Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away is a film that has delighted audiences since its initial release in 2001. Following Chihiro, Spirited Away teaches lessons in friendship, love, and bravery. As courageous as Chihiro is at the end of the film, she didn't start out her adventure that way; Chihiro had to undergo some major character development to become the hero of her own story.

Without the guidance of her parents, Chihiro initially had to rely on herself to learn some of life's most valuable lessons. As the story unfolds, Chihiro makes friends with some interesting characters, each of whom had some wisdom to impart to the young girl.

Updated by Alan A. Mehanna, on March 15, 2024: This list has been updated to adhere to CBR's most recent standards for formatting.

15 Working With Others Is Better Than Working Against Them

After Chihiro's parents are transformed into pigs by Yubaba, she's left at the witch's mercy throughout the film. Anyone in that position would want nothing more than to make her pay for such a horrible act. However, Chihiro knows she needs to do whatever it takes to get her family back, so she agrees to work for the witch instead.

In doing so, Chihiro learns that sometimes it's best to work with others rather than against them, even if they're an enemy. By taking the higher road and getting on Yubaba's good side, she manages to get work and bring herself one step closer to getting home.

14 Always Trust In Yourself

Throughout most of her adventure, Chihiro is on her own. She has a friend or two there to back her up when needed, but when it comes down to it, she has to take the initiative and save herself. Though she's alone and scared in a brand-new world she knows nothing about, Chihiro has to believe in herself and push forward.

As the story progresses, she becomes more confident and self-sufficient. By trusting in her own abilities, Chihiro manages to overcome her greatest fears and save her family.

13 There's Good In Everyone, Even If It's Hard To See

Chihiro meets some pretty frightening characters during her time in the spirit world, and not all of them are nice. In fact, some of them are downright dangerous at times. However, throughout her travels, Chihiro comes to find that there's a little bit of good inside everyone — even the most sinister of creatures.

It's not always easy to see, but Chihiro discovers that if she looks hard enough, anyone can show redeeming qualities. Even Yubaba, who is overall greedy, mean, and cruel, has her moments where she can be kind, reminding Chihiro and the audience alike to always look for the good in others.

12 Crying Is Okay Sometimes

Anyone in Chihiro's position would likely be overcome with emotion, but somehow, Chihiro keeps it together almost effortlessly. She accepts her fate and graciously takes on work from the very person responsible for her suffering in the first place. It's undeniable that she's a very strong young girl.

However, sometimes Chihiro is a little too strong, bottling up her feelings instead of allowing herself to let them out. One of the most important lessons Chihiro likely learned during her journey is that it's okay to let those feelings out and have a good cry. Once she finally does cry, she finds the strength to carry on, feeling much better than before.

11 Growing Up Is Just A Part Of Life

One of Spirited Away's central themes focuses on coming-of-age and the scary transition between childhood and adulthood. Chihiro finds herself at the cusp of her years as a kid, and she's a little afraid of growing up and taking responsibility.

Chihiro's journey through the spirit world represents this fear, and as she grows stronger and works harder, she slowly begins to transition into a more mature person. It isn't always easy to accept such changes, especially at such a young age. Luckily, Chihiro comes to learn that growing up is just a part of life and it's nothing to be afraid of.

10 Greed Is Destructive & Has Big Consequences

The first lesson Chihiro learns is probably the harshest: greed is destructive. Her parents suffer the punishment for their gluttonous ways when they're turned into pigs, leaving Chihiro alone for the first time in her life. Chihiro tried to be her parent's hero, warning them that something felt wrong about taking the food; alas, her parents were so consumed by their greed that they couldn't stop.

This wasn't the only time Chihiro was faced with this lesson, as she later met No-Face, who destroyed half of the bathhouse, consuming everything in his path yet still wanting more. Haku is yet another person who suffered the consequences of greed, as he cannot go home because of it; human's lust for more land was why his river was filled in, leaving him without a home to return to.

9 Things Aren't Always What They Appear

Not everything in life is what it appears to be. People can hide their true selves or be nicer than one might think. When Chihiro meets Kamaji, he seems like a monstrous, scary being. Once she gets past that tough exterior, however, Chihiro learns that he actually has a heart of gold even though he's a cantankerous old man.

Yubaba might appear to be a money-obsessed witch who revels in the misery of others, but she's also a loving mother who would do anything to protect her child. No-Face appears to be a friendly spirit with the desire to help, but when placed in the wrong location, he's actually a rather dangerous character to be around. Chihiro learns this lesson repeatedly by befriending the film's spirits.

