(In the Japanese version, she clearly says, "Take care of [your name]. Yubaba and Zeniba are twin different manifestations of religion: Yubaba's massively elaborate bathhouse is a metaphor for organized religion which is supposed to cleanse the soul, but is founded on exploitation. "Boh" means little boy or son, "Kamaji" means old boiler man, "Yubaba" means bathhouse witch, and "Zeniba" means money witch. While Yubaba is nasty and who seems to hold no love for anyone but Boh (it seemed she had some heart for Haku until he is mortally wounded and orders him to be thrown down a hatch before he bleeds too much on the carpet) while Zeniba is a grandmotherly sort. Zeniba critiques Yubaba’s lifestyle and misguided parenting style. It's yours.") Since they are magical they are even easily mistaken for each other, but Yubaba and Zeniba are indeed two separate people. Zeniba is the second of two witches seen in the film. Her straight-forward, kind nature makes Zeniba a stand-out Virtuoso, but what about her sister? Click here to upload your image The level of imagination alone is astounding, and rightfully, much has been made of the attention … One main difference I saw is that Yubaba wears a ruby pendant on her dress, since she loves money and jewels. She subsequently invites them inside for tea. Then at the end of the film after the final test Chihiro says She has dark brown eyes accentuated with lavender eye shadow as well as a prominent crooked nose drawing attention to a bindi-like mole between her eyebrows. When she finally finds Haku in the office, being pushed down the chute by the Three Heads, she manages to stop them just as Boh crashes through the room in pursuit of Chihiro. If Yubaba and Zeniba are truly the same person, it would add a new dimension to the scene where Zeniba tells Chihiro she has a pretty name and reminds her to take care of it-this could be Yubaba withholding ownership of what she took from Chihiro earlier. Zeniba first appears in the second half of the film. 4. and is seen, on one occasion, wearing glasses to help herself create a handmade hairband for Chihiro, hinting that she may be farsighted. Yubaba’s giant, spoiled baby. In contrast to Yubaba’s luxurious quarters, Zeniba lives in a modest cottage far from the bathhouse. The Invention of Imaginary Machines of Destruction, Ghibli Was Born This Way: A Birth Story Spelled Out With Reproduced Images, World Journey of My Memory / Journey of the Heart, A Ghibli Artisan – Kazuo Oga Exhibition – The Man Who Painted Totoro's Forest, Poppy Hill - 300 Days of War Between Father and Son, Until The End of The Creation of When Marnie Was There, NHK Image File: I Want To Meet This Person - Isao Takahata, Animation Film Director, Joe Hisaishi Symphonic Concert: The Music of Studio Ghibli. She also has large, golden earrings and wears a dark-blue dress de… Kiki’s Delivery Service is a lovely film, but Hayao Miyazaki’s later work Spirited Away (2001) is an absolute masterpiece. Yubaba is Zeniba's twin sister and, as such, is almost completely identical to her. 3 comments The heroine "Chihiro" means a thousand fathoms or searches, while her … Witchcraft and Sorcery Good Full Name She demands Chihiro to move away so she can deal with Haku, but Chihiro refuses, stating that Haku is a good person. Zeniba is an extremely powerful witch whose magic could easily rival that of her younger twin sister, Yubaba. When Haku arrives to take Chihiro back to The Bathhouse, Zeniba personally forgives him. This is only applicable in the English dub. While Haku as a dragon and as a human is obviously the same person, as a dragon, Haku displays a couple of different personality traits that fans don't see much of in his human side. Zeniba then goes on to explain that Haku stole her powerful magic seal, and that he is a corrupt being who only became Yubaba's apprentice so he could steal her magic, and then goes on to state that Haku is dying because of a curse on the seal anyway. When she first appears in the second half of the film, she seems to be just as dangerous as her sister is. She has dark brown eyes accentuated with lavender eye shadow as well as a prominent crooked nose drawing attention to a bindi-like mole between her eyebrows. Aside from her magical skills, she's also the older twin sister to Yubaba. It's yours.") The Fair Folk : The whole film (and amusement park) is built around a traditional Fairy Tale portrayal of Youkai . I know there's the theory that they are two