Character List
Chihiro/Sen -
Voiced
by Daveigh Chase
A gangly, ten-year-old human
girl, heroine of the movie. At first Chihiro is sullen, whiny, and
afraid, with an annoying voice and sulky face. After her name is
changed to Sen, she becomes brave and self-sufficient enough to
free herself and her parents from the spirit world. As Sen evolves, her
voice becomes less grating and her expression lifts and glows. By
the end of the movie, when she becomes Chihiro again, her features
appear much more mature. She is notable for her lack of greed, her
respect for her elders, and her kindness toward others. These qualities cause
those she meets to respect, love, and help her.
Haku/White Dragon -
Voiced
by Jason Marsden
A mysterious, secretive
boy of about sixteen who can take the form of a flying dragon. He
works for Yubaba, doing rather underhanded deeds such as stealing
magic from others, but also has his own agenda. Haku helps Chihiro
find an inner strength to survive in the spirit world. Alternatively
gruff and gentle, he recognizes Chihiro when he meets her. However,
he doesn’t remember why he knows her, nor does he remember why he
can’t leave the bathhouse. Later, we learn he is a river spirit
who once saved Chihiro’s life and that his real name is Kohaku River.
Yubaba -
Voiced
by Suzanne Pleshette
A witch who runs the bathhouse
and gives Chihiro a job. Yubaba is strict, greedy, and quick to
anger, but she’s also fair and a stickler for following the rules
of the spirit world. She understands the power of identity and changes
her workers’ names as a means of control, such as when she changes
Chihiro’s name to Sen. Yubaba is perfectly groomed and heavily bejeweled,
and her head is huge in proportion to her body. As befits her station
in life, she lives in opulent rooms at the top of the bathhouse.
Zeniba -
Voiced
by Suzanne Pleshette
Yubaba’s kinder twin sister.
She helps Sen recognize what was inside her all along. Zeniba is
the only one with power equal to Yubaba’s, and she’s an important
key to the conclusion. She explains the other characters’ previous
lives to Sen, who then confides to Zeniba that her real name is Chihiro.
Zeniba critiques Yubaba’s lifestyle and misguided parenting style.
In contrast to Yubaba’s luxurious quarters, Zeniba lives in a modest
cottage far from the bathhouse.
Boh -
Voiced by
Tara Strong
Yubaba’s giant, spoiled baby. Yubaba
keeps him isolated in a luxurious room, surrounded by soft pillows.
Boh knows only what his mother chooses to tell him, until Sen expands
his world. Although Boh is huge, he’s completely helpless. Boh is,
in fact, what Chihiro might have turned out to be if she hadn’t
come to the spirit world. Later, Zeniba turns Boh into a mouse,
which allows him to escape his isolated state.
Kamaji -
Voiced
by David Ogden-Stiers
A spider-like spirit
that runs the boiler room. He’s the first to witness the humanity
that makes Chihiro special.
Lin -
Voiced by
Susan Egan
The main female bathhouse worker.
Lin is initially gruff with Chihiro but comes to admire her and
act as her big sister.
No-Face -
No voice
credit
A sad, voiceless spirit. When No-Face tries
to repay Sen for her kindness to him, the results are disastrous.
He takes on a frog/worker’s voice after he eats the worker.
Yubaba Bird -
No
voice credit
One of two birds with Yubaba’s
head. This one is Yubaba’s pet, and the other is Yubaba herself.
Yubaba turns herself into a bird to monitor the village. Her pet
is turned into a fly by Zeniba.
Chihiro’s Father -
Voiced
by Michael Chiklis
His arrogance begins the
chain of events that binds Chihiro in virtual slavery.
Chihiro’s Mother -
Voiced
by Lauren Holly
Strong enough not to give
in to Chihiro’s whining, but follows her husband in spite of her
misgivings.
Stink Spirit -
No
voice credit
An ancient river spirit that
has been polluted. To thank her for cleaning him, he gives Sen a food
reward that enables her to purge others of what ails them.
Traveling Soot -
No
voice credit
Enchanted soot works for Kamaji and
haul coal in the boiler room. Chihiro’s kindness to the soot makes
Kamaji her first ally.
The Three Heads -
No
voice credit
Three disembodied heads that
act as attendants for Yubaba. They move by bouncing around on the
floor and make odd ponging noises, like video game characters.
The Spirits -
No
voice credit
Important in Japanese folklore. Traditionally,
the Japanese believed that everything had a spirit, even something
as humble as a radish.