Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki Finally Explains Who No-Face Really Is in Spirited Away

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One of the most mysterious characters in Spirited Away is No-Face – a quiet, observant spirit who draws people in by offering them what they secretly want. Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli and director of the film, recently shared that the idea for No-Face came to him after he formed a particular understanding of human nature.

The popular movie Spirited Away recently aired on Nippon Television’s Friday Road Show, a weekly prime-time slot for well-known films. Following the broadcast, the network shared new insights from Miyazaki about making the movie on X (formerly Twitter).

Spirited Away’s No-Face Represents ‘Clingy People,’ According to Studio Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki

Miyazaki described the character No-Face as representing people who desperately seek connection but lack a strong identity. He explained that No-Face tries to win people over with gifts and offerings, highlighting a tendency to ‘cling’ to others through material things. Miyazaki believes many people in everyday life share this trait, acting like No-Face in their desire for acceptance.

The animated film Spirited Away was released in Japan four years after the story of a courageous hero who tries to stop a fierce war between humans and the spirits of the forest. In Spirited Away, Japanese gods and spirits appear as both helpers and enemies.

While moving to the suburbs, a young girl and her family discover what looks like an old, forgotten amusement park. Little do they know, it’s actually a secret entrance to another world. Things take a terrifying turn when a witch named Yubaba transforms her parents into pigs.

Chihiro first meets No-Face on the bridge approaching the impressive building. Initially, he seems like a quiet, unimportant figure who barely notices her. However, his focus quickly shifts to the bathhouse employees, and he attracts them by offering large amounts of gold.

No-Face quickly became popular with the bathhouse staff and started eating lavish food, which caused him to grow enormously. But he became very upset when he couldn’t impress Chihiro with gifts of gold and riches, the same things that had delighted everyone else. In a fit of anger, he began to violently devour the bathhouse workers.

Spirited Away’s No-Face Lacks an Identity of His Own

No-Face’s emptiness seems to drive him mad at the bathhouse. He doesn’t have a real identity, so he tries to get attention in empty, unsatisfying ways. Because these connections are so shallow, he can’t find true happiness.

Fortunately, No-Face is eventually redeemed thanks to Zeniba, a gentle sorceress. She appreciates his help around the house and offers him a place to stay. This marks the end of his journey; through someone else acknowledging him, No-Face stops needing to rely on others and finally finds his own sense of self and meaning.

Spirited Away Currently Remains Studio Ghibli’s Biggest Box Office Hit of All Time

Earning around $396 million worldwide, Spirited Away is the most commercially successful film ever made by Studio Ghibli. The film received further accolades in June 2025, adding to its already impressive collection of awards. Beloved by audiences in both Japan and Western countries, Spirited Away has been shown in U.S. cinemas many times.

You can currently watch Spirited Away on either Max or Netflix, depending on where you are located.

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2026-01-06 07:11