Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi

Overview:
The mopey Chihiro is throwing a small tantrum in her parents` car as they`re on their way to their new home. Understandably for a young child, she hates the idea of leaving her friends and adjusting to a new environment. Little does she know just how different her next environment would be when an ill-conceived shortcut leads the family to a mysterious bath house for the spirits. Her parents transform into pigs, and it`s up to Chihiro to make do on her own while she finds a way to undo the spell.

Story & Characters
Spirited Away is a window into Miyazaki`s imagination. Chihiro`s journey takes us ... at first to the Japanese-lore inspired bathhouse, ruled by (oddly enough) a western looking witch, and eventually to a place reminiscent of a European country side, with walking lamps, bouncing heads, and plenty of other wacky creatures in between. This is far from a trippy, scene-to-scene spectacle though. The story is grounded by and centered around the unlikely perseverance of Chihiro, who seems at first overly dependent, panicky and clumsy.

Reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, the fantasy world that appears as if it could not be further from reality actually has numerous parallels to our own lives. There is room to pick each bit of symbolism apart, but the beauty of this film is that such a cerebral understanding isn`t necessary to really get this film. The transition between the awe that the magical world inspires at first to the familiarity we feel for it towards the end is so seamless that it is only after the film is finished that the metaphors for humans and human society become apparent.

At the end of the day, Spirited Away will very much be a recognizably Miyazaki film with a little environmentalism, and plenty of the sweet innocence of youth. It starts off though, on a bit of a heartbreaking note. Chihiro goes through bouts of despair for losing her parents and as painful as it is to see her sink, it is equally inspiring to see her pick herself up again and continue clumsily at whatever task was occupying her. Unlike most of Miyazaki`s female leads who tend to be beautiful, pretty, or cute (depending on the age group), Chihiro`s chubby cheeks and messy hair make her unmistakably plain. Neither is her personality bouncy as is the case with the vast majority of girls in animation. Other than her listlessness, there isn`t much to describe about her. It is her unremarkable nature that makes her so adorable as the film develops the earnestness in her character that is deeper, and more essential than her personality. Where the earnestness makes her admirable, the plainness makes her genuine, and lovable. We might laugh at her expressions when she touches something vile, or an instance of complete physical ineptitude, but in an affectionate way, not unlike how you might laugh at your niece for tripping over herself.

Visuals
Most critics acclaim Miyazaki for the whimsy in his animation, but equally remarkable is the detail that conveys humanity. Chihiro physically expresses herself in more ways than most animated characters. To start, her repertoire of facial expressions is more compete than most, but more importantly, it`s the conscious effort made to put both personality and realism in her movements. One example is when Chihiro must walk down a steep staircase along the side of a tall building. Instead of conveying her terror with a facial expression and ginger steps down the stairs, she gets on her butt and essentially crawls down the steps feet first, treating each rung like a near death experience. It takes some creativity to think up such an extreme, yet human manifestation of fear. The animation shows a layer of humanity that dialogue can`t approach. Regarding the backgrounds and overall visual theme, it is gorgeous and also quite expansive. There are images of luscious greenery, bright and extravagant decor in the bath house, and the serene, pastel-y colors of the countryside.

Sound
Piano and string centric pieces go nicely with the downbeat scenes in the film. The antics are accompanied by bright, stop-and-go pieces and the more dramatic scenes get the full orchestral treatment. It works well, but is largely unremarkable. The voice acting is wonderful on both tracks. The English voice actors capture the same essence in the characters as their Japanese counterparts with the exception of Chihiro. Chihiro`s Japanese performance makes her sound older than her age, but fittingly in the dumps, while her English voice is brighter, faster, but more believably childish.

--

Spirited Away spans moods, settings and emotions in a way that no other Ghibli film does. More so than even Princess Mononoke, this film is epic. This time, it manages to balance the typical innocence associated with the studio to create something that is intelligent, but also tugs at the heart strings in the most primal way.

Considered one of the (if not THE) best Anime movies of all time, let's see how good it really is (in my eyes only of course).

Story:
The plot of Spirited Away bears a strong similarity to Alice in Wonderland. Both feature young girls stranding in a bizarre fantasy world, struggling to get back home. There are a lot of strange creatures and magic happening. For somebody from the west, some of these things may appear even weirder, but since we are in a fairy tale, that shouldn't bother you. Instead of going forward, this movie takes a couple of turns that may make it hard to ... follow for the very young viewers, but in general I can say that this is an entertaining ride.
7/10

Art:
I gotta be honest, Ghibli art is not my thing. That doesn't mean it's bad, not at all. Everything works well in the fantasy world, it gives all those creatures unique features and the weirdness that they are supposed to represent. I didn't really get into the humans though. Chihiros facial expressions were really weird at times, not giving the vibe of "normalness" that should probably be there to contrast the magical world she is thrown into.
7/10

Sound:
Spirited Away does not feature much of a soundtrack, at least not noticeable. The music felt like it was trying to be on Disney level, but it didn't really work that way. The voice actors did a good job and gave their respective characters a little more depth.
6/10

Characters:
Thankfully the number of important characters is not as big as in, say, Akira. Still it felt like some could have gotten a a little more scenes. Rin for example was an interesting character that had less screentime than I would have liked. But I can't say anything bad about the characters themselves, all feel well designed and fulfill their function. Most are likeable, while Yubaba is a classic evil witch type of character.
7/10

Enjoyment:
I seem to have not enjoyed the movie as much as most other people. That doesn't mean I didn't like it, but it will never make it in my favourite movie collection. Maybe it's because I'm not the target audience and can't relate to Chihiros quest much. It is a good movie, a great movie for children. It's just not my cup of tea in the long run. I did not regret seeing it though, but so many people have praised Spirited Away that I felt nitpicking was more appropriate for this review.
6/10

Overall:
6.6/10

I have to go now, I can see some torches and pitchforks outside my window.

