Story Symbol

• No Face’s mask pops up a lot throughout the story.
• Golds (most characters are obsessed with golds).
• Food, when consumed by the parents turns them into pigs; whereas consumed by Chihiro gives her strength.

Symbolic Characters

• Big Baby, an ally
• The workers, opinionated people
• The twin sisters are both very old but polar opposite from each other.
• No Face attempts to help the humans try to enter the hot springs but is only let in by Chihiro; in one way or another represents kindness.
• Haku is the river deity; this alludes to the Japanese culture of having gods for everything.

Symbolic Theme

• Greed is one of the main themes, evidenced by the mental deformation of some characters (Chihiro’s parents, Yubaba, the workers,…).
• Changes – both positively and negatively. For Chihiro, when she has to move and character development throughout the movie. For Chihiro’s parents, when they turn into pigs.

Symbolic Worlds

• Most of the residents are animals.
• The setting is an old amusement park.
• The bathhouse and the ‘amusement park’ co-exist but give different vibes.
• The train connects different worlds.
• The spirits only come out at night; this alludes to old beliefs of Japanese yokai.

Symbolic Objects

• The food (at the beginning of the movie and throughout).
• Golds.
• Water.
• Hair tie from Zeniba that acts as a protective charm.
• Train ticket from Kamaji.
• River Spirit’s herbal cake that helps cure Haku.