No-face: A Baby And A Mirror of Humanity

Spirited Away is an awesome animation, and it is also a superb family drama because of the character No-Face. Every parent should watch it with their kid, and so does every lost spirit.

This Place Will Make Him Bad

The character No-Face is an exceptionally well-designed supporting character in the movie Spirited Away. The film breaks down the idea that one's identity is attached to their name, which was previously mentioned in another article, and elevates it from a personal concept to a discussion about human nature. In Japanese culture, yokai, a group of supernatural entities and spirits in Japanese folklore, typically do not have individual names but share a collective name based on their kind, such as Ameonna, Kappa, Yuki-onna, and more. Additionally, yokai are complex creatures that can be good, bad, or neutral. Even for the same yokai, it is possible to be both good and evil. No-Face is one such yokai that embodies both good and evil. The character arc of No-Face in the film can be divided into three stages: 1. Before entering the bathhouse; 2. In the bathhouse; 3. After Leaving the bathhouse.

No-Face standing in the entrance bridge of the bathhouse

Upon first viewing, this character may leave the audience feeling confused about who he truly is. The film does not provide much information about his backstory, leaving us with little knowledge of where he comes from or what his intentions are, more than his affection for Chihiro. Despite his ambiguity, No-Face's character is interesting enough to pique our curiosity. Initially, he was unable to speak, but after swollowing a small frog character, he suddenly gained the ability to talk. Additionally, he possesses the power to produce gold through magic, causing the greedy workers at the bathhouse to become deluded and disoriented by their desire for wealth. Even after swollowing several bathhouse employees, Yubaba only instructs Chihiro to take all of No-Face's gold and leave. This situation highlights the fact that it is not effective to judge No-Face based on good or evil. His actions seem to be driven by the thoughts and emotions of those around him, rather than a clear motive of his own.

Employees in the bathhouse feeding No-Face

When Chihiro told Lin, "We should keep him (No-Face) away from this place, it will make him bad.” We finally come to realize that at his core, No-Face is actually like a mirror that suddenly became self-aware but had no idea how to handle the intentions reflected by others towards him. He lacks his own experience to deal with others. While he swallowed the staff of the bathhouse, the people there still wanted to take away all his gold. No-Face’s primary interest was simply to repay Chihiro's kindness, but he didn't know how to properly make Chihiro accept him, and he unfortunately met wrong people before figuring it out. No-Face behaved what he was told to, and thankfully, Chihiro corrected him later then.

It's worth noting that No-Face was originally invisible, and it was only after Chihiro discovered him that he entered the bathhouse. This suggests that No-Face isn't necessarily one without a face, but rather is perceived differently by different people. He was invisible on the entrance bridge because it was a neutral place between good and bad. Chihiro saw the good side of him, so he became visible. The employees in the bathhouse saw the bad side of him, so he swallowed anything that was offered and became a monster.

No-Face leaving with Chihiro to find Zeniba

A “Right” Home For No-Face

An innocent but also vulnerable baby, like a blank canvas upon which everyone around is free to draw. Ultimately, No-Face is a baby in sore need of finding himself.

After No-Face departs from the bathhouse, his magic disappears as well. It finally dawns on the people in the bathhouse that the gold No-Face had effortlessly created was nothing but dirt. This realization is quite thought-provoking. Dirt can be found at anywhere, so when No-Face transforms dirt into gold, he may simply be utilizing existing materials that are already scattered throughout the house. It is possible that he is not changing the essence of the dirt but instead absorbing the greed of people in the bathhouse, distorting and magnifying their desire for wealth. Rather than claiming that he deceived the people in the bathhouse, it is more accurate to say that they were blinded by their own greed, so much so that they began to treat dirt as if it were gold.

Compared to the bathhouse, Zeniba's small cabinet in the woods embodies a completely different set of values. The atmosphere there is warm and inviting, not overly glamorous or extravagant. The decor is cozy and simple, reflecting Zeniba's love of handcrafts. Unlike Yubaba, she doesn't offer anything with conditions attached; instead, she encourages her guests to take matters into their own hands. After accepting Chihiro's request to save Haku, Zeniba invited No-Face to stay and learn from her. It's not just about magic; there's something more to be gained from Zeniba's wisdom.

Zeniba instructing No-face on handcrafting.

Zeniba mentioned that she is less interested in "fashion" compared to her sister, Yubaba. For example, Yubaba is more of a capitalist, taking advantage of people's needs and reaping the benefits while others suffer. However, is Yubaba truly happy? Probably not, because she is too busy catering to other people's needs. I believe Zeniba truly understands what happiness means, because she focuses on minding her own business and finds satisfaction in fulfilling her own desires.

Zeniba's place is the perfect environment for nurturing No-Face, as she can guide him in listening to his inner thoughts and developing his own experiences. In the Bathhouse, No-Face is only exposed to negative thoughts from the crowds of greedy individuals. In comparison, Bô has been poorly raised by Yubaba and as a result of her excessive spoiling, he has become capricious and self-centered. Essentially, Bô is a reflection of Yubaba's desires for him. She spoils him to satisfy her own needs and is lost in her overly-protective love.

Bô

We Spoil Before We Know It

As the side story of No-Face is incredibly interesting, have you ever wondered why he isn't the protagonist of his own story? It could be argued that we tend to spoil things we find appealing without even realizing it. Humanity is complex, and it's not just about what's good or bad, right or wrong. There's a delicate balance at the core of our being, which we often forget when we're overly focused on something we like. An excellent movie doesn't preach about morality, but instead uncovers the complexities of humanity and brings to light things that were once insignificant.