• My grasp on why people consider Spirited Away great.

Spirited Away is a collection of events where there is never a dull moment, in a world filled with the supernatural. It is filled to the brim with characters with interesting designs accompanied by fairy tale like traits, giving the movie a way to hook the viewers due to them having experienced things of this kind already. Unlike those stories however, while the characters still have plenty of traits blown out of proportions, they aren't either morally good or morally bad, with no cartoon-ish levels of zeal or evil attached to them. Each characters have an ... established motivation that is their own and establishes them as working in the world, which is rarely expected in a movie targeting really young audiences.

The movie follows a kid's experience through a world filled with danger at every turn, that forces her to adapt to everything at each passing moment. Her portrayal is realistic and understandable, nailed down from body language, to mentality, to her reaction to the events. This makes her quite relatable, due to the fact that everyone as a kid, has been at least to some extent, just like her. And seeing her react to each passing element that hasn't been part of her life with awe and fear manages to create a compelling character, due to her reactions feeling genuine.

Seeing a spoiled cowardly child, portrayed as such, strongly from the very start, adapt to a world filled with supernatural beings where she never really has a dull moment where she is completely safe, and then growing into a character that will repay the people that helped her, is something that most people can enjoy. As a result of such, many admire her strong portrayal, as well as her strong development.

The movie does a good job at presenting how daunting a new world of which you know nothing about can be to an uninitiated child, and also at presenting it with some amazing artistic portrayal, filled with varied designs and a lot of minute details that breath more life into the world. It shows a world that is fascinating, and that can leave you awestruck.

• What I think of Spirited Away

Spirited Away is a narrative mess.

The fact that there is never a dull moment in Spirited Away, does make it entertaining for the first half of the movie, but when it decides to suddenly make its protagonist, from a snotty spoiled brat into someone courageous that suddenly who's only goal is to fix everyone's problems, presented with fearlessness uncharacteristic of the character, I wondered if I'm still watching the same movie, due to there being no moment where the movie takes a moment to explain itself. Due to the fact that the events are so chaotic and there isn't really any overarching plot, Spirited Away pretty much fills like a couple of scenes that weren't really edited in together well. They look stunning, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with them individually, but when you try to follow a narrative thread or see any development in the events, all you find is chaos.

For the first half of the movie, the movie was ok. The fact that the events were chaotic was fine as it was only a means of showing the protagonist wasn't safe, that the world was rich and to keep the audience engaged by having constant artistic elements introduced, such as various unique character designs. But then, once she settles in, and we get to Act B of the movie, her former flaws, all dissapear, in order for the movie to be able to conclude, with no moment of self reflection or progression towards defining what made her get over herself. What I watched no longer mattered to me simply because I wasn't watching the same character progress through the story. I started with Chihiro, a girl that was too afraid to go in a tunnel and was complaining about her flowers at the beginning of her movie, going right into, Chihiro, this really courageous girl willing to go through dangerous situations to save her family and friends. Where did the courage come out of? Whatever it is, it was never shown in the movie.

I did enjoy the movie from an artistical sense however, and I agree with everyone that it looks great. And everything in the movie, builds upon this and tries to showcase as much stuff that is visually stunning as possible, to convey emotion. But in order to make a story coherent, you should focus on the events at hand, on the actual story and what influenced things to spring that way. Not to say the characters don't have motivations, but the events really don't tie together in order to tell a story, they simply just happen. Nobody really learns anything, it's just a chaotic collection of events. And the person that should've gone out of the whole story changed doesn't have any explanation on HOW they changed in the movie. They just do. It shows a world that looks fascinating, and that should leave me awestruck, but it falls short of that on me, because it has no narrative hook.

Due to that the character development holds no value, because there is no ultimate reason for Chihiro's travel from Point A to Point B, and when I finish the movie, due to the fact there wasn't really a strong story, I leave with absolutely nothing. While I wish everything I watched would at least come half as close as to how good the average Ghibli movie looks, that does not really improve the experience I've had with anything I watched by a huge margin. I see movies as means to tell a story, not as a means of an artistic expression. I don't hold it in the same value as a painting, because a movie is not just a painting. It has a lot of other elements. But I do want them to ultimately serve the purpose of delivering a clearcut story. And Spirited Away doesn't really present a story. It presents a collection of stringed together events that don't really have a point.

Some people will think that I'm just missing the point and that I don't understand the fact that movie is supposed to represent the imaginative mind of a child and represent an adventure that only a child could envision. It does not pursue realism because it just isn't meant to be realistic. That is not what I'm criticizing it for. I'm criticizing it for being lazy and not taking proper time to develop its characters properly, and merely making them do stuff, without regard of representing at least some degree of their inner thoughts, to show how they have changed. That's what they lost me on. Not the thing that most people praise Ghibli for, and are seeking movies from this studio for. But the thing that the people that enjoy Ghibli for simply overlook, and that is the narrative structure.