8 The Only Way You'll Get Anywhere In Life Is Through Hard Work

While Chihiro might not be considered lazy by human standards, she certainly is by spirit standards. Up until entering Yubaba's bathhouse, Chihiro likely hasn't done a day's work past the regular chores that most children have. It's quite plausible to assume that her parents have done a lot for Chihiro, since she seems especially lost without them.

When Chihiro starts working to save her parents, she quickly learns that hard work pays off. When cleaning the big tub, she never once complains that it's too hard, dutifully following the orders that she's given. When things get even tougher with the stink spirit, Chihiro earns the respect of all those around her by giving her all to help him out.

7 Life Isn't Always Fair

Children have always been the hope of each new generation, the weight of a world that wishes for equality and fairness rests squarely on their shoulders. It's always a difficult time when a child has to learn that life isn't fair. Chihiro learns this shortly after she's hired in the bathhouse.

Because Chihiro is human and generally disliked, she's given the hardest jobs, no respect, and generally little help, as can be seen when the foreman won't even give her a much-needed bath token. Not only does Chihiro suffer under this rule, but Lin is also punished just for being paired with Chihiro. However, that's the moral of this lesson: life isn't fair.

6 Be Kind To Everyone, Even To Those You Don't Know

Kindness toward friends and family is important, but strangers deserve kindness, too. Chihiro is generally polite to everyone she meets, which is more than can be said for the spirits. If it wasn't for Chihiro's kindness, the River Spirit would have never been healed, Zeniba wouldn't have gotten her golden seal back, and Bôh would have been trapped in his mouse form.

Throughout her journey, Chihiro is rewarded for her acts of kindness. The River Spirit gives her some medicine, Zeniba helps her remember Haku and makes a protection spell for her, and Bôh stands up for her when his own mother challenges her. Kindness to others will always be repaid in some way.

5 Standing Your Ground Is Important

Had it not been for Haku, who ordered Chihiro not to leave the bathhouse without a job, Chihiro might have given up. First, she was faced with Kamaji, who claimed there were no jobs for her and that she wasn't welcome in the bathhouse, but Chihiro stood her ground and proved herself.

Chihiro's act of courage moved Kamaji so much that he lied for her, claiming that she was his granddaughter so that Lin would be forced to take Chihiro to Yubaba. Then, when Chihiro was faced with Yubaba, she didn't back down from her claim of needing a job despite how terrified she was. Chihiro learned it's always important to stand up for what you believe in.

4 You Can Rely On Your Friends In The Toughest Of Times

Chihiro begins her quest to recover her parents feeling hopelessly alone, without the comfort of even a single friend. Yet, as she continues her journey, she meets many spirits willing to help her out.

Lin acts like a big sister, giving her the comfort of a shoulder to cry on. Kamaji makes sure that Chihiro is safe and warm when he finds her in his boiler room, and even though Haku can do little while under Yubaba's control, he bestows upon her the greatest gift: he returns Chihiro's name to her.

3 Your Friends Will Also Need To Rely On You

While it's important to be able to rely on your friends, it's equally important to be there when they need you. Chihiro makes it through her quest by relying on her friends, but she also makes sure to repay the favor to everyone she meets.

When Yubaba's bird and Bôh stay at Chihiro's side, she makes sure to ask Zeniba to break their curse. After No-Face helped Chihiro with her bath tokens, she repays him by finding him a home, and after getting her name back, Chihiro returned the favor to Haku, effectively freeing him from Yubaba's service.

2 Bravery Isn't The Absence Of Fear, But Acting Even When You're Afraid

Although Chihiro is afraid of just about every situation she comes across, she knows that she has to act anyway in order to rescue her parents and return home safely. For a young girl who's never been on her own, this is a tall order to fill.

Despite being trapped in a strange world with nobody she knows and the fear of being turned into a pig, Chihiro bravely faces the challenges she's presented with. If there was ever a heroine who proves that bravery isn't the absence of fear but acting in spite of it, it's Chihiro, who stops for nobody.

1 Never Forget Who You Are

In Spirited Away, one message holds itself above all others: never forget who you are. Yubaba controls her employees by stealing their names and providing them with new ones. This act seems to make them forget their initial motivations in life, among other things, making them the perfect puppets for Yubaba to control.

Although Chihiro is renamed Sen, Haku reminds her of who she is. Real friends will always be there to remind each other of their true selves and help each other through difficult times.