An Enchanted Encounter: Spirited Away Rememory!

Chihiro: How did you know my name was Chihiro?
Haku: I have known you since you were very small.

Chihiro: You don't remember your name?
Haku: No, but for some reason I remember yours.

千と千尋の神隠し( Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi: Sen and Chihiro's Spiriting Away) 

Spirited Away was the first ever Miyazaki Movie that I watched, and until now, I cannot get tired of watching it over and over again. When I think of it, I lose count of how many times I've watched this. I could still remember my emotions while watching and my reaction after the movie... I wanted more of Haku and Chihiro... but I also believed that the ending of the Spirited Away is the "RIGHTFUL" ending! The outcome of the movie kept on lingering on my mind for the whole semester of my 2nd year college... HA HA HA!

The story begins as Chihiro and her parents take a wrong turn down an old dirty path while traveling to their new home in the country side. They then discover a tunnel at the bottom of the path. Chihiro's father insists on exploring and they crossed the dry riverbed which leads them into a mysterious town filled with restaurants that have all kinds of delicious food. Chihiro's parents didn't hesitate to sit down and start helping themselves to some food, Chihiro however, senses danger and she refuses to eat. Chihiro's doubt of the strange town leads her to wander off and explore. She comes upon a bridge and meets a young boy named Haku. The boy then tells Chihiro that she must leave before nightfall. As night falls, she is terrified to see the area fill with faceless spirits, she then runs off to find her parents and discovers too late that they have been turned into pigs. The dry riverbed they crossed before is now filled with water, thus she's unable to cross becoming trapped in the Spirit World. 

Chihiro runs off and hides, Haku then finds her and promises to help her. He gets her a job working in a bathhouse for the thousands of gods and spirits. Though the work is hard and the people strange, she does as well as she can. Haku also reminded Chihiro to never forget her name since it is also one of the key to be able to go back to Human World. 

Her parents, however, are still waiting in the bathhouse's stockyard, and Chihiro must find a way to break the spell on them before they end up as the main course of some guest's dinner.

Thus the mysterious adventure of Chihiro began... Chihiro's passion and determination... and Haku's love and compassion... helping each other... indeed love and friendship knows no boundaries...

This indeed is a heart warming story and I am so happy to have watched this movie... I also wanted to share the video from YouTube a picture slideshow of the movie and the background music "Always With Me". This song is from the movie also and I really really love it. I am not the one who created the video... just sharing it though ;)...

Lyrics below from animelyrics.com

yondeiru  muneno dokoka okude 
itsumo kokoro odoru  yume wo mitai

it's calling out from deep within the heart 
I always want to dream cheerful dreams

kanashimi wa  kazoe kirenai keredo 
sono mukoude kitto  anataniaeru

sadness can never be counted but 
I will be able to see you on the other side

kurikaesu ayamachi no  sonotabi hito wa 
tada aoi sora no  aosawo shiru 
hateshinaku  michiwatsuzuite mieru keredo 
kono ryoute wa  hikariwo idakeru

every time people repeat mistakes, 
they know the blue of the simply blue sky 
it seems as if the road continues endlessly but 
these hands can find light

sayonara no tokino  shizukanamune 
zeroni narukaradaga  mimiwo sumaseru

the quiet heart when parting 
the ear listens as the body changes to zero

ikiteiru fushigi  shindeiku fushigi 
hana mo kaze mo machi mo  minnaonaji

living, mysterious, dying, mysterious 
the flower, the wind, the city;  they're the same

yondeiru  muneno dokoka okude 
itsumo nando demo  yumewo egakou

it's calling out from deep within the heart 
let's draw out dreams always, numerous times

kanashimi no kazuwo  iitsuku suyori 
onaji kuchibiru de  sotto utaou

instead of stating the number of sadness 
sing softly with the same lips

tojiteiku omoideno  sononakani itsumo 
wasuretakunai  sasayakiwo kiku 
kona gonani kudakareta  kagami no uenimo 
atarashii keshiki ga utsusareru

even in the closing memories, there are always 
whispers that cannot be forgotten 
even on the shattered mirror shards, 
a new scenery is reflected

hajimari no asa(no)  shizukana mado 
zeroni narukarada  mitasarete yuke

the quiet window on the beginning morning 
the body that is changing to zero is being pleased

umi no kanatani wa  mou sagasanai 
kagayaku monowa  itsumo kokoni 
watashi no nakani  mitsukeraretakara

I won't search beyond the sea from now 
the shining thing is always here, 
it can be found within myself

I have watched other Miyazaki's movies and so far Spirited Away is still my favorite... Hands down to Hayao Miyazaki for creating such majestic masterpieces m(^_^)m. What a great way to inspire everyone...

I created a heroine who is an ordinary girl, someone with whom the audience can sympathize. It's not a story in which the characters grow up, but a story in which they draw on something already inside them, brought out by the particular circumstances. I want my young friends to live like that, and I think they, too, have such a wish.

- Hayao Miyazaki 

From Interview: Miyazaki on Sen To Chihiro No Kamikakushi

This ends my Spirited Away Rememory!!!

Till Next time...

ja ne.. ^_^