Studio Ghibli Reveals The Reason Why Chihiro's Parents Transformed Into Pigs In A Letter Response To A Fan

In the animated film Spirited Away, Chihiro is an ordinary girl whose life takes a turn for the extraordinary when she and her parents stumble upon a mysterious amusement park. When her parents are turned into pigs, Chihiro must summon all her courage and determination to save them.

This is only the beginning of her adventure, as she soon discovers that the amusement park is not what it seems – and that she may be in danger. Spirited Away is one of Studio Ghibli's most popular and acclaimed films, and it's not hard to see why.

With its imaginative setting, clever story, and lovable characters, the film has something for everyone. Even those who don't usually enjoy animated movies will find themselves charmed by Chihiro's journey.

Despite being released two decades ago, it remains popular today. As of this writing, it ranks as the second most successful movie in the land of the rising sun.

Spirited Away also gained worldwide recognition, winning Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards in 2003.

With so many fans in Japan and around the world, it's no surprise to see some of them still debating the ambiguous aspects of the film. However, one argument has finally been resolved as Studio Ghibli confirmed the true reason behind the protagonist's parents turning into pigs.

Studio Ghibli received a letter from an avid Japanese fan of Hayao Miyazaki's classic, seeking an explanation of the story's underlying theme.

She was shocked to receive a reply from the renowned animation production studio.

Studio Ghibli

Was there something in the food that Chihiro's parents ate?

A Twitter user who goes by the handle @0910noncha was curious about what turned them into pigs. She also wanted to know how Chihiro passed her final test.

The fan received a two-page letter written by an employee from the studio. According to them, the transformation symbolizes the greed that occurred during the country's recession in the 1980s (no wonder it was called the "Greed Decade").

Studio Ghibli

In order to portray the realities of greed in real life, the letter also stressed that the transformation was permanent.

The employee also explained that Chihiro was aware that none of the pigs were her biological parents since her perspective had evolved as a result of her encounters with the underworld.

@0910noncha

The letter closed with an explanation that Spirited Away isn't a tale about a girl with a one-of-a-kind heart.

Instead, it's about a protagonist who learns to confront her fears by evolving her understanding and gratitude in life.

Studio Ghibli

But even with these explanations, we're pretty sure that people will still think about the food the parents ate. After all, it remains unsolved.

Perhaps another fan needs to send another letter and hope for a response from Studio Ghibli. While there are many things in Spirited Away that don't make sense, those elements contribute to making it such a captivating movie.

It's filled with strange creatures, mystical settings, and complex characters. All of these elements come together to create one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli films of all time.