As Spirited Away opens, Chihiro reads a note from her best friend Lily, who wishes her well as she moves to the suburbs. While in the car, Chihiro's parents talk about how small their new town is and try to get Chihiro excited about her new school. Chihiro is depressed to realize that her first bouquet of flowers is a good-bye present. Although her mother tries to convince her that moving to a new place is an adventure, Chihiro sulks in the back of the car.

The family is close to their new home, but Chihiro's father decides to take a shortcut down a lonely dirt road so that they can get to their new home faster. Although his wife tries to convince him to take the normal way, Chihiro's father like many men decides to try the shortcut. As they drive into a...