Materials:
Black fabric (we used 6 yards of a billowy, slightly stretchy fabric, split into 3 yard sections -you may need longer depending upon your height)
Foam or cardboard (we used EVA foam floor mats to create the mask)
Paint (acrylic white, red, and black)
Helmet, hardhat, or other object to give extra height to your mask (we used extra foam and a plastic bowl)
Black, elbow length gloves
Black nylons or sheer fabricChocolate coins or gold candy to use as a prop to hand out (Optional)

Directions:
1. The first piece of fabric will be used as a basic poncho. Fold the 3 yards in half and cut a small slit for your head to fit through. Trim off the bottom 4 corners to round them out.

2. Form your mask using your material of choice. We use 1/2 inch foam floor mats. We traced a template (1 & 2**) and cut the mouth and eyes out using a box cutter. We then used a heat gun to heat up the foam and form/mold its rounded shape. To harden the foam and create a smooth painting surface, we used 3 coats of thinned out white glue (thinned with a little water), layered on in alternating directions.
**Template 2 no longer exists on reenimochi’s website. Here’s a link to the full size image below which shows both halves together. Alternatively, try an image search for “no face template” or “no face outline”.

3. Once dry, paint your mask white (using layers, just like the glue, if needed). Then draw and paint in the rest of the face details. Seal with a clear sealant if desired. We used a spray paint clear coat to ensure the paint wouldn’t get wet and run.
4. Glue black nylons or a sheer fabric to the back openings of your mask. It will look solid from the front, but will be see-through from the back side (remember, the mouth opening will be at eye level).

5. Cut a hole out of the center of your 2nd piece of fabric that’s just smaller than your mask. Staple or glue the edges of your fabric hole to the mask with the inside part facing up. To achieve this, the bulk of your fabric will be collected in the center of the front of the mask, with the inside of the fabric facing up. Once stapled, you can release your fabric and fold it over the edge of your mask to hide the raw edges and staples.
Alternatively, lay your fabric down on the floor with the outside of the fabric facing the floor. Place your mask face down on top of the open hole you cut out. Take the inside edge of the cut hole and fold it back towards the outer edge of the mask. Staple all around the edges.
This will be the layer you wear over your poncho.

Need further assistance? Check out this quick YouTube sample video I made to help explain this step: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHDCwi-fzK4

6. Time to elevate and support your mask. To make the mask easy to wear and give it height, we created a tall “crown” out of the EVA foam. The width of the foam puzzle piece block (wrapped in a circle and secured together) was the  perfect width for Ron’s head. We topped the cylinder with a plastic bowl from the kitchen (to give the costume a rounded shape at the top of the head), then used E6000 glue to secure it to the back of the mask -remember to measure out the appropriate height of your headpiece to ensure the mouth is at eye level)

7. Cut hand holes/slits in the black fabric if desired.

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During the course of the animation, Chihiro wears two main outfits; her ‘human world’ clothes, and her bathhouse outfit. Since my fiance, Ron, was dressing up as No Face, I decided to recreate her bathhouse look to compliment his costume.

Directions:
1. Cut your scrub pants off below the knees.
My pants weren’t quite as baggy as Chihiro’s, but I still wanted to bunch and tie them up above the knee. I cut a 2 inch slit on the outside of each pant leg. I then folded the bottom edge up and “hemmed” the pants, making sure to leave a channel in which to thread a shoe lace through as my pant leg ties. I did this step with my pants inside out for sewing ease.

2. Hem the lower pant legs you cut off to prevent fraying. Position them to fit on the short sleeves/shoulder area of your scrub top. Pin in place and attach to simulate the long, baggy type sleeves of a kimono.

3. Your white ribbon or fabric will serve as your tasuki (used to tie up the sleeves of a kimono to keep them out of the way while working). I used 2 -4.5 inch x 1 yard strips of stretchy white fabric to sew my tasuki. I sewed the lengths together to create one long strip, then folded the ribbon in half (inside out). I sewed along the entire length, then folded it right side out (to hide all my seams), then stitched the ends closed.

4. Repeat step 3 using your maroon fabric to create your belt. I used only 1 yard of fabric for my belt.

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That’s all it takes to create 2 costumes from Spirited Away on a time and budget friendly deadline. Do you have any question about a particular step or the creation process? Please leave a comment below and I’d be happy to provide additional assistance!