I’ve watched “Spirited Away” and enjoyed it. With its gorgeous animation, interesting storyline and captivating themes, it is no wonder that this film has stood the test of time and is an iconic part of pop culture. “Spirited Away” follows the story of a young girl named Chihiro who, after following her parents into a clock tower, ends up in a world full of spirits. In her journey to save her parents — who transform into pigs — Chihiro undergoes many challenges and ultimately accomplishes her goal with the help of characters such as Haku and Zeniba.
One character worth examining more closely is No Face, or Kaonashi, a creature that captures the viewer’s attention. As soon as he appears on screen, No Face is a creature that lingers around the outskirts of the bathhouse, able to disappear in and out as he sees fit.
On a rainy night, while disposing of water, Chihiro spots No Face outside. Worried that he will get wet in the rain, she leaves the door open for him to come inside. It’s endearing that No Face accepts the offer and goes inside the bathhouse. In a place like a bathhouse, where another person holds your name, relationships built on sincerity and honesty are more valuable.
Before Chihiro lets him in, they turn No Face away and tell him he does not belong there. He is an outsider. Only when he lures in the staff member, eats him, and then mimics his mannerisms and greed, does he become likeable to everyone else in the bathhouse? No Face believes money, specifically gold nuggets, will earn affection. Amid his feast, there is only one person who stops it: Chihiro. Earlier, she denied No Face’s offer of more bath tokens as she only needed one. No Face wanting to be of help to Chihiro only to be rejected was charming before, but now, possessing greed and gluttony, No Face’s insistence on providing material items to Chihiro seems pitiful.
The audience is aware of Chihiro’s character—someone who does not place much value on material luxuries as she does on interpersonal relationships. Again, No Face’s misconception of what it means to gain affection misses its mark. He becomes devastated, and then he eats other bathhouse workers, and everyone sees him as a monster.
The instant he expresses himself other than in demands for food and throwing out gold, they scrutinize him. Despite that, nobody ever saw No Face, and the workers also moved through life. Giving No Face what he wants is a sure way to get gold. It’s simple. Why bother understanding someone’s feelings or desires when profit is easier? This is the world No Face and Chihiro live in.
The similarity between No Face and Chihiro is what makes their bond more compelling to witness on screen. As No Face follows Chihiro out of the bathhouse and to the train station, Chihiro feels for him, saying that the bathhouse will lead to No Face’s demise if he stays there. Chihiro sees through the mask No Face put on by ingesting the bathhouse workers and taking up their personalities. He wanted to fit in.
Before he became a greedy monster, people did not consider No Face a customer, interestingly. He was not supposed to be at the bathhouse, though it is still unknown as to the reason. Later, when he throws gold at the workers and they serve him food, they then deem him an esteemed guest and regard him with the utmost respect.
It’s fascinating to observe these perceptions in action with money, especially how money can change an entire crowd’s view of another person. It makes you see. But it is not in the way No Face desires.
Belonging is a sense of fulfillment within oneself as shown through others or in a specific place. At the crux of it, many just want to be understood, but when they don’t have an identity, or no face, they take on the personalities of those surrounding them for appearance acceptance. In No Face’s case, the bathhouse was poisoning him. Even after eating three bathhouse workers and terrifying the staff, Yubaba seems to have no regard for that. In fact, she tells Chihiro to be of No Face’s service and to take all the money he has.
Yubaba’s attitude towards business also influences her staff’s behavior, which results in No Face’s misery. No Face is no more content eating and taking up the personalities of the workers than when he was being shut out of the bathhouse. When Chihiro suggests to No Face that he go back to his mom and dad, he says he’s lonely. In the same instance, No Face yet again demands Chihiro to take the gold.
Chihiro gives him the medicine the river spirit gave her, which makes No Face furious, and he chases after her, vomiting out black sludge and deflating along the way. No Face becomes his normal self, but he cannot stay at the bathhouse anymore. He follows Chihiro wherever she is going because, for him, Chihiro represents what he longs for: a sense of belonging.
Chihiro, No Face, and the rest of their companions end up at Zeniba’s place, and it is notable that Zeniba diverges from Yubabas character. She’s warm, welcoming, and even acknowledges No Face. No Face, compared to crossing the threshold into the bathhouse, is eager to cross the threshold into Zeniba’s home. He hunches his shoulders and seems fearful because he is entering yet another new environment. Fortunately, this place would be the place where he could be truly himself. Another difference is in the way No Face eats at Zeniba’s place compared to the bathhouse. At Zeniba’s, there are simple dishes such as pastries served, and No Face drinks his tea and takes bites of the pastry, even cutting it up with a fork.
Unlike before, greed took him over, swallowing full plates of food and demanding more. Even after finishing his plate, he does not reach for more. No Face’s demeanor has changed. He is somewhere where he can express that side of himself now. Which leads to his ending, being with Zeniba as a helper after contributing to making a hair tie to keep Chihiro safe. No Face has always wanted to be seen and accepted, and in response to kindness being directed towards him, such as from Chihiro, he makes it a point to reciprocate it whichever means he must. By staying behind and helping at a place where he can be himself, he can fulfill all these things, creating a great conclusion to his character.
There is a bit of No Face’s character in everyone. Most have met a No Face or will. People who want to connect with others but have yet to find a sense of self. As social beings, humans yearn for a sense of belonging.
No Face isn’t human at all, but resonating with those qualities about him is all the same. Chihiro could connect her own isolation with No Face’s because she was an outcast among the bathhouse workers, who told her she stunk of humans and gave her obstacles to make her job more difficult. Chihiro’s compassion and kindness compelled No Face to leave that toxic environment with her, and he found his home.
For whoever feels like they are No Face at some moments or even all the time, you find a Chihiro along the way. But do know that getting there may lead to some ugly events, but that’s the beauty of finding someone who can see past that and can believe you are more than what your environment is compelling you to be.
