Spirited Away A Film by Hayao Miyazaki VYVYAN STRANIERI AND CHRISTINE EVELY VYVYAN GUIDE STUDY ISSUE 29 AUSTRALIAN

SCREEN EDUCATION

1 his study guide to accompany the Japanese anime Spirited Away, has been written for stu-

Spirited Away has a

of viewers, their previous experiences, especially with anima and manga, and their beliefs and values.

BEFORE VIEWING THE FILM

ABOUT THE FILM

Chihiro is a wilful, headstrong girl who thinks everyone should fi t in with her ideas and meet her needs. When her parents Akio and Yugo tell her they are moving house, Chihiro is furious. As they leave, she clings to the traces of her old life. Arriving at the end of a mysterious cul-de-sac, the family is confronted by a large red building with an endless gaping tunnel that looks very much like a gigantic mouth. Reluctantly Chihiro follows her parents into the tunnel.

The family discover a ghostly town and come across a sumptuous banquet. Akio and Yugo begin eating more and more greedily. Before Chihiro’s eyes her parents are transformed into pigs! Unknowingly they have strayed into a world inhabited by ancient gods and magical beings, ruled over by Yubaba, a AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION ISSUE 29 2 music

posters books

Film Title

television trailers toys CONCEPT MAP

demonic sorceress. Yubaba tells Chihiro map) showing how people came to that newcomers are turned into animals know about the fi lm. before being killed and eaten. Luckily • How did you fi nd out about Spirited for Chihiro she mets Haku who tells her Away? Make a list of things you had that she can escape this fate by mak- heard about Spirited Away before ing herself useful. Chihiro renounces you saw the fi lm? How did you fi nd her self-centredness and laziness and out these things? begins a journey of self-discovery. Fast food outlets sometimes promote Spirited Away is an adventure fi lm that a fi lm by offering collectable merchan- is full of action but without violence. dise. Clever advertising makes these Many of the problems encountered small toys or cups appealing and by characters in the fi lm are dealt with people feel like they should have the using resourcefulness and humour. The special collectable toy. Of course, while fi lm cleverly explores important ques- collecting the promotional item you are tions through fantasy, using a mix of also buying the food of the store. modern and traditional ideas. • Do you think this type of marketing BOX OFFICE DOLLARS works? Explain your ideas. • What are some other ways that you Spirited Away cost 19 million dollars would market Spirited Away? to create. This is about fi ve times less than a usual animated feature produc- ANIME AND MANGA tion budget, but it is a huge amount of money for a Japanese animated feature. In Japan, people of all ages go to see Even before it was released in the USA animes, even adults! It is a very popular and Europe, Hayao Miyazaki’s fi lm was form of entertainment in Japan, as are hailed as the fi rst non-American fi lm in mangas. Mangas are Japanese comics. history to have brought in 200 million But unlike our comics, they are more dollars at the box offi ce worldwide.

• Calculate the difference in money required per minute of fi lm for Spir- ited Away and a usual American

animated production. Why do you ISSUE 29 think fi lm-makers in the US are able to spend so much more money on AUSTRALIAN creating fi lms than Japanese fi lm- makers?

SCREEN EDUCATION MARKETING A FILM

There are many different ways fi lms can be brought to people’s attention so that as many people as possible will view it in a cinema.

• Select a fi lm that has been released 3 recently and make a concept map like the one above (see concept Spirited Spirited , Hayao Miyazaki way The director of A

