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Haku takes Sen to visit her parents, who have turned into pigs. Sen promises to rescue them and get them all out of this strange world one day. Back at work, Sen is forced to do the grossest jobs, like cleaning out the giant tub. And then the dreaded Stink God pays a visit to the bathhouse, and Sen is sent to serve his odorous presence! Through pluck and determination, though, Sen makes it through, and finds a valuable prize in the process. Meanwhile, the masked man, the mysterious No-Face monster is lurking about. Who is he...and what does he want?

169 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2002

9 people are currently reading
724 people want to read

About the author

Hayao Miyazaki

367 books3,508 followers
Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎 駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Prateekshya.
91 reviews
January 6, 2025
3🌟
The pacing was kinda slow.
Still engaging with chihiro's new circumstances as a contract worker.
Profile Image for Ridgewood Public Library Youth Services.
481 reviews36 followers
August 28, 2021


This story is a tearjerker. The background and relationship between the characters enhance the adventure of the plot. Readers can especially feel for Haku and Chihiro’s special connection and all that they endure together.

- Chloe, Grade 11
98 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2024
My whole life, people have told me I would love this movie. When I was at the library and saw they had it as a graphic novel I did not hesitate to pick it up. And it did not disappoint. I enjoyed every second and the entire series was perfect. Immediately after finishing the graphic novels I watched the movie and loved it.
Profile Image for Ju. Be..
70 reviews2 followers
July 28, 2017
Spirited Away 3

Klappentext:
Durch einen geheimnisvollen Tunnel verirrt sich die zehnjährige Chihiro in eine wundersame, von Gottheiten und Zauberwesen bevölkerte Welt. Um hier zu überleben, muss sie im Badehaus der Hexe Yubaba schuften, in dem die skurrilsten Gäste verkehren.
Chihiros Suche nach einem Weg zurück in ihre Welt gerät zu einem märchenhaften und gefährlichen Abenteuer, in dessen Verlauf sich das verängstigte Mädchen zu einer selbstbewussten jungen Persönlichkeit wandelt...

Meinung:
Wer die Filme von Hayao Miyazaki kennt, der weiß jeder einzelne Film ist ein kleines Meisterwerk für sich. So auch "Spirited Away - Chihiros Reise ins Zauberland“. Schon beim ersten Anschauen vor vielen Jahren war ich auf der Stelle fasziniert. Sofort zogen mich sowohl Handlung, als auch die liebevoll gezeichneten Figuren in ihren Bann. Wer hat sich bitte nicht sofort in Haku verknallt?
Bis heute bleibt "Spirited Away" mein absoluter Liebling. Wer ähnlich denkt und die 5 Comic-Bände von Carlsen Comics noch in die Hände bekommt, der sollte sie unbedingt lesen. Für mich ein absoluter Schatz und Kurztrip in meine Kindheit!

Was bisher geschah...
Während ihres Umzugs aufs Land verirrt sich die zehnjährige Chihiro in eine geheimnisvolle Stadt - einen verzauberten Badekurort-, den Götter und Geister aus ganz Japan besuchen. Während Chihiros Eltern in Schweine verwandelt werden, rettet ein Junge namens Haku ihr das Leben. Chihiro unterschreibt einen Arbeitsvertrag der Hexe Yubaba, der Inhaberin des Badehauses "Abura-ya". Daraufhin ändert Yubaba Chihiros Namen in "Sen"...

Haku unterstützt und hilft Chihiro nun so gut er kann, aber ihren neuen "Arbeitsalltag" muss sie ab sofort selbst bewältigen. Zum Glück ist da noch Lin, die ihr zur Seite steht. Zusammen bedienen die beiden Chihiros ersten Badegast. Nachdem Lin und sie die große Badewanne gesäubert hatten, kam er auch schon: ein Stinkgott...
Profile Image for Michael Sorbello.
Author 2 books316 followers
October 20, 2020
This is a review of the entire series.