And Spirited Away is a narrative mess.

• Who I would recommend Spirited Away to and who I would tell to avoid the series.

Spirited Away is a good choice for you if you're looking for a movie that develops an adventure that only a child's mind could conjure up, that is quite strongly represented artistically and that is rich events that are meant to keep you hooked for the entire duration of the movie. I think it would be a bad choice for people that especially value the story, as Spirited Away doesn't really try to tell anything significant or focus on portraying the perspective of the characters they want to develop of what they're experiencing. It is also a bad choice if you don't want a character to suddenly change personality just to better fit the events the movie wants to show on screen. But note that these shouldn't be too detrimental if you're just gonna experience Spirited Away for its artistic value, as it nails the portrayal of the world it is going for. Ultimately, if you value aesthetics a lot more than the story, I recommend this movie to you. This is what it will try to keep you engaged with and this is what most people praise it for.

(No spoilers contained)
Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi also known as Spirited away, is one of the most famous anime movies, and of course, one of the best. I first saw this movie about 7 years ago when i was younger. And when i saw it, i NEVER wanted to stop watching it. A masterpiece from studio Ghibli.

Story - 9
The story is pretty simple as you can read from the synopsis, but very interesting and the plot flaws nicely. Unique story and absolutely not predictable. I believe even if you don't like/enjoy the genres of the movie, i'm sure you're not going to dislike this movie, ... at least not by it's genres. Funny scenes not in a humiliated way and not too dramatic. And the ending is very nice with no plot holes.

Art/Animation - 8
The animation is nice and it fits the movie. Pretty detailed, and it achieves the mood of the movie. The emotions of the characters are well drawn. Realistic design on both characters and landscapes. Also, there is no CGI.

Sound - 8
Awesome voice acting. The soundtracks and the backround music are awesome and everything fits with the movie. Every soundtracks is used in a perfect way. The right soundtrack for the right moment. Note: I've seen this movie mostly with English VAs. Only once with Japanese VAs.

Character - 9
The characters are very interesting and almost everyone has a unique characteristic. The villains have their own motivations and they are not there just to exist. The character develpoment on the protagonist is nice. Also, the supportive cast is awesome. Many of them are memorable.

Enjoyment - 10
As i said, even if you don't like the genres of this movie, i believe you'lll like it. You'll never get boring while watching it for the first time. I already watched this movie many times, and i'm sure you'll do the same thing.

Overall - 10
The younger you watch this movie, the better. That's what i believe. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature at the 75th Academy Awards, the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival (tied with Bloody Sunday) and is among the top ten in the BFI list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14. With all that, sit down, and start watching!
(English is not my native langauge, so sorry for my mistakes, if there are any)
Thank you for reading!

I didn't really like this film, I wasn't "transported" by the story and what was being told. I admit that there are some very good ideas, but they didn't interest me. The animation is very good, the general atmosphere is well exploited, which is remarkable (in all Miyazaki's films, apparently), and the music and sound design are good, but despite this I couldn't get hooked on Spirited Away and its magical world. That's just my opinion, because if you put aside my appreciation of the film, it objectively/honestly deserves a 9/10 or even a 10/10 for those who loved it, but I personally didn't enjoy ... it too much.

For those who are interested, I think it's a must-see film, it's unique and worth the time to watch.

Yes, I just gave this movie tens across the board. And this is not because of a temporary high after watching the movie. I am not going to wake up tomorrow and say "wow, that really wasn't that great. Why did I get so excited?" because I watched this movie many years ago. In fact, this was my first, and to this day remains my favorite anime, movie, and story of all time.

There are movies that you really have to think about. Movies that you won't understand unless you think about them until your brains come out your ears, and most people, unless totally ... intrigued, do not wish to think that much. Similarly, there are movies that are so plain in design that they require no thinking whatsoever. They lack in substance and exceed only in the predictable, feel-good story.

However, I have found that the best movies, and screw movies, just stories in general, are most successful when they find a type of balance between these two polar, but perpendicular ideas. And Spirited Away does.

Spirited Away has everything we love about predictable movies: relatable characters, character development, unbelievable setting, adventure, and sincere messages. But it also has the quirkiness that people find interesting and the artsy technicalities that experts of this field rave about.

I can confidently say that when you watch Spirited Away, you are in for a ride. It will be a slightly bizarre experience perhaps, but this balance between the bizarre and the familiarity is exactly what makes Spirited Away a spectacular movie.

Spirited Away chronicles a girl and her transition from child to young adult. Spirited Away is all about finding inner strength and qualities that you never knew you had, and while the protagonist Chihiro finds herself in the strangest and most frightening world you could imagine, I don't feel that this world is very different from the one she came from. Perhaps enhanced, yes, but the challenges themselves are the same no matter what setting, and Miyazaki shows this in his enhanced atmosphere. Chihiro learns to rely on herself and her mind and her heart, blossoming into a passionate young lady, and while that idea is nothing new, you will be surprised as to how new and important these ideas will seem when you watch the film.