like novels with pictures. Miyazaki has created a very beautiful manga called Nausicaa. This epic ran for over 12 years! Mangas are extremely popular in Japan and people everywhere of all res). As well as animes for TV there ages read them. There are many differ- are many animes in the cinema on a ent types of mangas, pitched at different regular basis. Many have never made audiences. it to Australia; although we have been watching animes on Australian TV since • How many Japanese animes have the 1970s. you seen? Perhaps you’ve seen Pokemon or Dragon Ball Z or Sailor • Ask your parents or carers if they Moon? Or even some of Miyazaki’s remember Astro Boy or Princess other animes like Princess Monon- Knight or Kimba the White Lion oke. Write your own defi nition of (which the Lion King is based on). ‘anime’. • Have you read any mangas or seen Osamu Tezuka created all of these any? Which ones? How different are animes. In Japan Tezuka is regarded as they to other comics? the ‘godfather’ of anime. Miyazaki is an admirer of Tezuka. Like Tezuka, Miya- Anime has many different types (gen- AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION ISSUE 29 4 zaki also has produced many mangas. plot. The plot usually involves some sort When Tezuka’s work screened on TV, as of problem being resolved and along the now, the voices of the characters were way some important ideas, or themes dubbed into English rather than having being explored such as friendship, subtitles. As a consequence in the 70s, loyalty or trust. audiences tended to believe that such animations were American because the When we arrive at a cinema to view a characters had American accents. fi lm we usually have some expectations about the story, the main characters and • What are the advantages and disad- what will happen in the fi lm. vantages of having a fi lm subtitled and/or dubbed? • What expectations did you bring to Spirited Away? Make a list of the • Which do you prefer to watch? things you thought would happen in this fi lm, the sorts of problems or You would have noticed that Japanese confl icts you thought would happen anime looks different to Western ani- in the fi lm and how you thought the mation and often the storyline of these problems would be sorted out or are also different. Look at the eyes of resolved. characters, these particularly are often extremely expressive. In animation most The opening scenes of a fi lm set out of the emotions and ideas are carried by to create expectation about what will the expression of the character’s eyes). happen during the fi lm. At times some Often the eyes look less Japanese and viewers will have expectations that are more Western, although this is chang- not explored. ing. Once all Japanese animes had characters with Western eyes. • Did this happen for you in Spirited Away? Give some examples. • Why do you think the Japanese • Think about the opening scenes of decided to do this? Spirited Away. What action created expectations about what would AFTER VIEWING THE FILM happen in the fi lm? Draw a scene from the beginning of the fi lm and ELEMENTS OF THE FILM list expectations created for you. • Use a plot outline like the one in Several elements come together to help chart 2 to map out the story, or nar- a fi lm tell a story, for example, there rative, in Spirited Away. needs to be a setting, characters and a ISSUE 29 AUSTRALIAN

SCREEN EDUCATION

5 6

ISSUE 29 AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION

CHART 3 CHART 2 fi In Japaneseanime,charactersfacedif- Some peoplehavedescribed • Whichcharactersin • and badqualities. the charactersoftendisplaybothgood ten complex.Becauseofthiscomplexity, they thinkandfeelabouttheirworldisof-

Themes Plot Other maincharacters Vi Hero(es) Setting Film Elements cult journeys. Theirdecisionsandhow cult journeys. llain(s) to record someofyourideas. Use achartliketheonein01 and aboutothersastheplotunfolds? characters makeaboutthemselves What discoveriescouldyousay have bothgoodandbadqualities? epniiiy redhp iceo ieC Responsibility, friendship, circle oflife crYubaba Huku. Zeniba Chihiro responsibilities andreturn. aw The kingdies. Hisson, Simba, runs MysticalworldRykon (hotel) Nala, Mufasa Scar Simba Jungle, desert H INKN PRTDAA LI SPIRITEDAWAY THE LIONKING Spirited Away ay, butrealizeshemustfacehis Spirited

Away Doyouagree withthisstatement? • derland Yub Haku duringthefi Whatdidthecharacterdiscover Chihiro Character viewed asfi lms? Doyouknowof classic storiesyouhaveread or Why orwhynot?Whatare some aba

ETN CHARACTERS SETTING as aclassiclike . SPIRITED AWAY PROBLEM/CONFLICT RESOLUTION FILMS EVENTS and selfess in order to save herparentsandfreethem and selfessinordertosave been turnedintopigs.have Chihiromustlearntobebrave inamysticalworldwhereherparents Chihiro istrapped ompassion, bravery, friendship, loyalty, personalgrowth Alice inWon-

characteristics ofaclassicstory? the US?Whatdoyouthinkare the other thanAustralia,Englandand any classicstoriesfrom countries

lm?

