Yubaba, the formidable main antagonist of Spirited Away, possesses an intimidating and commanding presence that leaves a lasting impression. Her character embodies a complex blend of greed and maternal instinct, marked by a fierce obsession with gold that often supersedes her familial bonds. This obsession drives her to treat wealth as the ultimate priority, even fostering animosity towards her identical twin sister, Zeniba. Yubaba’s fierce demeanor is juxtaposed with her deep affection for her son, Boh. Her vulnerability emerges when Boh declares he “won’t like [her] anymore” if she continues to mistreat Chihiro Ogino, revealing a softer side to her otherwise harsh exterior.

Yubaba’s selfishness is evident in the stark contrast between her lavish, expansive office and the cramped quarters her workers are forced to inhabit. She indulges in opulence while denying her employees even basic comforts. However, she also demonstrates surprising courage, willingly undertaking both disgusting and perilous tasks, such as confronting the Stink Spirit and attempting to protect her staff from the rampaging No-Face. In these moments, she exhibits a level of professionalism that belies her greedy nature. After her workers assist the Unnamed River Spirit, she even celebrates their success by treating them to drinks, showcasing a flicker of camaraderie.

One of Yubaba’s most formidable abilities lies in her power to “steal” the names of her workers, effectively binding them to her bathhouse for eternity. The only hope of escape rests in their ability to remember their true names, a feat achieved by only a select few, including Haku and Chihiro, who support each other in this critical endeavor. When angered, Yubaba can unleash her wrath in spectacular fashion, even spitting fire—a potent display of her fury when Haku hints at the loss of her cherished son. When she takes to the skies, she envelops herself in a cloak, transforming into a majestic, bird-like creature, embodying both elegance and menace.

Despite her numerous antagonistic traits, Yubaba occasionally reveals redeeming qualities that add depth to her character. She surprises with her willingness to acknowledge Chihiro’s hard work and skill, praising her efforts with the Unnamed River Spirit. Moreover, her profound affection for Boh showcases a tender side that contrasts sharply with her otherwise ruthless persona. Ultimately, Yubaba’s unwavering fixation on gold blinds her to the values that others hold dear, leading to conflicts with those who possess different ideals. This complex interplay of greed, love, and ambition makes Yubaba a captivating and multi-dimensional villain in the story.

Although Yubaba is initially introduced through the conversations of Haku and Kamajii, she quickly makes her presence known as a fearsome authoritarian figure during her first face-to-face encounter with Chihiro. This meeting occurs when Chihiro knocks on the door to her lavish office, and Yubaba’s voice resonates ominously through a gargoyle knocker. In this tense interview, she employs various intimidation tactics to extract information from Chihiro about those who have assisted her, growing increasingly frustrated with Chihiro’s persistent requests for a job. Yubaba reluctantly upholds her oath to provide employment to anyone who asks, despite her disdain for Chihiro, whom she disparagingly calls “stupid,” “useless,” and “spoiled.” Their confrontation is interrupted by her son Boh’s tantrum, which prompts Yubaba to grudgingly offer Chihiro a contract. Noticing the beauty and length of Chihiro’s name, Yubaba quickly alters it by removing several characters, renaming her “Sen.” She then instructs Haku, her stoic apprentice, to escort Chihiro to the lower levels of the bathhouse.

In her next appearance, Yubaba takes on the form of a bird. By wrapping herself in a cloak, she transforms into a bird-like figure and soars into the sky, allowing Haku to visit Chihiro without her interference.

Yubaba later returns to the bathhouse just as a “Stink Spirit” attempts to enter during a rainstorm. She orders her workers to chase the spirit away, only to realize that it is not what it seems. When Chihiro successfully cleans the spirit of its filth, Yubaba joyfully embraces her, revealing that the so-called Stink Spirit is actually a powerful River Spirit from the Spirit Realm. Following this incident, she commands Haku to steal a golden seal from Zeniba, her twin sister.

As chaos erupts in the bathhouse due to No-Face’s rampage, Yubaba vents her anger at Chihiro over the phone, blaming her for the spirit’s intrusion. She then orders her subordinates to dispose of Haku, who has been severely injured by Zeniba’s curse and is no longer of use to her. When she encounters the rampaging No-Face, she dismissively scolds her son Boh, now transformed into a “dirty mouse,” before shoving Chihiro into the room to confront the monstrous spirit alone.

