Spirits/Mythical Creatures
The presence of supernatural beings in the film is a major allusion to the Shinto belief that everything--rivers, mountains, even in things as mundane as vegetables and umbrellas--possess a “spirit.” The presence of these beings serves as a reminder to Sen/Chihiro and ultimately, to the viewers, to value everything and show respect because all of the things that they use or that surround them have or a living essence of their own.
Journey from the Human World to the Spirit World
Sen/Chihiro’s journey from the human world to the spirit is symbolic of maturity, a journey from childhood to adulthood. In the human world her role as child is firmly established: she is fully reliant on her parents to provide for her needs and she is not responsible for anything or anyone save for some household chores. In the spirit world however things are decidedly different: she must work for a living--earning her meals, lodging, and safety--by doing menial labor at a public bathhouse for supernatural creatures. The situation is also reversed now that she is in the spirit world. Here, more than just working to provide for herself, it is also a means for her to find a way to turn her parents backs into normal humans.
Yubaba’s Renaming of Chihiro
The act of renaming Chihiro to Sen is also symbolic act of entering into adulthood. After having been accepted by Yubaba to work as a bathhouse staff she draws up a literal employment contract stipulating compensation, benefits, and the conditions of her employment. In addition to her contract she is also stripped of her human/childhood name and given a new name as an employee: Sen, which is written using the Chinese characters meaning one thousand---an obvious allusion to an employee being issued an employee number when issued a work ID.
Yubaba’s overall look and Meiji-era Architecture
Yubaba is set apart from the rest of the supernatural denizens staffing her bathhouse; although she is a witch she is not drawn to look like an onibaba or witch in Japanese folklore. Instead she is drawn with a decidedly European aesthetic, both in her appearance and choice of décor. These snippets of Western aesthetic are not limited to Yubaba and her furniture but it can also seen in the scheme of the abandoned theme park where Sen/Chihiro's parents' are transformed into swine are all allusions to the Western consumerist mindset that has adversely affected Japanese society.
Transformation into Pigs
The transformation of Sen/Chihiro’s parents into swine is symbolic of the greed and consumerist mindset that has come to characterize and endanger modern Japanese society. Despite Sen/Chihiro’s warnings and call for caution that “this place feels weird” her father responds with a very gung-ho “I have credit cards and cash to pay for the food”--not understanding or possibly refusing to acknowledge that the food was a sacred item intended for more than just lining the stomach. In the end it is their greed and disregard matters beyond their understanding that dooms them and transforms them into actual pigs and not Yubaba’s magic.
