Anime
Who is No-Face? Things you didn’t know about Spirited Away’s mysterious spirit
Spirited Away remains one of the most beloved anime films of all time, a masterpiece from Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki. The film’s haunting yet fascinating spirit, No-Face (Kaonashi), has captivated anime fans for over two decades.
Released in 2001, Spirited Away follows ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino, who accidentally enters the spirit world while moving to a new town. After her parents are transformed into pigs by the witch Yubaba, Chihiro must work in Yubaba’s bathhouse to free them and return home.
The film became Japan’s highest-grossing movie at the time, earning over 30 billion yen (about $300 million) and winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. Among its memorable characters, No-Face stands out as the most enigmatic and symbolically rich figure.
Who is No-Face?
No-Face (顔無し, Kaonashi, literally “Faceless”) is a spirit who first appears in Spirited Away as a shadowy, ghost-like figure wearing a white mask. Though initially silent and shy, he becomes dangerously powerful after consuming other spirits.
No-Face represents loneliness and human desire. When Chihiro shows him kindness, he becomes fixated on her, attempting to win her approval with gold and gifts. But when rejected, he turns violent, a symbolic reflection of unchecked greed and emotional emptiness.
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 based on a real spirit (Noppera-bo)?
According to Japanese folklore, No-Face may have been inspired by the Noppera-bo, a type of faceless ghost found in ancient yōkai stories.
The Noppera-bo often appears human but lacks any facial features. They are mischievous rather than malicious, known for sneaking up on people late at night and scaring them with their blank, smooth faces.
Given Miyazaki’s deep appreciation for Japanese mythology, it’s likely that No-Face’s eerie design and mysterious personality draw from this traditional legend.
No-Face was inspired by Babette’s Feast
Miyazaki once revealed that part of his inspiration for No-Face’s gluttonous behavior came from the 1987 Danish film “Babette’s Feast.”
“It’s a very beautiful film,” he said. “Even in that movie, the characters eat a lot.”
In Spirited Away, No-Face’s insatiable hunger mirrors the same theme, showing how greed and overindulgence corrupt the soul. Chihiro’s parents also suffer a similar fate when their own gluttony turns them into pigs.
No-Face is a powerful spirit
One of No-Face’s most intriguing traits is his ability to absorb the abilities and personalities of others. When he swallows Aogaeru, a frog worker at the bathhouse, he gains the frog’s voice and legs, demonstrating his power to adapt and mimic.
Miyazaki explained that Japanese spirits are formless by nature, often residing in trees, stones, or rivers. No-Face’s temporary physical shape simply allows him to exist within the bathhouse, a world designed to cater to the greed of gods and humans alike.
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 iconic white mask is a piece of Japanese aesthetic symbolism. The mask hides a dark mouth full of teeth, revealed only when he becomes monstrous and devours bathhouse staff.
Interestingly, the mask’s expression subtly changes depending on No-Face’s emotions, creating an uncanny illusion of feeling despite his facelessness.
No-Face is a lonely spirit
At his core, No-Face represents loneliness and the desire for connection. His attempt to impress Chihiro by mimicking others and offering gold shows his misunderstanding of what it means to be loved.
Eventually, after Chihiro helps calm him, No-Face finds peace living with Zeniba, Yubaba’s kind twin sister. Under her care, he helps with daily chores like knitting and cleaning, finally finding a sense of belonging that eluded him in the chaotic bathhouse.
No-Face plush toys and collectibles
Even if you haven’t seen Spirited Away, you’ve probably encountered No-Face in the form of adorable plush toys and figurines.
One of the most popular is the No-Face piggy bank, which opens its mouth to “eat” coins — a fun nod to the spirit’s gluttony. Other collectibles include music boxes, car stickers, and masks that keep No-Face’s mystique alive for fans worldwide.
Bob Bergen voiced No-Face in English
Although No-Face barely speaks, his few lines in the English dub were voiced by Bob Bergen, the same actor behind classic Looney Tunes characters like Tweety Bird, Porky Pig, and Marvin the Martian.
If you listen carefully during his scenes, you’ll also hear Balinese Gamelan music, a delicate, spiritual tone that underscores his mysterious presence.
The Star Wars connection
No-Face’s eerie design even influenced the look of Darth Nihilus, a character from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II – The Sith Lords.
Darth Nihilus’s featureless white mask and dark robe are strikingly similar to No-Face’s minimalist aesthetic, representing emptiness and hunger for power, a perfect parallel to Miyazaki’s spirit of greed and loneliness.
No-Face FAQs
1. Is No-Face good or bad?
No-Face isn’t strictly good or evil, he’s a lonely being whose actions are shaped by his surroundings. Chihiro’s kindness helps him rediscover empathy and balance, showing that compassion can heal even the most corrupted souls. For many he is a good soul.
2. What does No-Face’s name mean?
His Japanese name, Kaonashi, translates to “faceless.” It symbolizes emptiness, loss of identity, and the longing for connection and respect.
3. Why is No-Face obsessed with Chihiro?
Chihiro’s compassion makes No-Face feel seen for the first time. His obsession stems from a desire to belong and be appreciated, emotions he can’t express due to his blank identity.
4. Why did No-Face eat the frog?
No-Face ate the frog (Aogaeru) because he was trying to understand and connect with others in the bathhouse, but he didn’t know how to express himself. When Aogaeru mocked him and showed greed, No-Face’s own emotions mirrored that behavior, consuming the frog symbolically represented him absorbing those traits.
What does fans think about No Face?
Fans on Reddit and anime forums interpret No-Face as a symbol of human emptiness and imitation. Many believe he represents a child-like blank slate, easily influenced by greed and corruption in the bathhouse, a metaphor for modern consumerism.
Others view him as a mirror for the audience: a reflection of how we seek identity and fulfillment in materialism, only to find emptiness until compassion and self-understanding intervene.
Our Verdict on No Face
No-Face’s ambiguity is what makes him timeless, a spirit that adapts to each viewer’s perception.
No-Face remains one of Studio Ghibli’s most iconic and thought-provoking characters. Whether seen as a metaphor for loneliness, greed, or spiritual emptiness, he continues to spark conversation among fans more than 20 years after Spirited Away’s release.
Through No-Face, Hayao Miyazaki reminds us that true connection isn’t found in power or possessions, it’s found in empathy, kindness, and understanding.
