dudley and his curling little piggy tail.

Flying is also a shared theme, although broomsticks are not necessary in Chihiro’s adventure.  Yubaba, Zeniba and Chihiro’s mysterious friend, Haku, are all experts at flying… in their own way.

I can’t write another word without mentioning “No Face,” a very interesting character whose whole body seems to be a sort of invisibility/visibility cloak.  His face is literally a mask and yet worlds of emotions are revealed in its simple expressions.  I really like this guy and I’m not sure why but he reminds me of a combination between Nearly Headless Nick and Neville.

“Spirited Away” has so many wonderful and unique characters it would take several more pages to tell you about them in an attempt to do them justice.  Besides Chihiro/Sen, Haku, Yubaba, Zeniba, Kamaji and No Face there are also these very important people, creatures, and enchanted beings:  Lin, the Soot Balls, the Foreman and the Frog, Baby and the Yubaba-face Hawk, the Three Heads, and all of the incredible gods that come to take a bath.

This film explores the concept  that your name defines who you are and that if you have a different name  you also create a different persona, just like Tom Riddle and Lord Voldemort.  By the same token, however, if your name is stolen or you lose it then you've also lost your identity... you are no longer you.  Scary thought...

This is a terrific rites of passage story.  Many lessons are taught and learned not least being that the power of true love can and does break unbreakable spells and help to overcome all obstacles (I think Harry would agree) and always in a brilliantly imaginative and touching way.  If you haven’t already watched this delightful movie please hurry to your local video rental store and check it out… or better yet buy it.  It’s worth adding to your video/DVD library.

All right, I guess you’ve figured out by now that along with being a bona fide Harry Potter/JK Rowling fan I am also a major Miyazaki-san fan, and of course I highly recommend any and all of Hayao Miyazaki’s films.  Here is a list of movies that are available with English Subtitles:

Castle in the Sky

Howl’s Moving Castle (not out on DVD yet in USA)

Kiki’s Delivery Service

My Neighbor Totoro