An amused Zeniba reveals that the slug had been one of Yubaba's means of controlling Haku, and that the curse put on the seal has already been broken by Sen's friendship. This made it the year's most-watched foreign-language film on BBC, and the year's second highest foreign film on UK television (below the Indian Bollywood film Om Shanti Om). Following the grueling production of Princess Mononoke Miyazaki considered retiring once again to focus on his personal projects, such as opening the Ghibli Museum.

In stark contrast to the simplicity of Chihiro's journey and transformation is the constantly chaotic carnival in the background. Lin takes Sen to the station to see Zeniba, and Sen invites No-Face to follow, despite Lin's protests. Finally, the old woman broke the silence, "Six years old and you still don't know how to greet a person. An ominous, expressionless mask with grey-violet highlights is painted on his "head" of sorts, and while there is a "mouth" painted on the mask, No-Face has shown that his real, expertly-hidden mouth is larger than the one present on his mask.As with his other film projects, the initial idea germinated several years before becoming the film we know. When asked to explain if Miyazaki were referring to the youth of today, he explained, "I didn't make the film with that in mind. The whole range of folklore - stories, traditions, events, ideas, from religious rites to magic - as abundant and unique as it is, is simply ignored.

IT's about treating the world we discover there as though it's a reality, to the point where the real world itself sometimes seems to lack reality. Zeniba (銭婆, Zeniba, zeni can refer to both money and public baths, making her name a play on Yubaba's) Miyu Irino (Japanese), Suzanne Pleshette (English) Zeniba is Yubaba's twin sister and rival. Speaking about Spirited Away’s London debut, Caird said: “I am proud and delighted to present the original Japanese stage production of Spirited Away at the Coliseum Theatre next year. These extra lines are from Chihiro's dad and herself; her dad worries about her having to live somewhere else and go to a different school, but Chihiro replies that she thinks she can handle it.

Shinto Perspectives in Miyazaki's Anime Film 'Spirited Away' (PDF) Archived 20 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine. While the rest of the workers celebrated after the leaving of the unnamed River Spirit, No-Face was seen sitting in a corner, watching as the workers fought and argued for leftover gold on the ground.