Susuwatari (Spirited Away)
What is the film about? The young girl Chihiro gets caught up in a mysterious spirit world during a move with her parents. Her parents are transformed into pigs, and Chihiro is left to fend for herself. She starts working at a bathhouse for spirits run by the witch Yubaba.
Over time, she meets the boy Haku. He can transform into a dragon and works for Yubaba as a spy. He helps Chihiro as much as he can, and a friendship develops between them.
What role does the being play? In Spirited Away, there are many magical beings that we could include in the list. One of the most famous are the Susuwatari, which appear not only in Spirited Away but also in My Neighbor Totoro.
In the spirit world, they are beings made of dust who work for Kamaji. They carry pieces of coal to the stove to keep the bathwater hot for the guests. Although they are only seen briefly, the interactions with them are incredibly sweet. It becomes clear that they are thinking beings about whom we would have liked to learn more.