’ L ELVIS CHART 1 CHART CLOSE ANALYSIS

We call the beginning of any fi lm, starting with the credit sequence or as soon as the fi lm begins, the opening sequence or the opening credit sequence. During this time the fi lm aims to establish who the characters are and where the fi lm is set. As well, main locations, confl icts or problems, the story and plot are in- troduced. Then in the middle of the fi lm all of these are explored. Finally in the end or nearing the end of the fi lm, all of these are resolved. We call the ending the closing sequence, when the story achieves closure. A classic narrative (one with a clearly defi ned beginning, middle and end that travels in a linear line as it unfolds its story) is probably the most common form of storytelling across cultures in fi lms. However some cultures can play with and disturb these conventions.

• Can you think of any fi lms, which don’t achieve closure? Which ones and in what ways is closure not achieved?

Use the headings and questions below (see chart 4) to track and explore the narrative fl ow from the opening to the closing sequences of Spirited Away. has nothing really changed? Does • Think carefully about the themes • Why do you think that Miyazaki Chihiro change in the ending? If of the fi lms and the types of char- chose to name his film Spirited so, how did she change and what acters they include. Are there par- Away? caused the changes? What other ticular types of characters or ideas changes are evident? included or not included in fi lms from The narrative of Spirited Away could be • List some cause and effect relation- particular countries? described as a cyclical narrative, that is, ships for Chihiro. the story comes full circle, returning in CHARACTERIZATION some way to the beginning. All narra- Work in groups of three to make a chart tives (stories) in fi lms depend on cause like chart 3. Compare some of the ele- Look up the meaning of the word pro- and effect. Characters trigger and mo- ments of Spirited Away and another tagonist. Who would you describe as the tivate a cause, which has a subsequent Japanese animation with Australian and key protagonist in Spirited Away? What effect and so on. Basically a narrative is American animations you have seen. is the meaning of hero and heroine? Is

a chain of events in a cause and effect the protagonist in Spirited Away a hero- ISSUE 29 relationship, which takes place in time • Display your chart in the classroom ine or hero? Why do you think this? and space. and look at charts made by other AUSTRALIAN groups of students. What similari- • Make a list of fi lms you have seen • Draw a circle and around it add ties are there between fi lms? How that have a female protagonist. Ask

four or fi ve key events from Spir- are they different from one another? your parents to name fi lms from their SCREEN EDUCATION ited Away to show how the plot is What conclusions can you draw childhood with female protagonists. cyclical. Does the fi lm return to the about Australian, American and Who found this task easier, you or beginning? Is it a new beginning or Japanese fi lms? your parents? Discuss with your