As No-Face regurgitates the various items he has consumed while pursuing Chihiro, Yubaba scolds him for his actions and attempts to assert control by launching a ball of condensed energy at him, only to be doused in vomit.

After washing herself off, Yubaba discovers that “Boh” was merely a trick played by the Three Heads and that the “gold” she received from No-Face was nothing but mud. Enraged, she storms into Boh’s room and demands Haku reveal her son’s whereabouts. When informed that Boh is at Zeniba’s, Yubaba extinguishes her fiery anger and sits down, negotiating with Haku for Boh’s return in exchange for Chihiro’s freedom.

Later, Yubaba is seen pacing at the bridge entrance of the Bathhouse, contract in hand, eagerly awaiting Chihiro and Haku’s return with her son. After Haku successfully fulfills their deal and the contract is destroyed, Yubaba spitefully tells Chihiro to leave. Unlike her son and employees, she does not offer Chihiro a warm farewell but remains to watch her depart, a mix of satisfaction and resentment evident in her demeanor.

Yubaba is a formidable witch whose magical prowess rivals that of her older twin sister, Zeniba. Renowned throughout the spirit world for her exceptional skill, Yubaba wields supernatural energy that allows her to manipulate reality itself and defy the natural order. Her reputation is so formidable that even Haku, a powerful spirit in his own right, willingly became her apprentice to master magic. Despite Haku’s eventual liberation from her control, he remains unable to break the magical hold Yubaba has over Chihiro and her parents. Here are some of the remarkable abilities she possesses:

Transformation

Yubaba possesses the extraordinary ability to alter the form of any being or object at will. This power is chillingly demonstrated when she punishes Chihiro’s greedy parents by transforming them into pigs. She alone has the capacity to reverse these transformations, solidifying her control over her victims. Haku confirms that she has a notorious reputation for transforming those who dare to cross her path into animals.

Sensing

Yubaba can sense the presence and emotional state of other beings, allowing her to pinpoint their locations. She instinctively recognizes that the “Stink Spirit” is more than it appears, ultimately identifying it as a river spirit.

Telekinesis

With a mere flick of her wrist, Yubaba can move objects and people with her mind. She drags Chihiro into her office without laying a hand on her and even uses this power to levitate a paper contract and pen directly into Chihiro’s grasp, further showcasing her dominance.

Pyrokinesis

Yubaba can conjure and control fire at will, manifesting flames from her fingertips. She lights cigarettes with a flicker of flame and breathes torrents of fire when enraged, particularly upon discovering her son Boh is missing.

Energy Projectiles

Yubaba can unleash balls of condensed energy as projectiles, demonstrating this ability in an attempt to deter No-Face. However, her attacks have limited effectiveness against such powerful entities.

Flight

Defying gravity, Yubaba can soar through the skies at incredible speeds, using this ability to escape or to make dramatic entrances.

Contract Bestowal

Yubaba’s most insidious ability lies in her power to bind individuals to contracts that determine their status and fate. This power is a double-edged sword; while it grants her immense control over her bathhouse employees, it also makes her vulnerable if they reclaim their true identities. She uses this mechanism to maintain dominance, often requiring her subjects to forget their true names and identities, as seen with Chihiro.

Infestation

Yubaba can infest beings with a Black Worm, granting her control over them. She uses this sinister tactic on Haku, binding him to her will and making him either unaware of the parasite or too weak to remove it.

True Name Manipulation

By manipulating the true names of others, Yubaba can assert her dominance and reshape their identities. Chihiro learns that failing to remember her true name could doom her to eternal servitude under Yubaba, illustrating the depths of her manipulative prowess.

Memory Manipulation

Yubaba can erase or alter memories at will, effectively rewriting an individual’s past. After transforming Chihiro’s parents into pigs, she wipes their memories of being human, only to restore them later while ensuring they forget their time in the spirit world. This ability emphasizes her capacity to control not only identities but the very memories that define them.

Cleanliness Inducement

With a simple gesture, Yubaba can induce cleanliness, instantly restoring order to her surroundings. After a chaotic moment with her son, she effortlessly tidies her hair and office, showcasing her magical finesse.

