The story follows ten-year-old Chihiro, who travels with her parents to a mysterious, abandoned town on the way to her new home. When her parents are turned into pigs by a curse, Chihiro is left alone in a world full of ghosts, gods and mystical creatures. In order to save her parents, she has to work in an eerie bathhouse run by the powerful witch Yubaba. What at first seems like nothing more than an adventure develops into a profound journey about self-discovery, courage and the importance of friendship. Miyazaki creates a fantastical world filled with attention to detail and fantastic creativity - from the vivid, bizarre characters to the breathtaking landscapes. Spirited Away is more than just an animated film; it is an allegory of childhood that plays with themes of loss, growth and responsibility. The rich symbolism and emotional depth make the movie an anime classic.

Loan of the film print with kind support of Werkstattkino

Kujiratori tells the story of school children pretending they are building a boat. As imagination replaces reality, they find themselves on the ocean, hunting for a whale. A big, gentle whale appears, accompanies them back to land and plays with them. Then the fantasy ends and the children are back in their class room.