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Who is No Face? Things you didn’t know about Spirited Away’s No-Face

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Who is No Face

Spirited Away is an Academy Award-winning anime film from Ghibli Studio. The spirit No Face is the most popular character in the Japanese animated film Spirited Away, which was developed by writer and director Hayao Miyazaki, who was inspired by his friend’s 10-year-old daughters.

Spirited Away tells the story of Chihiro Ogino, a sullen ten-year-old girl who enters the spirit world while moving to a new neighborhood. After her parents are transformed into pigs by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro takes a job working in Yubaba’s bathhouse to find a way to free herself and her parents and return to the human world.

It was the most successful film in Japan, earning over 30 billion yen (about $300 million) at the box office. Spirited Away is notable for being the first Studio Ghibli film to be dubbed into English and has received critical acclaim since its release.

WHO IS NO FACE? 

Who is No Face

No-Face (顔無し, Kaonashi, lit. “Faceless”) is the main antagonist of the 2001 anime film Spirited Away. He is a powerful spirit who appears in the form of a faceless man, and he has the ability to place people under his control. Following this, he becomes their shadows and manipulates them to do his bidding.

No-Face is a mysterious being that appears in the Japanese animated film Spirited Away. No-Face is a lonely spirit who, when he first appears, has no facial features to express himself with. However, when he encounters Chihiro Ogino in the bathhouse, he becomes obsessed with her and follows her around in an attempt to find out what she thinks of him. When she rejects his advances, he becomes violent and dangerous.

His appearance is unusual, as he has no facial features, and his voice is the first thing anyone hears him say, “Ah… Ah… Ah.”

IS NO FACE REAL? (NOPPERA-BO)

Source @GRIMOIRE OF HORROR

In Ancient Japanese yōkai, there is a supernatural being known as the faceless ghost that resembles the No-Face character.

A Copper-Bo appears in a humanoid form, and while they offer no real threat to humans, they like taunting and ridiculing naive humans, particularly those who are sluggish or idle late at night.

According to legend, these spirits approach their victims in disguise, set their trap, and then do their best to get as near as possible to the human they have selected for their horrifying prank.

It’s not surprising that Miyazaki got inspiration from this when creating No-Face.

NO FACE WAS INSPIRED BY BABETTE’S FEAST

Miyazaki revealed that he took inspiration from the film Babette’s Feast. The inspiration behind the massive gluttony of No-Face in Spirited Away was taken from the movie.

“It is a very beautiful favorite movie. Even in that movie, the characters eat a lot,” Miyazaki said.

No-Face isn’t the only greedy character in the movie. Chihiro’s parents, too, have been converted into pigs due to their gluttony, and they struggle to control their appetites.

NO FACE IS A POWERFUL SPIRIT

No-Face possesses a one-of-a-kind skill that allows him to mimic the abilities and personalities of his target. When he swallows Aogaeru, he demonstrates this capacity (a frog wearing blue kimono). Kaonashi grows frog-like legs, which he uses to travel around. He can also communicate after swallowing Aogaeru and speaks in the frog’s voice.

Miyazaki reminded us that Japanese spirits do not have a form, so each spirit, including No-Face, is really just a representation of that god or spirit in a more solid form. “Japanese gods have no actual form: They are in the rocks, in pillars, or in the trees. But they need a form to go to the bath house,” he revealed.

No-Face leaves footprints when his existence is so hollow and transparent that even the other spirits cannot detect his presence.

HIS REAL FACE IS BIGGER THAN HIS MASK

No-Face’s mask is actually a piece of Japanese aesthetic art. His mask also has a little mouth that varies depending on his mood. The monster’s mask mouth, on the other hand, does not belong to him. Instead, it conceals a far more lethal pair of teeth, which come in handy when the spirit decides to eat Yubaba’s bathhouse staff and food! 

Thankfully, the spirit’s teeth, which appear to be made up entirely of molars, do not grind destructively. Many people have been able to escape his horrible mouth uninjured. 

NO MASK IS A LONELY SPIRIT

It’s clear in Spirited-Away movie that No-Face is a lonely spirit who longs to connect with people, and he feels that by eating and acting like a bathhouse employee, he will be able to attract attention, particularly from Sen.

You’ll notice that after falling in love with Sen, he follows her around everywhere she goes in the hopes of gaining her attention. In the end, he finds Zeniba/Grandma, Yubaba’s older twin sister, and decides to spend the rest of his life with her, in helping Grandma knitting, cleaning, and so on.

NO MASK PLUSH TOY 

Source @Entertainment Earth

If you haven’t seen the Spirited Away movie, then there is a high chance that you have learned about No-Face from the Plush Toys. No Mask’s Most Popular Plush toy is a Piggybank that opens its big mouth when you put a coin in its plate. 

There are other plush toys, a music box, a car window sticker, a mask, and many more. You can check all the No Face Plush Toys here

BOB BERGEN IS THE VOICE BEHIND NO-FACE 

While, No-Face doesn’t speak and has No Voice, but he does have a few lines in Spirited Away.

Bob Bergen is the voice behind the No-Face in the English version of Spirited Away. Bergen is best known for his Looney Tunes performances, in which he brings characters like Tweety Bird, Porky Pig, Marvin the Martian, and Speedy Gonzalez to life, but he’s also voiced characters in Fraggle Rock, The Simpsons, and other animated series.

If you listen closely, you’ll hear Balinese Gamelan music playing in the background whenever No-Face appears on the screen.

THE STAR WARS CONNECTION

Source @Pinterest

If you have played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords, then you might be familiar with Darth Nihilus, the Dark Lord. On the other hand, No-Face served as a model for the Dark Lord of the Sith’s design.

It’s uncanny how similar they are. Nihilus is dressed in the same black, featureless attire as No-Face in order to give the impression that he is a ghost. Darth Nihilus’ mask has the sole difference, making him appear more terrifying and accurately portraying his anger.

No Face F&Q:

Is No-Face good or bad?

No Face is Nor Good or Evil, he’s just very lonely, which only made him do bad things. Chihiro’s gesture of compassion to him, such as allowing him into Yubaba’s bathhouse or thanking him for the bath ticket, made him feel grateful and touched. In the hopes of gaining her attention, he tries to lure Chihiro with Gold, but when she refuses, he gets angry and frustrated. Then, he consumes a few Bathhouse employees but spits them out later without harming them or anyone else.

What is the name of No-Face?

His original Japanese name is Kaonashi which means “faceless” in Japanese. Kaonashi represents the desire for respect and companionship and the kind of melancholy that comes from that.

What is the point of No-Face?

No-Face is a lonely spirit that seeks company and respect, which he found in Chihiro. He stands in the rain, watching others have fun and a good time, wanting to be a part of it.

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