OPENING MIDDLE CLOSING What problem is introduced? How is it explored? How is it resolved? 7 What characters are introduced? How are they developed? What growth or changes have they experienced? Is the setting introduced? How is it introduced? Do we leave the setting? How? CHART 4 CHART class why you think this is the list a scene where you think Chihiro are often painted by hand and have case. displayed each virtue or quality. Add little computer generated work done other virtues or qualities. (see chart in post-production (after the anime is Miyazaki wanted to make Chihiro an 6) fi lmed, so during editing). Animes often ordinary little girl, to capture something • Who is your favourite character, have the look of what we call painterly. realistic. This meant that the physique of apart from Chihiro or Haku? Make a They are textured and have depth to the a little 10-year-old girl had to be painted chart like the one above to show the forms on the screen, even though it is and somehow her soul, or her personal- virtues and qualities of the character a 2D art form. ity also had to be captured. you selected. (see chart 6) • What do you remember most about • Do you think Chihiro is a realistic SOUND DESIGN Spirited Away? What impression did little girl? What is she like at the it leave on you? beginning of the film? Write two The audio part of a fi lm is made up ‘character report cards’ (see chart of dialogue, sound effects, music and Spirited Away is an imaginative, colour- 5) describing her personality, one atmospheres. We call this the sound ful animation. The Artistic Director, Yoji at the beginning of the fi lm and one design of a fi lm. Takeshige uses handcrafted art and at the end. Compare the stills from stylized paintings to create mystical the fi lm, (on page seven), with your • Imagine watching Spirited Away with but believable settings and characters. descriptions. Do they match? the sound turned off. Discuss with Miyazaki wanted light and colour to your class how this would make you fi ll the story, so Takeshige used many At the beginning of the fi lm Chihiro is feel as a viewer. Why would it have nuances or shades of colour, for exam- an awkward, sulky little girl. We see this effect? Would it make the fi lm ple, from the sombre hues of the noren her sprawled out on the back seat of seem longer or shorter? Why do you (curtains hung from the door) that hang her parents’ car with pouting facial ex- think it would have this effect? in the yuya to the violent colours on the pressions. She certainly does not look • What type of music did you notice bridge-we see every imaginable shade like she is going to be the perfect, cute while you were watching the fi lm? of red. For all these contrasting hues and little heroine that we have seen in many Would you describe the music as weights of colour to be visible Takeshige other animated fi lms. By the end of the modern, traditional or as something had to be sure the light did not drown fi lm we have seen the fi ghting spirit different? How did the music help them out. At times he chose a weak, of Chihiro emerge, but we have also the fi lm to tell its story? reddish light to refl ect the ancient times seen her charm and the depth of her • Work with a friend to make a list of of Japan, while at other times scenes are spirit. Her abilities to adapt to an often sound effects you remember from purposely darkened. In the scene where frightening, mythical environment and to the film. Why do you think you Chihiro’s parents are transformed into use her judgement to make considered remembered these sound effects? pigs, he darkens the scene purposely so decisions have emerged. She has de- How did they contribute to the fi lm the audience feels Chihiro’s fright. veloped confi dence and a sense of self, story? Do you remember any scenes an identity. Along the way, she seems to where silence was used to create The Artistic Director says that Miyazaki become cute. As the animators refl ect meaning? If so, what meaning did asked him to draw from Chihiro’s point her spirit in her facial expressions, she it create? of view. He wanted reality to be skewed could even be described as pretty. from her subjective point of view. FILM DESIGN • Give some examples from the fi lm to • Discuss with your class what you show whether you agree or disagree Animes are recognized for their artistic think Miyazaki meant by this. Do you with this summary of the changes mastering of the animation form, in think the artistic director achieved in Chihiro’s personality and appear- terms of the look of the overall anima- Miyazaki’s goal? How would the ance. tion. Japanese anime manage to look images have changed if the film • What do you think Chihiro learned like they are live action. This is due to the had been drawn from another char- by the end of the fi lm? What were camera angles, sizes and movements of acter’s point of view, for example, the key events that led her to this the fi lming. The backgrounds in anime Haku or Yubaba? thinking? • Use a chart like the one below to

VIRTUE OR QUALITY SCENE

REPORT CARD friendship AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION determination NAME: YUBABA