sides of the same person, but I was wondering if there was a better reason why she did that. The only distinguishing feature between the sisters is that Zeniba is shown to wear glasses, impl… Aside from her magical skills she's also the older twin sister to Yubaba. When he begins to cry, Zeniba finally reveals herself when the paper spirit detaches itself from Sen and conjures up a transparent apparition of her. The film tells the story of Chihiro, a ten-year-old girl whose curious parents accidentally lead her into a magical world. The theory that Yubaba and Zeniba are the same person. Yubaba was the first witch. Zeniba is the identical twin sister of Yubaba and the tetartagonist in the 2001 animated Studio Ghibli film, Spirited Away, making her first appearance in the second half after Haku is injured by paper birds. Zeniba doesn't care much for wealth, so she doesn't wear one. Examples of powers she was shown to possess were: Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. When Chihiro visits her cottage in Swamp Bottom with No-Face, Boh and Yubaba's Bird in order to return the golden seal and apologize on Haku's behalf, her true nature is revealed as a kind and helpful old lady. Upon rushing there, one of the paper spirits follows Chihiro and attaches itself to her back. Zeniba explains that was one of Yubaba's spells over Haku. Yubaba used Haku to try and steal her sister's magical secrets from her. She has a wrinkled face, a hooked nose, a red dot in-between her eyes and wears blue eye-shadow. In a gust of wind, Haku appears at Zeniba's home in his dragon form and flies Sen, Boh, and the harpy back to the bathhouse after No-Face decides to remain with Zeniba at her invitation. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy, 2021 Stack Exchange, Inc. user contributions under cc by-sa. The only distinguishing feature between the sisters is that Zeniba is shown to wear glasses, implying she may be far-sighted, as evidenced by the fact that she only wears them when weaving in her cottage. The twin sisters Yubaba and Zeniba teach Chihiro that good and evil both exist in the world, and often exist within the same person. Despite the fact that she and her sister are entirely identical in appearance, they are polar opposites in personalities.She,unlike her sister, is very hospitable and lives in a house at Swamp Bottom. If Yubaba and Zeniba are truly the same person, it would add a new dimension to the scene where Zeniba tells Chihiro she has a pretty name and reminds her to take care of it-this could be Yubaba withholding ownership of what she took from Chihiro earlier. Boh – Voiced by Tara Strong. Taking delight in the circumstances, she wreaks havoc, transforming Boh into a small mouse, Yubaba's Bird into a tiny crow, and the Three Heads into a mimic of Boh's original form. When Chihiro refuses to hand over Haku and the golden seal, she becomes angry and yells at Chihiro, informing her that Haku is a greedy thief who needs to be punished, and that she placed a curse on the golden seal so that whoever steals it will die. Knowing this, do you think she and her identical sister have the same personality type, even though they're so different? Chihiro meets Zeniba, Yubaba’s twin sister who is exactly identical physically but their hearts are opposite. https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/46641/is-there-a-difference-in-appearance-between-yubaba-and-zeniba/46642#46642, https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/46641/is-there-a-difference-in-appearance-between-yubaba-and-zeniba/125230#125230. Kamaji also once commented that she was "one dangerous witch". Yubaba keeps him isolated in a luxurious room, surrounded by soft pillows. Yubaba and Zeniba are two parts of a whole. Hear me out, Zeniba and Yubaba are not twins but the same person. Also there is a difference between a person going to the store to argue about an issue and that same person just chilling at their home. (It's been a long time since I've seen Spirited Away, so I don't know how much of her appearance in the movie that "on one occasion" covers.). She gives Chihiro advice on remembering Haku's name so he can be free, and then compliments No-Face on his excellent weaving when she gathers everyone for a sewing session. Zeniba has the exact same appearance as her twin sister, Yubaba. Her age is never stated, but Yubaba is very wrinkly, most likely ancient. Zeniba, while seeming to be a replica of her sister, down to