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

For more than twenty years, audiences have puzzled over the enigmatic No Face in Spirited Away, dissecting every gesture and moment. Now, Hayao Miyazaki has stepped in to clear the air, offering a perspective that’s rather more straightforward than many had assumed. The character, long thought to be a symbol of unchecked greed, turns out to have a rather different origin story according to the director himself.

The Real No Face: Miyazaki’s Own Words

Appearing recently on Japanese television, Miyazaki addressed the speculation head-on. He explained that No Face is not simply a metaphor for avarice. Instead, the character embodies those who are emotionally needy, lacking a firm sense of who they are. These are the sorts who latch onto others, seeking validation and shaping themselves to fit the expectations of whoever happens to notice them.

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.

It’s a description that fits No Face to a tee. He drifts through the spirit world, silent and almost invisible, until Chihiro offers him a small kindness. That moment of attention becomes his anchor, and from there, he begins to mirror the world around him, for better or worse.

Transformation in the Bathhouse

Once inside the bathhouse, No Face’s behaviour shifts dramatically. He absorbs the greed and desires of those around him, producing gold and escalating his actions in a bid for more attention. His outburst isn’t random; it’s the result of emotional dependence spiralling out of control. Miyazaki’s explanation makes it clear: No Face isn’t a villain. He’s empty, and the bathhouse simply amplifies whatever fills that void.

This reading casts the film in a new light. It’s not just a tale of a child navigating a strange world, but a story about identity, boundaries, and the consequences of losing oneself in the pursuit of approval.

Chihiro and No Face: Opposing Journeys

Chihiro and No Face are, in many ways, opposites. Chihiro spends her journey fighting to remember her name and hold onto her sense of self, while No Face has no identity to begin with. He tries to define himself through others—through Chihiro, through wealth, through power—but none of it sticks.

Chihiro’s role is subtly reframed here. She doesn’t rescue No Face or fix him. She’s compassionate, but she refuses his gifts and doesn’t allow herself to become the centre of his world. No Face only finds a measure of peace after leaving the bathhouse and helping Zeniba, where he’s finally able to act without expectation or reward. For the first time, he does something simply because it gives him purpose, not because it earns him approval.

Studio Ghibli’s Enduring Message

With Miyazaki’s clarification, Spirited Away feels less like a fantastical adventure and more like a grounded exploration of emotional maturity. The film’s longstanding theme—knowing your own worth and holding onto your identity in a world eager to shape you—becomes all the more pronounced. It’s no longer a subtle undercurrent; it’s right there on the surface, and all the more powerful for it.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away remains available to stream on HBO Max.