ISSUE 29 discipline KIND MEAN pride 8 STRONG WEAK thoughtfulness CHART 5 CHART CHART 6 CHART SETTING: MYTHICAL WORLDS about the environment, technology and ANCIENT GODS, MYSTICAL humans. These animes tend to look at BEINGS, SYMBOLISM AND The imagery in Spirited Away draws the environment as needing protec- RELIGIOUS REFERENCES heavily upon the realist approach of tion, to question the ethics and impact live action fi lms, for example, gentle of technology on humans and society. In Japan, for thousands of years people tracking movements, unusual angles, But they do this without being didactic have believed that Kami (gods) and Rei aerial shots, changes in perspective or (hitting you over the head with the mes- (spirits) are everywhere: in every river, point-of-view all contribute to the way sage). They also tend to encourage val- tree, home and kitchen. The fi lm-maker the viewer is drawn into the mythical ues of compassion, loyalty, honesty and used his imagination to visualize these world. This is a constant feature of all truth and triumph friendship, strength beings. Some were inspired by Japa- Japanese animes (particularly feature and bravery. nese folklore. One was inspired by a length fi lms). This is to give the illu- paper mask used at the temple Kasuga sion that the anime you are watching • Is this true in some way about Spir- Taisha ceremonies. is believable, just like live action. We ited Away? How? call this ability to believe ‘suspending • Draw the River God. What aspects disbelief’. This is also achieved by the TRADITIONS AND CULTURE of our environment do you think painted style of Spirited Away, through inspired this image? What might the texture and depth of the imagery. The director of Spirited Away, Hayao cause the sludge and smell of this Miyazaki, believes each country has its being? Think about the things that Artistic Director, Takeshige describes own traditions that are important to pass came out of this god. Write an expla- the scene where Chihiro takes the train down to future generations. He worries nation to accompany your drawing and goes to Zeniba to save Haku as about the effects on people who have stating why you think the fi lm-maker the most diffi cult to design. Although lost touch with their heritage. chose to represent the River God in the scene is not very animated, it was this way. diffi cult because it was complicated to • Invite Japanese guest speakers (e.g. portray a train travelling on an ocean. exchange students from a local sec- Hayao Miyazaki tells us that No-Face After all a train voyaging on water is not ondary school) to share traditions is a wandering god who has no home an ordinary sight! Nevertheless trains important to their families. Find and no basis in Japanese folklore. This and oceans are things you are familiar out if traditions vary from family to character represents modern Japan. with, so the scene had to be realistic. family or from one area of Japan to Firstly the art department had to decide another. Investigate whether Japa- • As a class discuss examples from upon a tone for the scene. In the end nese traditions are being lost. the fi lm that show how this charac- many touches were added using com- • Invite several older Australian guest ter is a metaphor illustrating greed. puter graphics since ‘in a fi lm like Spir- speakers to talk about traditions im- • Create your own character and place ited Away there is one main challenge: portant to their families. Be sure to her or him in a scene to show how to make the incredible believable’, says include Indigenous guest speakers. generosity could be represented. Takeshige. Once again, fi nd out if traditions vary from family to family or from one Religious symbols can be found eve- • Use Paint or a simple drawing pro- area of Australia to another. Inves- rywhere in Japan and this is much the gramme to create a scene where tigate whether Australian traditions same in Miyazaki’s fi lms. They can be two ordinary everyday objects are being lost. found discreetly throughout scenes and come together in an unusual way. • Find out about the importance and refl ect traditions and people’s lives. A Plan carefully so that the tone of signifi cance of the Ngarinyin Path- connection with nature is an essential your work captures reality. Can you ways Dulwan project. How did the characteristic of the Japanese soul. make the incredible believable? Ngarinyin elders’ people decide to preserve their traditions and cul- • In Japan, religion is more of a cultur-

THEMES AND ISSUES WITHIN THE ture? Who helped them with this al thing rather than something that ISSUE 29 NARRATIVE important task? Visit the Ngarinyin draws followers. It is omnipresent, Pathways Dulwan web site: but not overpowering. Find out what AUSTRALIAN Japanese anime tend to have complex http://www.acmi.net.au/pathways that means. storylines that leave some people or the Immigration Museum’s