the outfit and accessories, actually turned out to be the opposite of Yubaba. Zeniba is a character in Spirited Away, and the identical twin sister of Yubaba. And from Yubaba's page: Unlike her sister Yubaba is not shown with glasses in … There are only one difference between the sisters, and that is Zeniba is shown to wear glasses, implying she may be far-sighted, as evidenced by the fact that she only wears them when weaving in her cottage. Haku did identity theft to Zeniba! Zeniba has the exact same appearance as her twin sister, Yubaba. She also appears to particularly dislike her nephew, Boh, shown when she makes fun of his weight and low intelligence. Posts about Zeniba written by Jack Henseleit. The audience sees him actively working as Yubaba's assistant, flying in and out of the bathhouse at her will and even being attacked by Zeniba's paper "birds." Yubaba: The Executive (ESTJ) Because she is Yubaba's twin, Zeniba's appearance is identical to that of her sister's: an inhumanly-large head with long, white hair tied up into a bun, a wrinkled face consisting of a large, hooked nose, a red dot in-between her eyes, and she wears blue eye-shadow, large golden earrings, and a dark blue dress set with a ruby brooch at the collar. I introduced my best friend to "Spirited Away" yesterday and afterwards, we were talking and she asked why Chihiro called Yubaba "Granny" when Zeniba was the one who told her to call her "Granny". She gives encouraging advice to Chihiro about remembering Haku's name and later forgives Haku for the theft of her seal. Unlike her sister, Yubaba is not shown with glasse… You can also provide a link from the web. Hence, "nearly". 5. The characters in Spirited Away (2001) reflect who they are. "Chihiro, what a pretty name. One thing I can't understand is, who is Zeniba, Yubaba's twin sister. Unlike her sister Yubaba is not shown with glasses in the film. The group arrives at Zeniba's house only to find that Zeniba is in fact quite kind, and that the curse on Haku was placed on him by Yubaba, but that … She was kind and compassionate, though still fiery at heart. Yubaba keeps baby locked in a room, afraid that he might get sick because of germs. When it is time to leave, Chihiro thanks Zeniba for all she has done, and entrusts Zeniba with the secret of her true name. They seem identical to me... Maybe "they are nearly identical" means "they look the same, but have different personalities"? — Another unexplored aspect of Yubaba’s backstory is her casual remark that she never should have taken that oath to “give a job to anyone who asks.” She demands Chihiro to move away so she can deal with Haku, but Chihiro refuses, stating that Haku is a good person. In the original Japanese version, Yubaba is much more vindictive and sinister, and has no intention to release anybody under her power willingly. Kamaji once referred to her as "one dangerous witch". Yep, that’s right – we’re doing a Studio Ghibli double feature! She has an inhumanly-large figure and a large mound of gray hair combed into a bun-like style. She has an inhumanly-large head with long, white hair tied up into a bun. It could be argued that Yubaba did identity theft to both Sen and Haku, but in a much deeper and worse way. Zeniba remarks that it is a beautiful name, then turns to No-Face and offers for him to become her apprentice in weaving, to which No-Face happily accepts. Alternative Character Interpretation: The theory that Yubaba and Zeniba are the same person. In the original Japanese version, Yubaba is much more vindictive and sinister, and has no intention of willingly releasing anybody who's under her power. This is only applicable in the English dub. Chihiro sets out on a train ride across the spirit world, along with a wraith-like spirit called No Face, who terrorized the bathhouse and tried to earn the affection of Chihiro, and Boh, Yubaba's gigantic infant son whom Zeniba had transformed into a mouse. After taking the spirit train to Swamp Bottom, a magical Hopping Lantern leads Chihiro and her three followers (transformed Yu-Bird and Boh and No-Face) to Zeniba's cottage, where she greets them warmly. 