Conjuration

Yubaba can summon objects into existence at will, demonstrating her creativity and power. She conjures ropes for Chihiro and Lin, indicating her readiness to manipulate her environment as needed.

Power Negation

Her magical abilities allow her to negate the spells of others, effectively countering opposing magic with a simple hand gesture. She showcases this power when she undoes a transformation spell cast by Zeniba.

Cursing

Yubaba can cast powerful curses designed to bring about suffering or enslavement. She placed a deadly curse on Haku, a strong enchantment that causes him to bleed internally. This curse is later revealed to be so potent that only true love can break its hold, underscoring the depth of Yubaba’s dark magic. Initially, the protagonists mistake Zeniba for the source of this curse, but it becomes clear that it was Yubaba’s doing all along.

Yubaba, the formidable witch ofSpirited Away, draws from a rich tapestry of folklore and fairy tales, showcasing her as a complex antagonist with roots in various cultural narratives.

Queen of Hearts

Yubaba’s strict and tyrannical demeanor bears striking resemblance to the Queen of Hearts from Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Much like the Queen, who famously commands “Off with their heads!” Yubaba wields her authority with an iron fist, exhibiting a readiness to dispose of those who defy her. This harshness is vividly illustrated when she orders the transformation of Chihiro’s parents into pigs, reflecting a similar cruelty and capriciousness that characterizes the Queen.

Baba Yaga

The name Yubaba itself echoes Baba Yaga, a witch from Russian folklore known for her complex role as both a helper and a hindrance. In tales such as Vasilissa the Beautiful, Baba Yaga enslaves young girls, paralleling Yubaba’s treatment of Chihiro. Baba Yaga is also a ruler of the spirit world, commanding shadowy servants reminiscent of Yubaba’s influence over her bathhouse employees. The presence of sibling witches in Baba Yaga’s tales, each with distinct personalities, mirrors Yubaba’s relationship with her kinder twin sister, Zeniba.

Yamauba

Another significant influence on Yubaba’s character can be found in the mountain witch Yamauba, a figure from Japanese folklore known for her cannibalistic tendencies. After No-Face wreaks havoc in the bathhouse, Yubaba’s chilling order to slay Chihiro’s parents resonates with Yamauba’s darker traits. Additionally, Yamauba’s nurturing yet overprotective nature towards her son, Kintarō, parallels Yubaba’s relationship with her own son, Boh. Both characters exhibit a sense of maternal devotion despite their ominous backgrounds.

Yamauba is often depicted as an elderly woman residing in the wilderness, akin to Yubaba’s isolated existence within her bathhouse. Intriguingly, Yamauba’s husband is frequently absent from narratives, similar to Yubaba’s unexplained marital status in the film.

Kintarō

Yamauba’s relationship with her son Kintarō, who wears a distinctive red Harakake (a traditional Japanese cloth), is emblematic of her dual nature as both a caring mother and a figure capable of great harm. Kintarō’s name, which contains the short form “Kin,” emphasizes their close bond, much like the affectionate yet complicated relationship between Yubaba and Boh.

Yubaba (湯婆婆) is a name steeped in meaning, reflecting her character and role within the Spirited Away narrative. The name breaks down into two parts: “Yu” (湯), which means “hot water,” and “baba” (婆), meaning “elderly woman” or “granny.” This nomenclature highlights her identity as the matriarch of the bathhouse, where she presides over the spirits and bathers with both authority and menace. Her son, Boh, affectionately refers to her simply as “Baba,” showcasing the blend of familial love and the underlying fear her intimidating presence evokes.

Interestingly, the first syllables of both  Yubaba and her twin sisterZeniba (銭婆) combine to form the Japanese word “sento” (銭湯), which translates to “bathhouse.” This clever linguistic connection emphasizes their roles as proprietors of the bathhouse, reinforcing the central setting of the film while hinting at their contrasting personalities—Yubaba’s domineering nature versus Zeniba’s kinder demeanor.

The name Yubaba encapsulates her essence: an elderly figure of authority, steeped in the tradition of the spirit world, where water symbolizes both purification and transformation. This duality is fitting for a character who wields immense power over her domain and the lives of those who enter it, making her a memorable antagonist in Chihiro’s journey.