confused and needing to watch the web site: http://immigration.m FRIENDSHIP SCREEN EDUCATION fi lm again. Because a lot of animes are useum.vic.gov.au/# fi lmed from mangas, some information • Create a multimedia presentation People develop friendships in all sorts can get lost on an audience who hasn’t that explores Japanese or Australian of ways—through their families, groups read the manga. It is also a part of the traditions and hold an exhibition of they belong to, school, hobbies or inter- Japanese storytelling tradition that sto- your works. Invite the guest speak- ests. In Spirited Away Chihiro develops ries tend to be based on metaphors and ers, students and teachers from a special bond with Haku because they symbolism, so the stories often refer- your school and family members to face some similar challenges. ence spiritual matters and ideas. They discuss your work. 9 often concern themselves with stories beside each drawing (called regis- ter marks) and the number of each Spirited Away language image. This will help you to get the drawings in the right order later. Be sure the image is in the middle of the page. 2 Slightly change the action of one part of the drawing only on each page. Be sure to line up the register marks each time. This will help you to position the image correctly onto the pages of your fl ick book. 3. Draw each picture on one of the Create a list of blank pages. Start with the last page of the book, and work forwards, so you can see the previous drawing beneath. Trace most of that image and change one thing slightly each time to give the illusion of move- ment. Colour each image using the • What things do Chihiro and Haku capture ideas to help solve this same colour scheme. Dark colours each have in common? Imagine problem. Display and share graffi ti work well. these two characters have become walls with other class members. 4 Place the 32 pages of the fl ick book email pals. Write four or fi ve mes- in order. sages they might write to each other GOING FURTHER 5 Finish making your fl ick book by after Chihiro leaves the mystical stapling together the 32 pages in world of the gods. ANIMATION the correct sequence

