Summary

• The best Spirited Away quotes show why it's considered one of the most beloved Studio Ghibli movies to date.
• Memorable quotes in Spirited Away come from almost every single character, from Chihiro to Lin to Haku.
• While some are funny and others bitter-sweet, the best lines in Spirited Away all serve to highlight the themes underpinning the magical story.

A spell-binding tale with themes of identity and the blurred lines between good and evil, Spirited Away is an entrancing adventure full of mystery and memorable Spirited Away quotes. The Oscar-winning masterpiece by director and animator Hayao Miyazaki follows a young girl named Chihiro, who is in the process of moving to a new town with her parents. They stumble into a mysterious Spirit Realm, where Chihiro gets separated from her parents. Chihiro adapts to this unfamiliar place while trying to reunite with her family.

The movie explores themes of growing up, memory, and consumerism, and these ideas are reflected in the dialogue. Spirited Away contains a fair few bizarre Studio Ghibli creatures based on folklore meant to indoctrinate Chihiro, rebranded Sen, into Yubaba's strange and mystical prison. Her two biggest companions become the river spirit Haku and bathhouse worker Lin. While the narrative zeroes on in Chihiro's experiences and arc, attention is paid to side characters and their memorable or wise Spirited Away quotes.

20 "I Finally Get A Bouquet And It's A Goodbye Present. That's Depressing.”

Chihiro

Spirited Away is such an endearing movie not just because of the visual spectacle of the Spirit Realm or its intriguing premise, but also because of how easily it is to root for Chihiro as a protagonist. One of the best Spirited Away quotes serves as the perfect introduction to Chihiro's surprisingly insightful character before she enters the Spirit Realm. Chihiro starts Spirited Away feeling dejected.

She has to move away from the life that she knows, which includes her friends, and though she has a beautiful gift from them, it only serves to remind her of her current situation. This highlights the loneliness and unexpected humor within Chihiro, and while she's something of a stubborn child, she's also incredibly funny while being so (and, ittedly, not wrong either). It shows her childish response to the kind gesture, establishing the point from which she will grow throughout Spirited Away.

19 “I've Gotta Get Out Of This Place. Someday I’m Getting On That Train.”

Lin

Chihiro isn't the only incredibly endearing character in Spirited Away, and she's also not the only one who feels (either metaphorically or literally) trapped in Yubabba's Bathhouse. Lin, who reluctantly takes Chihiro under her wing, is in a similar situation emotionally, and like Chihiro dreams of a future when she can finally leave. This particular line from Lin could voice her desire to escape her current life in the bathhouse. However, it's one of the best Spirited Away quotes because it also serves a greater purpose.

It's suggested that Lin has worked at the bathhouse for a long time, and she is skilled at her job. Because of this, the quote implies that Lin doesn’t necessarily want to escape the physical space of the bathhouse, but rather that she desires to build her own life. Additionally, this desire to leave gives Lin and Chihiro a common goal, allowing them to grow closer to one another.

18 “Come On! Quit Eating! Let’s Get Out Of Here!”

Chihiro

The moment that the family in Spirited Away took a quick pit-stop on their journey and discovered an inexplicable buffet marked the initial downfall of Chihiro's parents. While Chihiro begging her parents to leave is easy to dismiss as a child simply wanting to leave, it's actually one of the best Spirited Away quotes because it instantly sets out some fundamental facts about her as a character.

There is something about this line children can connect with; a lack of parental understanding.

It not only suggests Chihiro instinctively knew the food her parents were eating was not meant for them, but also serves as a way to show she is incredibly different from her mother and father. Furthermore, there is something about this line children can connect with; a lack of parental understanding. Parents often don’t heed the warnings of their children. Ignoring Chihiro's plea soon proves to be a big mistake, as her parents' greed leads to them being transformed into pigs.

17 “If You Make Sen Cry I Won’t Like You Anymore.”

Boh

Despite the initial distrust and prejudice Chihiro (Sen) experienced from the bathhouse staff and residents, there are many spirits there who learn to look past their expectations and see Chihiro as the individual that she is. This quote comes from one of the most unlikely sources, and one of the most surprising allies Chihiro manages to aquire throughout Spirited Away.

When Chihiro is face-to-face with the movie's antagonist, Yubaba, the oversized and somewhat intimidating Boh comes out with one of the most uplifting Spirited Away quotes, as it shows the impact Chihiro has made in the spirit realm. Spoken by the baby Boh to his mother Yubaba, it shows how much he has grown as a person from Chihiro's friendship. Boh defies his mother's expectations by siding with Chihiro, and by asserting his own will on behalf of someone else, rather than for selfish reasons.

16 "The Radish Spirit!"

Lin

One of the reasons Spirited Away is such a gem even among the incredibly acclaimed library of Studio Ghibli movies is that the dozens of unqiue spirits seen in Yubaba's Bathhouse are impossible to forget when rendered in the studio's beautiful animation style. This exclamation references one of the best spirits from Spirited Away, the Radish Spirit.