From my own experience, I can say that Spirited Away effected me particularly strongly. It was not difficult to relate the attitude of the character to my childlike self, and so it seemed to me that her story was similar to my own (although perhaps subtracting the "spiriting away" aspect). I cannot know, if I watched it for the first time today, that I would feel as attached to it as I did when I was eleven years old and had never watched an anime before. But I have a feeling that Spirited Away would still have found a special place in my heart.

I can restate the obvious about the artistic and auditory acclaim of this movie, but I feel it would be redundant to do so when so many have done it before me. If it were up to me, I would talk about the contents of this movie indefinitely, particularly the complexities of Ogino Chihiro, but I feel that that is inadvisable as well, so I'll stop now.

I hope you give Spirited Away a try and admire the qualities I described above. Happy watching!

Hayao Miyazaki is a genius and it really shines in this masterpiece. I've watched this movie countless times and it never gets old. It is still just as magical, intriguing and amazing as ever!

Story: [10]
The story begins with ten year old Chihiro and her family on their way to their new home and decide to take a short cut. In the beginning, you see little Chihiro as a bratty little girl who is too scared to do anything without her parents. Later in the story you see this character develop beautifully. She becomes a brave, enlightened little girl who looks forward to new adventures.

Stumbling ... upon an abandoned theme park, her parents decide to help themselves to a meal laid out in a stand and are turned into pigs by the angry spirits! It is then that Chihiro receives a warning from Haku, a young boy, to leave before the lanterns set but is too late in doing so and ends up stumbling into a sea of water. Forced to work in the spirits bathhouse owned by the wicked Yu-baaba, Chihiro overcomes many challenges and meets new friends along the way.

Who could Haku be? What does he have to do with her past? How is Chihiro going to save her parents and go home? Will she ever go home?

A very unique, compelling story!

Art: [10]
The art is breathtaking and absolutely incredible! It gives you a real feel for the characters and setting.

Sound: [10]
The voices are crisp and fit the characters right down to a tee.

Characters: [10]
Character development and unique personas are present, overall. My favorite characters would have to be Haku, Kamajii and Chihiro. Haku seems like your typical guy, trapped to be Yu-baaba's servant and forced to fulfill her dirty deeds all the while seeming arrogant in public, but gentle towards Chihiro. Kamajii, the boiler man, and Chihiro, the young human girl, surprise you as the story progresses. Lin, No Face, Zeniiba and even Yu-baaba become delightful characters.

Overall: [10]
I give this anime a 10 out of 10. I really enjoyed watching it and actually feeling involved in the characters dilemmas. This is the type of anime that keeps you on the edge of your seat in suspense, but also keeps you craving more in the end. It WILL surprise you. ;]
This could very well be one of Hayao Miyazaki's best works. To all of you Miyazaki fans out there: cheers!

This movie was my first introduction to anime that didn't involve teenagers piloting giant robots, and I have to say, if I hadn't seen it, I would've written off all anime as only being fit for 12 year olds. "Spirited Away" is awesome, beautiful, and one of my favorite movies in any genre. Some might feel it's only for kids, or long for more gunplay, explosions, heroines with oversize chests and undersized clothes, etc. Well, that's fine, but they're missing out.

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be suddenly whisked away into a world completely different from your own? A world wherein a variety of magic and fantasy awaits you around every corner. Well, I haven’t given a single thought about such things ever since I watched the 2002 Studio Ghibli film, “Spirited Away”. It was directed by Hayao Miyazaki (known for his other works, Howl’s Moving Castle & Ponyo).

When I heard that this was an Academy award-winning film, I couldn’t expect anything less. A lot of people were also raving about how good it was and it has the potential of ... becoming a classic animated feature. I got curious as to how a movie about a girl being whisked away to a spirit world was really that great. I didn’t know what the big deal was, so it took me several months before I actually got convinced to watch this. I spent that time to read some reviews and watch the trailer. When I’ve finally gotten the gumption to see the movie for myself, it somehow exceeded my expectations.

The story starts off with a girl on a road trip with her parents. The girl’s name is Chihiro. Upon finding out that they were lost in the middle of nowhere, she and her parents managed to go through a tunnel that unexpectedly lead them towards an uncanny and mysterious place. Unbeknownst to the spirits lurking around the town, her parents ate the food that was set before them without any hesitation. Little did they know that the food turned them into large and meaty pigs. In order to go back to their world, Chihiro must embark on a journey with her newly-found courage and friendships.

Matched by a lighthearted feel and mood, “Spirited Away” actually has a deep message when you watch the scenes carefully. I couldn’t point out everything because it takes me a very long time before I could take in and digest what the movie really has to offer. Behind all the magnificent and impeccable animation is a message deep enough to touch the hearts of different people. I couldn’t find the words express how much this film touched me in many ways. The beautiful combination of the art, animation, characters, and music morphed into such a wonderful animated feature. One thing that kind of ticked me off was the parents of Chihiro, though. They seemed kind of childish to actually eat something right off the bat without being wary of their surroundings. It’s a very small and minor thing, but still, I can’t ignore the details.

To sum up everything in a nutshell, I found myself at loss for words. One thing that I would take home from this film would be the fact that sometimes, we get too caught up with things that don’t really matter. In the end, we fall prey to our own fantasies to the point that we start to get blind from reality – the kind of reality wherein we don’t seem to recognize the people or things that are important to us (as shown in the film several times). All I can say is, “Spirited Away” is one of the best animated features I’ve seen.

