The film Spirited Away displays the elements of Shintoism is many ways throughout the story. From the very beginining of the movie the idea that there is a life to all things is mentioned as Sen's mother tells her that the little houses on the side of the road are believed to house different spirits, but this is just the start. As the movie progresses the principles of Shintoism are highlighted in the movie in many more ways. One important idea in Shintoism is that of kamis, which are the life spirits of everyday things (pencils, rivers, etc). In the movie spirited away the idea of kami is displayed very well as many of the characters in the movie are kami's themselves. There is a massive radish kami, a kami for a polluted river, and various others. Other ideologies of shintoism that are reflected in spirited away is that of washing away negativity and cleansing your spirit, which is physically portrayed by the movie in the form of a bathhouse.

1. Sen had to go on her spiritual journey to evolve as a person. At the beginning of the movie she was so sullen and unwilling to experience anything new (she didn't want to pull over and explore).

2. Through her time at the spiritual bathhouse she learned how to be sincere and selfless and most of all willing to leave her comfort zone for those she loved. She matured from a childish petulant girl in the beginning of the film to a hard working girl that was ready to experience anything (in the end of the film she wasnt scared to experience school).

3. Her journey helped her change her beliefs. At first Chihiro didnt believe that she would be able to recognize her parents after they were turned in to pigs or even believed that she would be reunited with them. But once she gained confidence in herself and the willingness to put herself at risk for others she not only recognizes her parents but is reunited with them.