No-Face’s Identity in Spirited Away Finally Revealed by Hayao Miyazaki

Hayao Miyazaki‘s masterpiece, Spirited Away, revolutionized the world of anime when it was released in 2001. Even decades later, the film is considered one of the best anime movies ever made. Over time, new information about this fantastical story has emerged, but some mysteries lingered. Now, thanks to Miyazaki, we finally have an answer to a long-held question about the film’s famous character, No-Face.

The revelation came during a special broadcast of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away on Nippon Television’s Friday Road Show in Japan, a weekly program. During the New Year’s broadcast, the show shared a comment from Miyazaki explaining the true nature of the character No-Face.

Miyazaki explained that he sees many people who seem to adopt the personalities of those around them, lacking a strong individual identity. He feels this observation is reflected in a central theme of Spirited Away.

No-Face Is Just Like Us & That Makes the Character Powerful

If this explanation of No-Face seems familiar, that’s because you likely remember it from a previous discussion. Hayao Miyazaki, co-founder of Studio Ghibli, actually discussed No-Face’s origins back in 2024 when Spirited Away was featured on Friday Road Show.

The network originally explained that people like the character No-Face exist all around us. These are individuals who depend on others for identity and lack a strong sense of self.

Since the release of Spirited Away, fans have come up with many theories about who or what No-Face actually is. He’s become a well-known character in the world of Studio Ghibli, and his popularity has continued to grow. His blank expression and mysterious appearance have led to lots of speculation. No-Face’s simple design allows him to reflect the personalities of those around him, and the movie shows he craves attention. After receiving gifts and praise, he becomes arrogant, but Chihiro quickly brings him back down to earth. Throughout the film, No-Face follows Chihiro and learns from her, eventually finding a place with Zeniba at the end.

The meaning behind the character No-Face in Studio Ghibli films has been a long-running debate among fans, but a recent comment from Miyazaki himself seems to settle the matter. Ultimately, No-Face isn’t a god or anything supernatural—he’s simply a reflection of humanity, and that’s what gives him such a strong impact.

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2026-01-07 00:51