Intro: Film discourse is a questionable area of ​​study in itself. Saying whether or not a film is influenced by another medium is a problematic area because there are many factors to consider that can influence an artist's project. In Philip Lutgendorf's article, Is There an Indian Way of Making Films? (2006), it attempts to suggest how Indian cultural heritage texts could be used both for discourse on Indian cinema as well as for the study of cinema itself, which warrants discussion. This essay will attempt to challenge Lutgendorf's ideas in his article on Hayao Miyazaki's film, Spirited Away (2001), through discussion of the origin of manga/animae, Japanese mythology, and the hybridity of genres. Plot Summary: Spirited Away features the film's protagonist, a little girl named Spirited Away in the backseat of her parents' car. Chihiro and her family head to their new home in the Japanese countryside. However, Chihiro takes a wrong turn and finds herself at the entrance to a tunnel. The family then explores this tunnel, and finds themselves on the other side of the tunnel where they discover an abandoned amusement park. Chihiro's parents then follow the smell of the food and start eating the food. Chihiro then discovers that her parents have transformed into pigs and that she finds herself in the middle of a town inhabited by spirits, demons and magical beings. Chihiro manages to find a job at a bathhouse owned by a witch named Yubaba in order to allow her to survive in this new world and save her parents from their cursed position. Historical Background: Similar to the colonization of India, Japan underwent colonization. after the nation's defeat in World War II, and fell under American hegemonic power and occupation...... middle of paper ...... For Lutgendorf to say that Indian films are not based on epic texts and Sanskrit mythologies is problematic because it assumes that not all popular films are “based on epic archetypes” (230). Spirited Away highlights the complexity of the genre through intertwined elements of romance, adventure, animation and mythology. The film itself is infused with various influences from traditional Japanese folk tales and classic Western stories, which evoke various different emotions. This text rewards and celebrates its cultural history and practice. Works Cited Lutgendorf, Philip. “Is there an Indian way of making films?” International Journal of Hindu Studies, 10.3 (2006): 227-256. Spirited Away. Real. Hayao Miyazaki. Toho. 2001. Film.Reider, Noriko T. “Spirited Away: Film of the Fantastic and Evolving Japanese Folkloric Symbol” Film Review 29, no. 3. (2005): 4-27.