Spirited Away

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. Hayao Miyazaki has created many films which have been adapted into Japanese graphic novels called manga. Book 1 of Spirited Away is one such example. What are the characteristics of the manga form? How does it differ from traditional Western comics, and how is it similar?

Teaching Suggestion: Some students may be familiar with Miyazaki’s films or with manga, while others may not. Consider having a pre-response discussion, asking students if they have seen any of his films or read any other manga. Students can be reminded that this is an open-ended question with no wrong answer, and that if they do not know anything about either the artist or manga itself, they can guess what the word “manga” might suggest with images or the book cover art to serve as visual inspiration

• “The Life of Hayao Miyazaki” - This 7-minute video details the life of the artist and how he came to be one of the most prolific children’s filmmakers of all time.
• “An Introduction to Manga” - This resource explains what manga is, what makes it a distinct artform, and what genres exist.

2.  Adapting films into books, comics, or manga presents a unique challenge for artists. What do you think some of these challenges might be and how do comic and manga artists manage them? How would adapting a movie into print differ from adapting a book/manga/comic into a movie?

Teaching Suggestion: Often, books and comics are adapted into movies, but especially for children’s stories sometimes the reverse occurs. Encourage students to consider what makes a movie and book/comic/manga different, and what might be lost or difficult to convey about a movie in print form. Manga and comics present a unique form of adaptation of films because they allow for the inclusion of visual cues, sounds, and other storytelling components.

• “How Spirited Away Changed Animation Forever” - This Time magazine article details the profound effect that Miyazaki’s work has had on the animation world, and how it continues to inspire and spring adaptations and stories.

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the text.

In Book 1 of Spirited Away, Chihiro is forced to become independent and act with courage to help the people she loves, demonstrating How Love Propels One Toward Bravery and Maturity. Can you recall a time in your life when you had to be brave to help those you love? How did you find the strength to show bravery, and what did it teach you about yourself? You may instead respond regarding behavior and actions you have witnessed in others.

Teaching Suggestion: Book 1 focuses on the story’s exposition and what leads to the issues that Chihiro must face, largely on her own. After her parents are turned into pigs, she makes new friends, but mainly relies on herself to confront her fears and save them. In the story’s exposition, Chihiro already begins to demonstrate this bravery. This prompt can also lead to a discussion about what the students predict will thrust Chihiro toward independence and why acting brave might force someone to grow up.

• “If—” - Rudyard Kipling’s poem on the importance of courage, steadfastness, and virtue

Differentiation Suggestion: For those who tend toward concrete thinking, it might be helpful to set frames or context for the more abstract concepts in this question, breaking them down into simpler pieces. For instance, discussing what it means to love someone, discussing what it means to be brave, and discussing what it means to be independent, and then combining these three concepts to answer the full question.