*May contain a few spoilers *
I am writing this review after I’ve watched Spirited Away for the second time and now I am deeply regretting that I hadn’t watched it earlier, but at the same time, I understand past me. I understand why I found this movie just “fine” and not amazing.

If you don’t watch it carefully, Spirited Away may seem simple to you, but you should definitely look for some deeper meanings behind every character and every place.

First of all, I should say this a perfect Hayazaki movie and it has everything a Hayazaki movie should have and maybe more, if you ... compare it to the older works of him. We have infinite imagination, interesting characters and a good romance between two main characters, but if the thing that binds all these together would be bad, which is the plot, then this wouldn’t be such a good movie and I am really amazed how he was able to bind all of these elements together and it’s perfectly done. You can’t see how the story goes and I like this is how it is. It is like a stand-up show in a more fantastic and somehow realistic way. Ofcourse there is a certain chain of events, but there are also some side-stories that doesn’t really effect the actual story and normally it is really diffucult to blend those side stories to the plot, since I know many movies, books and animes that I had got bored because of those side stories.

Lastly, the art is wonderful. The sceneries and places are simple, but they are suitable for the story. The most beautiful artwork was the movements of the characters. They were really natural and realistic. I guess this was what makes a fantastic movie realistic most of all, not that it’s a necessary factor, but it’s good to see the effort and the results of this effort.

So, in conclusion, since I don’t have nothing to say now, I’ll just say I LOVE this movie and also No Face or Kaonashi is the best character of all times. Yes, I’m weird.

It's Miyazaki...

If you have not seen a Miyazaki film, what I just said is meaningless...

If you have, you don't need to read this review...

Miyazaki encompasses Japan, if you know him you know Japan,
Want a Japanese History Lesson? Watch Princess Mononoke!

Of Course you can't get into Tokyo U just by watching Miyazaki, you must also read a few volumes of the Love Hina manga, as the Anime sucks...
...
Once you can read well, watch Spirited Away...

Because the English Dub sounds like Cracked Shambles in a Windy Rain...

I have no idea what that is...

However, I do know this...

ALL Japanese artists, regardless of intention, claim the fame of being pseudo-articulate in the cliched antics of, and not speaking lightly of course, homomoronity a word I made up, due to the fact that it sounds like a real word, and also because there is no better word...

Much like a Home Made Family, Miyazaki Appeals to Asianographers, a word I also made up, however, Home Made Family Appeals to me, and Miyazaki does not, because I am an Asianographer with taste...

Do you like it when children are main characters? I don't and I never will, but if you want a fantasy story, and final fantasy is not final enough for you, and who is it final enough for, then you may try this, or else the otakus around you will be like "hey what the hell is your problem"

Miyazaki takes Anime and steams it when it should be grilled, yes steaming makes things look tasty, but in the end, it tastes like steam, which is what water tastes like, which isn't usually distinct unless you live in an urban area...

Pick this one up, it's not good, great, nor acceptable, it's just what everyone has seen and you haven't so :P

Tha-Tha-Tha-That's All Folks!!!

A mysterious, beautiful epic from Miyazaki.

The story is, at first, nothing out of the ordinary, for a fantasy. A young girl - Chihiro, along with her parents, gets lost on their way to their new home, and find what they believe to be an abandoned theme park, which turns out to be a fantasy world. When her parents get turned into pigs because of their actions, it's up to Chihiro to find a way in this new bizarre world to change them back, with the help of Haku - a young magician. And I'm not going to say anymore for fear of spoiling this wonderous ... tale for you.
But I can bet you will be sitting, at the end, wondering "Wait, What?"
It does leave many parts uncovered and undeveloped, and leaves you wanting and wondering about more. But, in true Miyazaki fashion, you will be daydreaming for the rest of your life of alternate endings, or more developments, or simply more depth into a certain character.

The music was the main event for me. Look out for the strings/piano combination of 'The Sixth Station', some of the most beautiful music ever composed by the glorious Joe Hisaishi. The beauty of the music almost surpasses the beauty of the film, and that is saying something considering how wonderous the movie is.

The art is just... splendid. I think the artists themselves drawing and animating this film must have had a lot of fun with it, for it shows in every minute detail. (Look out for the scene in Boh's room or Yubaba's lair, both beautiful in detail and stunning throughout).

All in all, it's a film I think everyone should watch by their teens. One of the most beautiful, quizzical, mysterious, and will-leave-you-guessing anime films, it's also one of the greatest.

Having seen this film a handful of times, I have always been impressed by and admired how technically accomplished it is. Yet after having just watched it again for perhaps the fifth or sixth time, I now feel that the themes and the character development take a back seat to those technical accomplishments. Undoubtedly they are present, but in my opinion one must do some reaching and stretching. As a result of all this, it is hard for me to care about the characters and the story being told. To me, this is one of Studio Ghibli's weaker films. It is an imaginative, well-paced film, ... though, for aforementioned reasons, I would start elsewhere in the Ghibli filmography. Then again, this could very well be the one Japanese animation that is most accessible for American audiences. Who knows...

Story
Okay so, I start watching this movie and It's like "Hmm, seems okay I guess", so you continue watching... Next thing you know...films ending. The story is fairly detailed and has various events throughout. I was wondering what was going to happen next right the way through, it draws you in...

