Spirited Away
Chihiro and her parents are moving to a small Japanese town in the countryside, much to Chihiro's dismay. On the way to their new home, Chihiro's father makes a wrong turn and drives down a lonely one-lane road which dead-ends in front of a tunnel. Her parents decide to stop the car and explore the area. They go through the tunnel and find an abandoned amusement park on the other side, with its own little town. When her parents see a restaurant with great-smelling food but no staff, they decide to eat and pay later. However, Chihiro refuses to eat and decides to explore the theme park a bit more. She meets a boy named Haku who tells her that Chihiro and her parents are in danger, and they must leave immediately. She runs to the restaurant and finds that her parents have turned into pigs. In addition, the theme park turns out to be a town inhabited by demons, spirits, and evil gods. At the center of the town is a bathhouse where these creatures go to relax. The owner of the bathhouse is the evil witch Yubaba, who is intent on keeping all trespassers as captive workers, including Chihiro. Chihiro must rely on Haku to save her parents in hopes of returning to their world.
Despite a mid-range budget of $19.0M, Spirited Away became a commercial juggernaut, earning $274.9M worldwide—a remarkable 1347% return.
1 Oscar. 58 wins & 31 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Spirited Away (2001) exemplifies deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Hayao Miyazaki's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 5 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Chihiro sulks in the backseat clutching her farewell bouquet, a spoiled child resistant to change as her family drives to their new home.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when As darkness falls, Chihiro discovers her parents have been transformed into pigs. She begins to turn transparent as spirits emerge, trapping her in the spirit world.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Haku lies dying, his body controlled by a deadly curse. Sen believes she has lost her only ally and protector, facing the possibility of permanent separation and death - the ultimate loss in this world., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 71% of the runtime. Zeniba forgives Sen, offering wisdom about love and identity. Sen remembers Haku's true name (Kohaku River), breaking his curse. She passes Yubaba's final test by identifying that none of the pigs are her parents, winning their freedom., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Spirited Away's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Spirited Away against these established plot points, we can identify how Hayao Miyazaki utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Spirited Away within the animation genre.
Hayao Miyazaki's Structural Approach
Among the 13 Hayao Miyazaki films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 5.6, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Spirited Away represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Hayao Miyazaki filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Hayao Miyazaki analyses, see Kiki's Delivery Service, Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Chihiro sulks in the backseat clutching her farewell bouquet, a spoiled child resistant to change as her family drives to their new home.
Theme
Chihiro's father dismisses her fears about the tunnel and abandoned theme park, stating they'll be fine - foreshadowing that recklessness and greed have consequences.
Worldbuilding
The family takes a wrong turn, discovers a mysterious tunnel and abandoned theme park. Chihiro's parents greedily eat spirit food despite her warnings, establishing her intuition versus their carelessness.
Disruption
As darkness falls, Chihiro discovers her parents have been transformed into pigs. She begins to turn transparent as spirits emerge, trapping her in the spirit world.
Resistance
Haku finds terrified Chihiro and guides her through survival basics: she must get a job from Kamaji, avoid being noticed, and not reveal she's human. He feeds her spirit world food to keep her from disappearing.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Sen works in the bathhouse, learning its rules and earning respect. She successfully cleanses the River Spirit (revealing her compassionate nature) and encounters No-Face, showing kindness that will later prove consequential.
Opposition
No-Face corrupts the bathhouse with greed and violence. Haku, cursed and bleeding, steals Zeniba's seal for Yubaba. Sen must face No-Face alone and discovers Haku is dying from Zeniba's curse and Yubaba's control.
Collapse
Haku lies dying, his body controlled by a deadly curse. Sen believes she has lost her only ally and protector, facing the possibility of permanent separation and death - the ultimate loss in this world.
Crisis
Sen grieves over Haku but finds resolve. She uses the River Spirit's herb to save him from the curse, then decides she must journey to Zeniba to apologize and seek help, despite the danger.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Zeniba forgives Sen, offering wisdom about love and identity. Sen remembers Haku's true name (Kohaku River), breaking his curse. She passes Yubaba's final test by identifying that none of the pigs are her parents, winning their freedom.