Chihiro and her parents are on their way to a new home. Chihiro is grieving and apprehensive to the idea, as any child that's forced to leave their friends and familiar places behind would be. Her father takes a wrong turn along the way which leads them to a mysterious tunnel that connects to an abandoned amusement park. After having a disagreement, Chihiro separates from her parents and wanders the abandoned amusement park alone, only to find out that it's not nearly as abandoned as the naked eye would leave outsiders to believe.

At night, the amusement park comes to life, as it is inhabited by hundreds of ghosts, demons and spirits of nature. Among the strange inhabitants of the land is a boy named Haku who seems to remember Chihiro from a distant memory that he's now forgotten, but his intuition tells him to help the lost girl survive by finding work and acceptance from the spirits. Determined to save her parents who have been transformed into pigs after being cursed for entering a land forbidden to humans, Chihiro overcomes her inner fears and sadness that gives her the courage she needs to confront the bizarre land she now inhabits as well as learning to leave her past life behind.

It's easy to mistake Chihiro as a bit of a brat when we first meet her, but we soon learn that she's actually quite intuitive while her parents are somewhat ignorant of her personal feelings. Being forced to leave everything she cares about behind and having no one around to help her through the grieving process would be upsetting to anyone in her position, especially at such a young age. The dangers of the amusement park force her to confront the fear of moving to a new place and she learns to adapt to a new way of life. Even after feeling like her parents didn't care about what she was going through, she never once thought of abandoning them. She actually has quite a few selfless and admirable qualities.

The spirits hate the girl at first, but they learn to sympathize with her after seeing how hard she's willing to work for people that may or may not even care about her. Spirited Away is a story about selfless acts of kindness coming back to give you the support you need in your lowest moments. People will remember when you do kind things for them without them asking you for help and without you asking for anything in return. Through the many trials and aid the zany spirits of the land throw her way, Chihiro receives the extra push she needs to accept her circumstances, come to terms with her grief and move on to a better life.

***

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273 reviews
November 18, 2018
Haku takes Sen to visit her parents, who have turned into pigs. Sen promises to rescue them and get them all out of this strange world one day. Back at work, Sen is forced to do the grossest jobs, like cleaning out the giant tub. And then the dreaded Stink God pays a visit to the bathhouse, and Sen is sent to serve his odorous presence! Through pluck and determination, though, Sen makes it through, and finds a valuable prize in the process. Meanwhile, the masked man, the mysterious No-Face monster is lurking about. Who is he...and what does he want?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ms. Patterson.
412 reviews12 followers
June 28, 2019
A continuation of a retelling of the classic anime movie, Spirited Away, told in graphic format. Using actual illustrations from the film, this is as close as you can get to the movie, without pulling out your copy to watch.

Love, love this!!

A rating. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Bridget Bernstein.
211 reviews23 followers
July 29, 2019
2019 Reading Challenge: 32/24

This has been my favorite of the series so far. I enjoyed seeing Haku again and getting more of a glimpse about what life is going to be like for Sen and the other workers. I just love the story so much and how easy it is to understand/follow.
Profile Image for Amy.
160 reviews
May 24, 2017
Such cute graphic novels!!
Profile Image for Hayleigh.
562 reviews39 followers
August 20, 2018
Ooh I never made that connection to the spirit she helps before!
Profile Image for Alyssa.
305 reviews9 followers
July 25, 2019
No review necessary, its Spirited Away
Profile Image for Michael.
990 reviews21 followers
July 28, 2022
Not interesting at all. Nothing happens. Crap ton of pictures with very little dialogue or exposition. Just... Why does my son like this so much? Why?
Profile Image for Just A Ginger.
568 reviews27 followers
March 24, 2017
What a cute read, reads just like the movie, same art. Just beautiful.
Profile Image for Zian B..
2,314 reviews34 followers
July 1, 2019
Haku is a precious boy and I really like Lin and Chihiro’s friendship.
Profile Image for Edgar.
36 reviews8 followers
May 1, 2015
The part where Haku gives Sen a rice ball and she starts crying...

aww :(
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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