In Week 12, I revisited Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service with my research focus in mind. Watching the films again after narrowing down my topic felt very different from previous viewings, as I was paying more attention to details rather than just following the story.
When rewatching Spirited Away, I became more aware of how the spaces and environments shape Chihiro’s experience. The bathhouse, in particular, feels overwhelming at first, and the way it is presented visually reinforces the character’s sense of being lost and pressured. Small moments that I had not noticed before, such as changes in lighting and pacing, stood out more clearly during this viewing.
Rewatching Kiki’s Delivery Service felt much quieter in comparison. The film focuses more on everyday routines and emotional shifts rather than dramatic events. I noticed how Kiki’s loss of confidence is shown through subtle changes in behaviour and atmosphere, rather than through explicit conflict. This made the film feel more grounded and personal.
Looking at the two films side by side helped me see how similar themes are expressed in different ways. Both films deal with growth and adjustment, but they use very different settings and rhythms. This week helped me move from a general interest in these works to a more detailed and focused way of analysing them.
Reference List
I also began collecting a few references on Miyazaki’s films, mainly as background reading to support my later analysis.
Cavallaro (2006), The Anime Art of Hayao Miyazaki
Iwabuchi (2002), Recentering Globalization: Popular Culture and Japanese Transnationalism
Lamarre (2009), The Anime Machine: A Media Theory of Animation
Napier (2018), Miyazakiworld: A Life in Art