Hayao Miyazaki’s Surprising Take on No Face in Spirited Away

For more than twenty years, punters have been picking apart every detail of Spirited Away, especially when it comes to the mysterious No Face. The quiet spirit has always been a bit of a puzzle, with most folks assuming he’s just a symbol of greed. But Hayao Miyazaki has recently cleared things up, and his explanation is a real game-changer.

What Miyazaki Really Meant With No Face

Appearing on a Japanese television programme, Miyazaki explained that No Face isn’t just about greed at all. Instead, he reckons No Face stands for people who are emotionally needy and don’t have a strong sense of who they are. These are the types who latch onto others, looking for approval and shaping themselves to fit in with whoever gives them attention.

In Miyazaki’s own words:

There are tons of Kaonashi (No Face) like that around you. I think there are people everywhere who want to cling to someone like that but don’t have a sense of self.

That description fits No Face to a tee. When he first shows up, he’s quiet, keeps to himself, and doesn’t really seem to know where he belongs. It’s only when Chihiro shows him a bit of kindness that things start to shift. Suddenly, that small gesture becomes the centre of his world. Once he’s inside the bathhouse, No Face starts copying what’s going on around him, soaking up the greed and attention-seeking behaviour of the workers. He dishes out gold because that’s what gets noticed, and when that’s not enough, his actions spiral out of control. His outburst isn’t random – it’s what happens when someone’s emotional neediness goes off the rails.

Rethinking Spirited Away’s Message

Miyazaki’s take makes it clear that No Face isn’t some villain. He’s empty, and the bathhouse just fills that emptiness with whatever’s around. This new perspective gives the film a sharper emotional edge. It’s not just about a kid trying to survive in a strange world, but about identity, boundaries, and what happens when you lose your sense of self.

Chihiro and No Face are opposites in a way. Chihiro spends the whole story fighting to remember her name and who she is, while No Face doesn’t have any identity to start with. He tries to define himself through Chihiro, through money, through power, but none of it sticks. Chihiro doesn’t save him or fix him – she’s kind, but she doesn’t accept his gifts or his neediness. No Face only finds a bit of peace when he leaves the bathhouse and helps Zeniba, where he can just be himself without anyone expecting anything from him. For the first time, he’s doing something because it gives him purpose, not because he wants approval.

Spirited Away: A Story of Growing Up

With Miyazaki’s explanation, the film feels less like a fantasy and more like a grounded story about growing up. The idea that knowing your own worth – your “name” – is the only way to get by in a world that’s always trying to shape you is a classic Ghibli theme, but now it’s front and centre. It’s not subtle anymore, and that makes it hit a bit harder.

Spirited Away was directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. Released in 2001, it’s still one of the most beloved animated films, with an IMDb rating of 8.6 out of 10. If you’re keen to revisit it, you can catch it on HBO Max.