2 Answers2. She has an inhumanly large figure and a large mound of discolored hair combed into a bun-like style. View the profiles of people named Yubaba Zeniba. Zeniba turned baby into a mouse so that he might have a little freedom. Not to mention her parents as well. Join Facebook to connect with Yubaba Zeniba and others you may know. In the original Japanese version, Yubaba is much more vindictive and sinister, and has no intention to release anybody under her power willingly. The twin sisters Yubaba and Zeniba teach Chihiro that good and evil both exist in the world, and often exist within the same person. Yubaba is Zeniba's younger twin sister and, as such, is almost completely identical to her. She also wears golden earrings identical to those of her twin sister's. In recognition of Sen's selfless devotion to Haku, she lifts her own curse on Haku for stealing the seal. This is a very normal scene by Miyazaki’s standards. Her age is never stated, but Yubaba is very wrinkly. Zeniba lets Chihiro go as a thanks for leading her to a dying Haku, but threatens to rip her mouth out if she tells anyone about what she has witnessed. Zeniba, on the other hand, represents quiet, individual contemplation, which ends up being more useful in breaking free. The twin’s name is Zeniba, and she gives Chihiro a special hair tie when Chihiro returns the witch’s magical golden seal. Later on, despite warnings from Kamaji, Chihiro decides to take the seal back to Zeniba and apologize for Haku's actions. Is there a difference between Yubaba's and Zeniba's appearance in Spirited Away? (In the Japanese version, she clearly says, "Take care of [your name]. (max 2 MiB). Chihiro and Haku's relationship and the nature of it … When Chihiro finally reaches Zeniba's home, Zeniba is the one who can finally give her some clear cut answers and wisdom about saving Haku's life. Zeniba first appears in the second half of the film. Yubaba and Zeniba may not be the same person, but they do look the same and are exact opposites in terms of personality. Alternative Character Interpretation: The theory that Yubaba and Zeniba are the same person.This is only applicable in the English dub. Active Oldest Votes. She appears to form a bond with Chihiro, seen when Chihiro refers to Zeniba as "Granny" at her request. While Yubaba represents evil and can be quite scary, she also honors her word and is scrupulously honest in her business dealings. Zeniba (Granny by Chihiro Ogino) is a witch as well as the older twin sister of Yubaba in the film "Spirited Away". She is last seen waving with No-Face to Chihiro, who waves back whilst riding on Haku into the sky. Like the Dragon, Zeniba is confident, intelligent, and enthusiastic. Because she is Yubaba's twin, Zeniba's appearance is identical to that of her sister's: an inhumanly-large head with long, white hair tied up into a bun, a wrinkled face consisting of a large, hooked nose, a red dot in-between her eyes, and she wears blue eye-shadow, large golden earrings, and a dark blue dress set with a ruby brooch at the collar. Is there a difference in appearance between Yubaba and Zeniba. Whilst the Three Heads, now transformed into a Boh mimic, begin to bang around, Zeniba is annoyed and turns around to deal with them, giving an almost-dead Haku a chance to smash the paper spirit projecting her image, resulting in her apparition being sliced in half (apparently doing no actual harm to Zeniba herself). When Chihiro gives her the seal and says that she squashed a little black slug, Zeniba laughs and claims that she accidentally destroyed a parasite that was put into Haku by Yubaba to control him, and that her own curse from the golden seal was broken by Chihiro, whose love for Haku had proven to be more powerful. No they are just identical twins. You take good care of it.". Zeniba and Yubaba: Quoted from Zeniba's page: and is seen, on one occasion, wearing glasses to help herself create a handmade hairband for Chihiro, hinting that she may be farsighted. When Chihiro sees Haku in his dragon form being chased by the paper spirits conjured by Zeniba, she sees him crash into Yubaba's penthouse. Find out below! A beautiful piece of cinema, the copious world of Spirited Away is the kind of story that lingers in mind and compels discussion and search for meaning in almost every frame. For ref: Zeniba(good old witch) and Yubaba(bad old witch) So to start, when No Face is in the bath house it affects him to make him not the same as he normally is he is almost a "bad guy". After wreaking havoc in Yubaba's office, she warns Chihiro Ogino to keep quiet about the incident or she will rip her mouth out. She also wears golden earrings identical to those of her twin sister's. A couple other sources say they're "nearly identical", not exactly, but fail to say why.