This may not be one of the most complex Studio Ghibli quotes, but it is still one of the most memorable as it illustrates the exuberance of the characters in the film and the uniqueness of the characters Miyazaki creates. While most spirits are not the main characters in the movie, they do a great deal to flesh out the Spirit Realm. Some are resented by staff, some are benevolent, some come purely to test the staff, and some have darker motives. The Radish Spirit would later become an ally to Chihiro, and Lin's greeting of him shows that she doesn't fear him.

15 "Quit Whining. It's Fun To Move To A New Place, It's An Adventure."

Yūko

Studio Ghibli characters are not known for being meek, with even minor and ing characters shown to be possessing their own views and opinions more often than not. Such is the case with Yūko, Chihiro's mother, in Spirited Away, and it's because of this she's the source of one of the best quotes from the earlier moments of the movie.

Viewers only meet Chihiro's mother for a few brief scenes, but even in this short time, a clear dynamic is established between the parents and their daughter.

Viewers only meet Chihiro's mother for a few brief scenes, but even in this short time, a clear dynamic is established between the parents and their daughter. Chihiro starts the movie as a demanding, upset child. Her parents have no patience for her behavior, not considering their big move from her point of view, and urge her to see the change as an opportunity. At the same time, this line hints at the huge adventure to come, though it's not the sort that Chihiro's mother imagined.

14 "So, Your Name’s Chihiro? What A Pretty Name! And It Belongs To Me Now."

Yubaba

This Spirited Away quote comes from the antagonistic owner of the bathhouse, the witch Yubaba. It explains the premise of the film and how she keeps others under her control. It also demonstrates why she's among the most powerful Studio Ghibli villains and an antagonist that Chihiro and the other spirits of the bathhouse are right to fear. Yubaba isn't just making an idle threat to Chihiro, as — thanks to her incredible abilities — she is able to literally take ownership of the child's human name.

After Lin leads Chihiro to Yubaba, the witch its she took an oath to give anyone work who asks for it. However, this job comes with a catch. When Yubaba presents Chihiro with a contract, she quickly renames her Sen, declaring her old name belongs to her. Haku explains that taking away her name in Spirited Away and making her forget is how Yubaba traps people.

13 "I Don't Need Any Help, This Place Is Full Of Soot."

Kamajī

Just like the Radish Spirit and Boh, Kamajī, the boiler operator of Yubaba's bathhouse, is an incredibly memorable character that's near-impossible to forget. When Chihiro arrives in the Spirit Realm, she is told by Haku to go to the boiler man and ask him for work. When she finally finds him, he curtly remarks he has all the help that he needs. The audience is then introduced to the soot sprites (also known as Susuwatari), soot creatures that look like small fluff balls with big eyes, and who previously featured in My Neighbor Totoro.

One of the best non-human Studio Ghibli characters, they capture the whimsy of the Spirit Realm, showing that not everything in the place is scary. This Spirited Away quote is also so memorable because it's something of a juxtaposition and shows just how unlike the world of the living the spirit realm is. In any other circumstance, a soot-filled workspace would be a sign that more help is needed, but in Yubaba's bathhouse it simply indicates that Kamajī has things under control.

12 "Play With Me Or I’ll Break Your Arm."

Boh

Boh is Yubaba's giant baby son who she keeps locked away. While Boh may be one of the most menacing characters at first, and is definitely one of the more disturbing inhabitants of Yubaba's bathhouse, he's also the source of several of the best Spirited Away quotes. While many of these come later on in his story, one of the funniest occurs early on. It's the bluntness of Boh's threat to Chihiro that elicits a nervous laugh from most viewers, and establishes quickly that the menacing character really just longs for companionship.

This quote is a stark representation of how much Boh grows in Spirited Away, from a shut-in antagonist to a loyal ally.

Like the other Spirited Away side characters, Boh gets his own arc, and his current state of mind is easily guessed when, upon meeting Chihiro, he threatens her. When Chihiro first encounters Yubaba's monstrous offspring under a sea of blankets, he suggests that she should play with him, or else he'll break her arm. This quote is a stark representation of how much Boh grows in Spirited Away, from a shut-in antagonist to a loyal ally.

11 "Thank The Boiler Man, You Idiot."

Lin

Soon after meeting Kamajī the boiler man, one of Spirited Away's characters with mythological origins, Chihiro meets Lin, the bathhouse worker. Initially, Lin gives Chihiro a hard time, insulting her intelligence and seeming displeased she will have to help her find a job. While it's a harsh introduction, it is similar to Kamajī's first words to Chihiro. Only a few minutes after he speaks these words, the boiler man protects her by claiming she is his granddaughter.

This parallel points to the fact that Lin will soon become a friend to Chihiro. What's more, it's also a strong introduction for Lin as a character. While Chihiro may not initially think so, Lin is a character that many viewers find impossible not to like right from the moment she's introduced. Fiery and feisty, Lin has no time for nonsense, and it becomes increasingly clear why as Spirited Away progresses, since she seems to be one of the few employees at Yubaba's bathhouse who knows how to do their job properly.