CHILDREN’S CONCERNS The art of animation is really just like WHAT ABOUT FILM ANIMATION? a magic trick or an illusion. Animation When Spirited Away fi lm-maker, Hayao has been around for a long time and With live action fi lm the camera runs at a Miyazaki, is planning a fi lm, he tries to amounts to creating a moving image constant speed, but with animation, fi lm think about the problems and concerns by showing lots of still images really sequences are built up one frame at a of children, especially girls. He has quickly one after the other. There are time. When small changes are made to noticed that many children feel over- lots of different ways to animate pic- each image between shots this is called protected by the adults in their lives. tures, but they all rely on the same stop-motion animation. He says they feel like they cannot play idea. When people view lots of slightly without adult eyes watching what they different images quickly one after the In cel animation characters and other are doing. Do you agree? other they are not able to separate the moving features are created on trans- pictures out individually. Their eye fools parent sheets called cels. A separate • Conduct a survey amongst Year 1, them into believing they are seeing a background or setting is created, then Year 3 and Year 6 students to fi nd moving image. each time you want to create movement out if they feel overprotected by a new cel drawing is fi lmed against the adults. Graph the results, then write MAKING A FLICK BOOK background. a report explaining your results. The fl ick or fl ip book is a really simple • You could create a background and ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES way to try animation yourself. First, col- then make your own action cels us- lect the things you need: ing plastic transparency sheets, per- Hayao Miyazaki says it is not his role • black lead pencil manent pens and oil based paints. to educate people about ecology. Yet • 32 pieces of paper measuring ap- It would be a good idea to create a he does admit he projects his personal proximately 6cm x 8cm storyboard fi rst. experiences onto his fi lms. He regu- • colouring pencils or felt tip pens larly helps clean up a river that runs • a stapler that will staple thick docu- Films usually run at 24 frames per sec- by his house, and he prefers trees to ments. ond. Usually each drawing is shot for AUSTRALIAN SCREEN EDUCATION concrete. two frames. So, every second of fi lm 1. Think of a simple sequence of needs 12 drawings. If this is the case ISSUE 29 • What other things do you remember movement such as a face chang- in Spirited Away work out how many from the fi lm that you think might ing expression, an animal running, drawings would be needed altogether relate to his experiences and prefer- a fl ower opening or the sun rising for the total fi lm? You might need a 10 ences? over a hill. Now draw it on one of the calculator for this one! 32 pieces of paper. Include crosses STORYBOARDS Imagine you are an animator and you http://www.ntv.co.jp/ghibli/ have a fantastic idea for an anime and http://www.nausicaa.net/miyazaki/ A storyboard is a little like a comic- you want to show it to Studio Ghibli. ghibli/ strip. It is a set of simple drawings You will present to them a ‘pitch’ for a that helps you plan the plot and how new script. In this you need to have the Madman you will present the visual elements of following ideas to present to the studio. http://www.madman.com.au/ your fi lm story. It should show the main They prefer that you present this pitch, scenes, some written notes about the in either Powerpoint or Hyper Studio REFERENCES action, camera shots and movement (or another web-based program). It and the sound needed. Shot sizes and will need: J, Clements and H. McCarthy, The ani- movements give animation the look of me encyclopaedia a guide to Japanese live action, so it is important to think 1 A 200 word synopsis (what the fi lm animation since 1917, Stone bridge about this aspect very carefully. is about) Press, Berkeley California, 2001. 2 A character list with who they are, STOP MOTION ANIMATION what they look like, who they re- Celia Meehan, Kites, Kimonos and late to, their role in the story, and Karate, Macmillan Education Australia, If you have access to a video camera sketches of them. South Melbourne, 1997. you can create a simple stop motion 3 A description of the setting and action. locations with sketches. JAPANESE ORGANIZATIONS 4 What music, sound effects and at- You will need: mospheres will be used in the sound Japanese Seminar House • white board markers design? http://www.japansh.com/intronew.htm • white board 5 How the anime will look in terms of • white board eraser texture, colours, forms. Consulate-General of Japan 6 An outline of the themes and issues http://www.melbourne. Plan a simple action with a character in explored in the story. au.emb-japan.go.jp/index.htm a simple setting. For example a skater travelling down the skate park on a THE NEXT STUDIO GHIBLI FILM This study guide was written for ATOM ramp. The skater is going to skate up by Vyvyan Stranieri and Christine Evely, and down the ramp once and then fall. Studio Ghibli hopes to release another Education Programmers, Australian Draw the ramp in full. Then draw the fi lm in Japanese theatres in 2004. Hayao Centre for the Moving Image. skater skating, bit-by-bit, thinking of Miyazaki is not sure if he will direct it. the movement required. Each time you He comments that the world is changing This study guide was produced by draw a bit more, fi lm with the camera enormously. Japan is going through a ATOM on behalf of Niche Pictures using the record and pause functions serious recession and terrorism is on the Pty Ltd and Madman Entertainment. on the camera. Do not use stop on the rise. He believes the studio must pro- For enquiries about screenings of the camera. By pausing and recording you duce a work that is pertinent, that will fi lm go to the offi cial website at http: can fi lm short small movements and ask the right questions, provide some //www.spiritedaway.com.au or contact then when we watch it will be one con- answers, and give people hope. Lyn McCarthy, Niche Pictures, tel. (02) tinuous fl owing movement. 6687 1117, fax (02) 6687 1269 or email: • Work with a partner to create 10 or lyn@maverickfi lms.com.au STUDIO GHIBLI 15 storyboard frames outlining a fi lm that would meet Hayao Miyazaki’s Hayao Miyazaki creates a fascinating ideals, or image of how Studio Ghibli works. He • Design a fi lm poster that would meet says he considers himself Kamaji. Yuba- Hayao Miyazaki’s ideals.

ba is Mr Suzuki, the president of Ghibli. ISSUE 29 He says Ghibli is just like the bath-house Some Miyazaki feature fi lms you may in the fi lm. Chihiro is like a young anima- wish to see are: AUSTRALIAN tor who has come to visit. When she • The Castle of Cagliostro arrives she fi nds Yubaba shouting and • Nausicca of the Valley of the For more information about ATOM study

giving orders to everyone. Meanwhile, Winds guides or The Speakers’ Bureau visit our SCREEN EDUCATION Kamaji is forced to work hard under • Princess Mononoke web site: www.metromagazine.com.au Yubaba’s orders. He is so overworked • My Neighbour Totoro or email: [email protected] he does not have enough arms and legs to do the task. As for Chihiro, she has to SOME WEB SITES OF INTEREST: make herself useful if she doesn’t want Yubaba to make her disappear, that is Spirited away to fi re her! http//www.spiritedaway.com.au 11 Studio Ghibli