Animation
The animation of this wasn't bad at all, infact it was quite nice, There was a time when I thought thought things we're badly drawn (the no face) Looked like a childish doodle...But that childish doodle was stuck into a world of magnificents.

Sound
The sound was nice but nothing really stood out to me it was ... blended in with the movie well...there was nothing ike damn thats nice or wow awesome!

Characters
Characters were very well designed and represented and the voice actors we're great. I could tell within the first 15 minutes that the characters we're completely unique with their very own differences and personalities.

Enjoyment
It was a good movie I enjoyed it alot but it was lacking certain elements to make me "wow".

Spirited away is a story of changes, of a way, of a road to follow and it does it's work splendidly. The presence that it holds over the medium is large but the most beautiful part of this experience is that it lives up to it's figure and legacy.

The story is simple but masterfully managed, it revolves around Chihiro, Ogino a naive, spoiled and stubborn 10-year-old girl that is traveling with her parents and discovers an abandoned amusement park on the way to their new house, she is less than pleased when her parents stop by to visit the area, venturing inside she realizes that ... there is more to this place than what can be seen as strange things happen once dusk falls. Things start to change when goshtly apparitions and food that turns her parents into pigs occurs and those events are just the start of a journey that will take her to things she had never experienced before. Chihiro unwittingly crossed into the spirit world.

The art of this show is amazing in the literal sense of the word, the ghost have a design that can be found in our dreams and every character has a design that just shows how beautiful is the spirit world. Every character has his own movements and dynamic with the world, the atmosphere feels lively and every part of the world has a coordination and a sense of harmony that gives a new dimension to everything that it has to offer.

The music is special, every piece is art in it's purest form and are interpreted with majesty and with a sense of purpose and mission, the opening theme Day of the River/Ano hi no kawa" by Joe Hisaishi is the most apt choice that could have been made for opening the show and the ending theme Itsumo Nando demo (Always with Me)" by Yumi Kimura
Is really special and gives the taste that the final part of the series left in you a bigger feel of nostalgia and thoughtful memory.

The characters are what drive this story, they are the most complex and meaningful part of the entire show, they all have a fealing of familiarity and magic that just makes your heart melt in an ocean of joy and happy memories that makes the experience that the show gives you all the more graceful and meaningul that gives a new meaning to the story.

Ogino, Chihiro is a complex person for her age and is capable of driving the story and holding the weight of the events that happen in it, seeing her behaving and working in order to save her parents is one of the best fealings a series has given me, Haku is also a great companion and makes a great couple with her, seeing the relationship between Chihiro and Haku grow is one of the most exciting parts of the story.

The rest of the cast of characters also do their work as well as they could have ever done it, Lin is a likable character that works in the hotel, Kamaji behaves like a grandfather would and constitutes one of the most important workers in the facility, Yubaba and Zeniba are like complete opposites eventhough they were born successively. Yubaba is a grumpy old lady and Zeniba behaves like a lovely grandma would do.

This series is an enjoyable experience that is considered a classic for a reason, it does a lot of things well and is an all-around masterful work of animation and one of the reasons as to why i love this medium so much.

"Spirited Away" is an excellent Rorschach test to determine what a viewer values most in a picture. On the one hand, this is an absolutely gorgeous film, full of amazing, inspired animation. From the bizarre yokai to the sumptuous bathhouse to shots of the forest and blue sky, this is a memorable, utterly beautiful film. Although even here, my brain reminded me that certain visual motifs from the only two other Miyazaki films I've seen, "Castle of Cagliostro" and "Princess Monoke", were reused. Still, one can't say enough good things about the ingenuity and majesty of the animation. The music, a wistful, classic score inspired ... by old-school Disney, is good if neither great nor particularly original. Surely, a young child will love this. But personally, I don't love it now, and would have loved it even less when it came out, when I was in my early teens.

Why? Because narratively, the movie is a mess. On every level. There is the plot hole that Haku tells Chihiro to persistently beg for a job from Kamaji and not be tricked into leaving and certainly to avoid seeing Yubaba. Instead, Chihiro IS talked into leaving Kamaji to see Yubaba, who she successfully begs for a job from. Chihiro foolishly disobeys and does the exact opposite of what she's told, and this is never brought up again.

Structurally, there are a bunch of magic MacGuffins that randomly appear as the plot needs them to, with no established rules or explanation, then are randomly used as the plot requires them to be. There is no rhyme or reason, but it always works out for the protagonist, and hopefully the animation and music distract you from thinking too hard about it.

One could partially overlook both of these, except that Miyazaki wrote a fairy tale while utterly failing to understand what gave them their power. Namely, a strong moral message. Perhaps a grim and tragic one, like Hans Christian Anderson's "The Little Mermaid", but a clear, heartfelt idea of what constituted right and wrong, and how transgressors were punished and the virtuous rewarded.

There is none of this in "Spirited Away". Yubaba turns humans into pigs and devours their souls, isn't punished for it, and will presumably continue to do so by the movie's end. Chihiro learned what, exactly? Not to eat meat? To be brave?

Nevermind that the whole affair is painfully drawn-out. In the interests of showing every bit of awe-inspiring animation, the story slogs and drags at times, with a shockingly limited number of scenes for a 2 hour picture.

This movie is like the gold spouted by No-Face; magnificent on the outside, and mud on the inside.

