Studio Ghibli, founded in 1985 by Hayao Miyazaki, Isao Takahata and Toshio Suzuki (Miyazaki and Takahata are primarily directors and writers, while Suzuki acts as a producer). Films by Studio Ghibli have often played a major role in shaping the childhood of many. A constant sense of curiosity and wonder runs through their creations, with themes of resilience, a love for one’s surroundings, and children being forced to grow up before their time, all while maintaining that sense of wonder. Now, let’s transition from this broader impact to a closer look at a film that defied all expectations – Spirited Away. (Stevens, 2023)
Worldbuilding in Studio Ghibli
Storyboarding in Studio Ghibli helps study the scenario, analyse it in discussion, and revise it, which is why they are highly detailed, often including notes on character movement, camera work, dialogue, and timing. Upon finalising the storyboard, each scene is split apart. While creating a setting for each Ghibli movie, here’s where it takes a turn. They are only quasi-real, “so that it would seem vaguely familiar yet not clearly identifiable as either dream or reality” (Miyazaki, Turning Point, 1997-2008, April 2014). A creative team sets off on an outing to different locations to gather inspiration. Now, with a real-life setting as inspiration, a bridge between reality and fantasy can be built through background art. (Veronika, 2025)
Background art forms a crucial part of Studio Ghibli’s worldbuilding. Hand-sketched, with intricate details, forms the outline of Ghibli’s signature style. These backgrounds make each setting feel real and livable, whether it’s fantastical. On completion of each main frame, the animator curates each movement with precision. This intricate line art is further coloured by hand, and then the characters are placed over painted backgrounds frame by frame. Taking references from the video, the facial expressions, music, sound effects, and dialogues are. put in sync, with live musicians contributing to the score. With the sole belief in preserving human touch, emotion, and hard-to-notice imperfections, the founders lean towards traditional animation. As a result, their films engulf a user in a warm cocoon of authenticity. (Veronika, 2025)
A Gateway into the Next Realm
Spirited Away is:
“This is supposed to be the story of a young girl who is thrown into another world, where good people and bad are all mixed up and coexisting. In this world, she undergoes rigorous training, learns about friendship and self-sacrifice, and, using her own basic smarts, somehow not only survives but manages to return to our own world.” (Ghibli, From the proposal for Spirited Away, 1999).
Spirited Away features scenes spread across multiple settings, one of which prominently centres on a Bathhouse.
According to Japanese customs, bathing is associated with the purification of the mind and body. The arrival of Buddhism brought about the practice of bathing with artificially boiled water around the 6th century. These latter were open to the public and spread. As urbanisation increased, many residences lacked private bathrooms. Thus, more such structures were built, and they also served to provide relaxation and a venue for socialisation. (Senseisquare.com, 2020)
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The formation of a Boundary:
Miyazaki has a way of blending the worlds between the mundane and fantasy. An abandoned park, which the protagonist Chihiro traverses, is not unthought of. Rather, it uses an overgrown landscape, elements that often surround one, such as the wind, and a combination of traditional Japanese and present Western styles to create a strong setting from the outset. The introduction of a wide, now-dry riverbed marks the mythological boundary between realms governed by different rules. Instead of overwhelming the audience with a shot of activity post sunset, Miyazaki includes a slow-paced transformation of an empty town into a field of hustle and bustle of otherworldly beings. He uses the environment to shed light on the new reality Chihiro (the protagonist) faces upon entry. (Senseisquare.com, 2020)
If one peers just close enough, the reason for the abandoned theme park becomes clear. Chihiro’s father takes note of the new buildings in their sight, hinting that the park was proof of Japan’s “bubble economy era (1986-1991). Left to decay after the bubble burst, the deserted park serves as a reminder of the constant pursuit of man in modern society, giving in to their greed. It’s a glimpse into the looming threats of an uncertain future if not heeded. One such real-life example of an abandoned park is the Nara Dreamland, which shut down in 2006 and was demolished in 2016. (Veronika, 2025)
2. The Descent
Chihiro makes her way down an old, decaying staircase to the bathhouse’s living engine room, demonstrating her resilience in adapting to the perils set before her and her grit in overcoming them. Miyazaki puts spatial continuity to good use, showcasing the steady, organised instances of its functioning. Kanji, the water boiler, is a character inspired by the Earth spider, often depicted as a defiant figure against authority. The scene is a perfect mix of the right dark and warm tones signifying the boiler room, with hundreds of dark, wooden drawers labelled for herbal remedies (Kusuri); It’s also a glimpse into the troubles and toils that an industry goes through to feed the image of luxury sold to the wealthy above – a powerful contrast further emphasised by the change in colours and backgrounds. (Senseisquare.com, 2020)
3. Traditional Instances:
A deep, dark polished wood fills the entire hall of the main bath floors, giving the feeling of a historic temple. Intricate lattice work, deep shades of red and green engulf the spaces, while intricately carved wooden pillars support the structure. A central atrium lies amidst guest rooms on higher floors, reached by lift services and steep staircases, with the topmost floor – the penthouse reserved for Yubaba, the witch heading the bathhouse. for. A glimpse of the spirit world’s reverence for nature is seen in walls adorned with fusuma panels featuring cherry blossoms and painted murals of cranes, as well as in delicate shoji screens. The practice at the bath house is that, in exchange for herbal infusions, bath tokens are provided.
For the Aburaya, Miyazaki and his team drew inspiration from real-life Japanese bath houses, but tweaked their styles to create a quasi-Western one, so it wouldn’t be identifiable as entirely real or a dream. (Senseisquare.com, 2020)
What is it about Spirited Away that one finds hard to forget? It’s the magical feeling of wanting to reside in such a realm; Every scene is a carefully composed moment that feels innately human, filled with soul and the right setting that feels like an actual place.
Studio Ghibli continues to remain unique, standing out from Western animation. Their signature style allows viewers to absorb the authenticity, patience, dedication, and attention to detail that go into shaping every character, scene, and setting, making each film a Ghibli creation!
- Online sources
Citations for websites:
Author/Source if no specific author (Year). Title of web document/page. [online]. (Last updated: if this information is available). Available at: URL [Accessed date: Day/Month/Year].
For example:
HealthTips (2015). Superfoods and where to find them. [online]. (Last updated 20 May 2015). Available at: www.healthtipsarticles.com/superfoodsandwheretofindthem [Accessed 20 June 2016].
Citations for emails:
Sender’s last name, First initial. (Year). Subject Line of Email. [email].
For example:
James, D. (2016). New business plan for McDowells. [email].
Citations for Social Media:
Last name of author, First initial. (Year). Title of page [Social media format]. Day/month/year written. Available from: URL. [Accessed: Day/Month/Year].
For example:
Proud, F. (2014). Food lovers group [Facebook]. Written 5 June 2014. Available from: www.facebook.com/foodloversgroupproudf2014 [Accessed 25 September 2016].
- Images/visual mediums
Citations for images/photographs – Print or Online:
Hamadeh, Y. (2022). In Yubaba, ‘Spirited Away’ Gave Us The Underrated Queen Of Movie Witches. [online] Mashable India. Available at: https://in.mashable.com/movies/40390/in-yubaba-spirited-away-gave-us-the-underrated-queen-of-movie-witches [Accessed 29 May 2026].
Kulkarni, P. (2023). ‘Spirited Away’: A Mystical Drift. [online] Medium. Available at: https://medium.com/@prabhak/spirited-away-a-mystical-drift-aa028380b394.
