Studio Ghibli’s Miyazaki Divulges True Identity Of No-Face From ‘Spirited Away’

Video screenshot via GKIDS Films

There are countless reasons to love Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, but few animated characters have grasped audiences across generations like its silent, almost ghostly figure, No-Face. With his nearly transparent form and stoic white mask, the character has been a subject of fascination and speculation for decades.

No-Face first appears on a bridge in the spirit world, soon becoming fixated on the protagonist, Chihiro. After gaining entry to the bathhouse where Chihiro works, he spirals into chaos, consuming spirits and dispersing gold—a contrast to his initial, muted presence. The humanoid figure undergoes a significant transformation in the movie, evolving from aggressive and gluttonous to a peaceful entity finding solace and a sense of belonging with the witch Zeniba. His behavior has led many to interpret the character as a symbol of loneliness and abandonment.

Leaving behind more questions than answers in his trail, No-Face—known as Kaonashi in Japan—has been a floating enigma. Thankfully, the film’s creator Hayao Miyazaki has revealed some profound insights about this spirit.

During a special broadcast of Spirited Away by NipponTV in Japan, the television station took to live-tweeting some tidbits about the movie. In one particularly intriguing post, it relayed the filmmaker’s view of No-Face as a rather relatable individual lacking self-identity, constantly adapting based on encounters with others.

“Who exactly is No-Face?” the post reads. “Director Hayao Miyazaki says, ‘There are a lot of people like No-Face around us. I think it’s the type of person who wants to latch onto others but doesn’t have a sense of themselves. They are everywhere.’”

カオナシとは一体何者なのでしょうか😳。宮﨑駿監督いわく「カオナシなんて周りにいっぱいいますよ。(中略）ああいう誰かとくっつきたいけど自分がないっていう人、どこにでもいると思いますけどね」とのこと。自分を持たず、出会うもの、人によって変化するのがカオナシという存在なのです😌 pic.twitter.com/UX6LEVawAA

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— アンク＠金曜ロードショー公式 (@kinro_ntv) January 5, 2024

Miyazaki opined that many among us resonate with this aspect of No-Face—seeking to attach themselves others due to a lack of self-awareness.

“No-Face is an existence without a sense of self and changes according to the things and people it encounters,” NipponTV concluded.

Miyazaki’s poetic commentary has struck a chord with audiences, who have found his interpretation universal of the human experience.

“This makes sense. No-Face can only communicate by borrowing other people’s words, voices, and quotes instead of using its own,” one viewer comments, as translated by SoraNews24.

One person chimes in: “I also treat people generously and give them things. Maybe I’m just an idiot who’s constantly fishing for compliments.”

In unveiling the layers of No-Face, Miyazaki has illuminated a profound reflection of the human condition. It turns out this mysterious figure is a wanderer continuously looking for a purpose and identity, just like all of us.

[via SoraNews24 and Hypebeast, cover screenshot via GKIDS Films]