While this is by no means a bad film, especially for very young kids, I was ultimately underwhelmed at its conclusion. THIS is the movie so heavily praised as a masterpiece among masterpieces? By adults? To begin with, there are other visually stunning anime movies paired with actual great stories, like all of Satoshi Kon's works or "Vampire Hunter D: Bloodust". Hell, there are even more visually interesting, unique, and weird animations, like "Cat Soup". But those lack the hype of "Studio Ghibli" and its sublime genius, Hayao Miyazaki.

I feel that Chihiro is a very real person, because it always seems like every character in an Anime I see has a wonderful personality. Well, in terms of character traits, this movie is very realistic and shows aspects of young girls not seen in other Anime/Movies. However, because I am not completely familiar with the Japanese culture, I sometimes felt out of place because some things that would have probably made sense to a Japanese person did not make sense to me.

Aside from that, the animation was smooth, the music was astounding and greatly contributed to the film, and the character development was just ... phenomenal. I enjoyed this movie very much and I highly recommend it.

When I first watched Sprited Away as a child I had no clue of what kind of masterpiece it is. I watched it again and I now consider it as a Classic – this meaning it as a lasting significance. Considering it is often listed amongst the likes of the best movies of all time, most consider this the masterpiece of Miyazaki. Miyazaki has the ability to create works that are both emotionally touching and visually stunning, and this certainly is no exception.

The plot is about the 10-year-old Chihiro that gets trapped in the land of spirits. A boy named Haku helps her to ... embark on a journey to return home. The film is filled with scenes of inaction, a scene without any action. In an interview with Roger Ebert, Miyazaki explained the usefulness of the little extra scenes called ‘ma’. These are the scenes of inaction, where a character might glance off into the distance or sit quietly.

These scenes are a common occurrence in his films. The usefulness of these scenes are, according to Miyazaki; ‘If you just have non-stop action with no breathing space at all,, it is just busyness. But if you take a moment, then the tension building in the film can grow into a wider dimension. If you just have tension at 80 degrees all the time, you just get numb.’

The animation of this movie is also great because of the small details that Miyazaki paid close attention to. Small additions like the dirt on the bottoms of feet, chopsticks falling over when bumped, or a zipper catching the sunlight to contribute to the overall feel of the film. Outside this the art of the characters and environment is appealing to the eye.

Also the attention put to details is a useful tool for developing characters. Chihiro is supposed to be a typical ten-year-old, so she behaves as such. When she puts on her shoes, she does so with extra care and taps the toe of each shoe to make sure they fit properly. In another scene, the girl’s parents call for her, but she doesn’t answer until the second time.

All these things add up to make this movie the master piece it is, and why I regard this movie as a true Classic. I fear that I can write half a novella about all the great points that Miyazaki made in this movie, so I can only say that is a great movie to watch. It is not packed with action or drama, but the message it conveys is no less important. Spirited Away will always have a special place in the history of anime.

*Warning! Review contains experiences, not plot summaries, or character analysis! Review will be edited... eventually!*

Well, shit! Here we are, again! Like I've told once, and a thousand times already, I'm not good at writing a review, with a positive note - it's so much easier for me to go with a negative - but... life's full of try and error, so... here we go, I guess...

So, Spirited Away, or Henkien Kätkemä, as we call it in Finland, was my very, very first studio Ghibli- movie, that I ever saw... and quite honestly, I really, really hated it! I saw a glimpse, when I was still ... just a kid, and what I saw, was a parents turning into a pigs, weird, alien-like deities walking around all scary-like, and a story, that was way too much for my little brain to handle, back in the day - plus, I didn't know any english back then, and the finnish dubs and subs were... well, terrible! So, I took the language barrier down, watched it again about ten years later, and absolutely loved it! I loved every single second of it!

What I expecially love about the japanese movies, is that they don't necessarily explain, or describe every single flipping detail, or exposition out loud, and in your face - you'll have to know just a little bit about the japanese culture and mythos to understand all the the details... to take the actual time to watch, listen and take these little, almost invisible yet subtle hints, that'll tell you even more, than any words could... or absolutely nothing, at all!

It's like a one of those actually good Silent Hill- games, you know! All the pieces are there, and theres enough exposition to tell you everyhting you need to know, so unless you're totally clueless, and utterly butterbrain brickhead, you'll get the story, but it's ultimately up to you, to put the whole puzzle back together, in order to get the whole experience. Same goes with this movie! There's nothing in the shadows so to say, but very little, if nothing at all, is actually spoken out loud, and explained to you... if you hapen to watch japanese dub, that is! You don't even have to know much about of ann anime, or even like any japanese stuff at all, to enjoy this movie, as an any other movie. The influence from the motherland is still there, but as a premise, this story, could actually take place into anywhere - magic, horror, ancient gods and child-like wonder knows no boundries, and this movie shows us all these things, and more.

Now sure, I've heard some people actually saying to me in to my face, that they don't like this movie, because of how it ends - they can't seem to handle somewhat open, yet subtle endings, I guess. And, in a way, I can see where they're coming from, even though I cannot fully agree with them. The story may not be that strong, or interesting, if you just skim it through and give it a first-eye glanse, but have some time together with this movie, and atleast try to let yourself be imerged with the characters, and visuals that are both so true, and untrue, that you either wish that you are part of that world - no pun intented - or are just being thankful, that is all just a movie, and no ones parents will turn into a pigs, if they eat food, ment for the gods!

