Understand Haku's role: he saves Chihiro, teaches her the rules of the spirit world, and keeps the secret of his own name hidden.
The boy who knows the rules
Haku saves Chihiro
When night falls, Chihiro begins to... fade away — her body turns transparent, because a human can't stay in the spirit world. Haku appears — a dark-haired boy in white and blue clothes. He gives her a berry from this world to eat (“or you'll disappear”) and so anchors her in the reality of the spirits.
Haku explains the rules of survival: so as not to be eaten or transformed, Chihiro must get a JOB. The only way to stay is to go to the owner of the bathhouse, the witch Yubaba, and at any cost make her give Chihiro a job. “Anyone who doesn't work, Yubaba turns into an animal.”
Haku clearly holds a high position in the bathhouse, yet he takes a risk by helping a human. He calls Chihiro by name right away, as if he has known her for a long time — a mystery that will be solved in the finale.
Lesson notes
Haku saves Chihiro
When night falls, Chihiro begins to... fade away — her body turns transparent, because a human can't stay in the spirit world. Haku appears — a dark-haired boy in white and blue clothes. He gives her a berry from this world to eat (“or you'll disappear”) and so anchors her in the reality of the spirits.
Haku explains the rules of survival: so as not to be eaten or transformed, Chihiro must get a JOB. The only way to stay is to go to the owner of the bathhouse, the witch Yubaba, and at any cost make her give Chihiro a job. “Anyone who doesn't work, Yubaba turns into an animal.”
Haku clearly holds a high position in the bathhouse, yet he takes a risk by helping a human. He calls Chihiro by name right away, as if he has known her for a long time — a mystery that will be solved in the finale.