Overall, this movie is good, It's great. It's... good. I'm actually quite dissapointed, that I cannot find almost any negative aspects out of this, but... it is, like it is, I guess. This movie, is a true masterpiece from Studio Ghiblies golden years... at it's finest, most treasured quality, and if you haven't seen it already, give it a try, and see, was the dream worth the adventure.

Story: 10
Art: 10
Sound: 9
Characters: 9
Enjoyment: 10
Overall: 10

Art = 9
- The animation is very colorful, it makes you "feel" that you are living in a "real" fantasy world.
- The graphic is not as generic as an every day anime you watched on TV, but it's quite beautiful, and it can capture the graphic detail of the environment, let say "a crack in the stone", "a moss in the stone", etc. all can be watched in a clear detail so that we notice the "crack" and the "stone", the "moss" and the "stone".
- But the character's graphic is rather old fashioned and not like the generic modern anime you watch on TV.
- That's ... why in Art department, I don't give a perfect 10, but 9 instead.

Story = 10
Character = 9
- The story is wonderful, Hayao Miyazaki succeeds in sewing a simple story with a simple plot, but can draw the audience's emotion to feel exactly like the story goes.
- For example, (A Little Bit Spoiler) ......................... Spirited Away wants to show the warmth of a motherly love from one character to several others in Spirited Away, then they show it through Zeniba's compassion through a gift to the other character, or even invite a character to stay and live with her, or encourage another character to help others through a simple errand.
- Just from one example, we could all understand the message of endearment and makes us want to say "awww, that is so sweet".
- And from start from the end of the story, Spirited Away is filled and full of act that we could make us say different kind of emotions.
- Not just endearment, but also a story of doing the extra effort for the people you love, and the kind hearted Chihiro that will do a helpful deed even to the one that she barely know close.
- It is the "will do anything for love" and do the helpful deed to others that could move our emotions, not only to say "awww, that is so sweet", but also a lot of positive moral value that not only we could learn from it, but also makes us to fall in love with many of the characters, because many of them, both the main and supporting cast have a lot of good natured and kind hearted spirit that we appreciate and love.
- Even the main antagonist (villain) is also lovable, because the main villain the the typical witch you always watch on TV and movies, fussy, cranky, cunning, but a mother at heart.
- Even so, you still fall in love with that witch, because that is what a witch should be, fussy, cranky, cunning, it's annoying but endearing at the same time.
- More on the characters department, I noticed that ALL of the cast, ranging from the main even to the supporting characters, ALL of them have a very significant role, and not just a "just-passing-by" characters that we could just forget them, because we can't. Because ALL of them has significant role to built the entire puzzle of the story.
- Example for my explanation above is the example of the character No Face (A Little Bit Spoiler) ................ No Face is a supporting cast, but without him, Chihiro would never got the bath token to bathe another supporting cast, and therefore could not ever obtain the green ball of medicine to cure another cast in the movie.
- That's why we can not take it for granted any of the characters. ALL of them make the puzzle to be complete.
- And that's just making the story department a stronger value, because the story is built through all of the characters significant role, which is not an easy task for the writer and director to do, but causing it a very valuable movie.
- There are lots of endearment act that we could say "awww, that is so sweet".
- There are lots of another act like with such movement that we could drop our tears.
- There are lot of kind hearted and good natured gesture that many of the characters shows that makes we to fall in love with many of the characters, and learn the "moral of the story".
- That's why on the story department, the score can reach as high as the perfect 10.
- However, for the character department, the character Haku seems to cold, stiff, and flat in emotion, which is why, even though the other main and supporting characters are very loveable, the score drops one notch from the perfect 10 into a "9".

Sound = 10
- The sound is wonderful, it has a lot of soundtracks and themes for many of the scenes and act.
- Which is why in the sound department, it is filled with rich and a lot of soundtracks.
- And what's more, the soundtracks are as moving emotionally as the scene it self, which makes you -again- be drawn to the emotion of the scene and act.
- A perfect 10 for the Sound department.

Enjoyment = 10
- The explanation basically the same in Art and Story.
- But the additional explanation is, the story is so light that you don't have to think seriously for the plot. Just sit down and enjoy the show.
- Is it enjoyable? Of course, It is about an adventure in a fantasy world, but not just a fantasy world, but a colorful fantasy world, the color is bright and cheerful either, makes you feel that you live in a cheerful, bright and "happy" atmosphere world.
- And you will love the characters as explained before, they are all have traits of kind hearted and good natured, and even the villain is likeable, because the villain has done a good job in portraying her self as this fussy, cranky, and cunning evil witch.
- All the characters are making a significant role to built the entire puzzle of the story, which makes you want to watch "what happen next after............".
- You will find a lot of moving emotionally act and scene that could make you "feel" the emotion of the movie just like the writer and director wants you to feel. Kinda like Disney movies, in this "emotionally drawn to the movie" department.
- After all of my explanations above, therefore this movie is not have a lot of enjoyment, but because it has a LOT of enjoyments to offer, this movie has a lot of replaying value. I even watch it over and over again in my DVD.
- So, enjoyment = perfect 10.

So, my conclusion for all of my explanations above, this movie deserve a perfect 10.