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I haven't been here for a while, so I guess they got rid of the old review system of ranking art, story, characters, etc. Oh well.

Yeah, check out Nausicaa. I wasn't a huge fan on first watch as it seemed really short, and had a confusing plot with way too many minor characters that play major roles. On second watch however, I really appreciated the storyline, characters, foreshadowing, music (best Ghibli music of all time honestly), and animation (which went HARD for 1984 wow). If you don't have time to watch a 2hr+ movie twice, skip this, as that is what is required. If you ... like Castle in the Sky and Princess Mononoke, this has themes and elements similar to both of those. The action is surprisingly gruesome at points, and I really appreciate it its depiction of war. My only complaints are that even on second watch, the ending is still frustratingly unexplained, and Nausicaa's character design gives her a really small waist, which is weird and distracting as that has gone out of style by this point.

This is the most fun I've ever had watching a Ghibli movie! This is a fast-paced action adventure film that (although it is fun for kids as well) is full of gun violence, actual real stakes, and a soft-magic science fiction world that is not often replicated today.

Story: 10/10 Very intriguing. After an hour and a half, I had no idea where it was going to go. This has elements of The Iron Giant, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, and Treasure Planet in the western world; and One Piece and Neon Genesis: Evangelion in the east. Yet it predates them all! I went into this ... blind, and it was more than I could have imagined.

Art: 10/10 Although the character designs and some aspects of the animation are a bit... dated, this was also so experimental in some parts that teally blew my mind. Every time there was action, every impact displayed itself perfectly. The steampunk aesthetic is not overbearing (I won't spoil this aspect, as it blew my mind with ideas). When they (not a spoiler) get to the floating island in the final act, the setting is so creative, and you will be hard-pressed to find anything like that before 1986. Miyazaki has such an amazing mind!

Sound: 7/10 It didn't blow me away like Spirited Away, but not bad at all.

Characters: 6/10 The villain is so unlikeable (in a good way). He not only has a stereotypical "all the power in the world" motivation, but he also constantly abuses Shita in a PG way--but of course, still hard to watch. A perfect villain. However, Shita and Patsu are kind of blank slates when it comes to their characters. If the plot wasn't so good, this would definitely bring me out of the film.

Enjoyment: 10/10 There was never a dull moment. The pacing was perfect. The plot is admittedly disconnected, but you don't care because of how intrigue and connecting dots continually come up. The opening scene is masterful, and I cannot spoil it, as it really hooked me for the long haul. This deserves its PG rating. This is no Totoro.

Overall: 9/10 This was so fun. The animation in the climax was gorgeous. The creatures and other living things and inventions all fit. There is an interesting theme that is pretty subtle, yet cannot be missed--pretty bold, even if it was 37 years after WWII. A must-watch.

I was shocked that this was as good as it was. This stands apart from other Ghibli movies by being more adult-oriented, yet still having realistic middle-schoolers as the main characters. To me, this is the definition of a what slice of life should be. Not a true slice of life, but one that tells a narrative that mirrors that of Chuhiro in Spirited Away. Well, vice versa, as this came first.

Story: 9
I had no idea where this story was going to go. I thought I did, but this is so much more meaningful than I thought it would be. I can imagine watching this ... over and over and pulling out different themes and meaning from character interactions. The best part is that nothing hits you over the head, saying "This is symbolic of..." It will take me many watches I think. The ending is odd to have in a G-rated film, and I wish there was a bit of an epilogue there.

Art: 9
The art was so ahead of its time. This looked at many times like a Shinkai film with its displays of city life. There are some more creative sequences that blow me away, but they are not the highlight for me. The highlight is how realistic every building in Tokyo is. This feels so lived in, despite the extras not having as much detail as say, Mononoke-hime or Spirited Away, but that's a nitpick.

Sound: 10
The renditions of Country Roads (not a spoiler, it is the first scene) are great, and something I knew about before hand. The orchestral score is good too. What really got me is the weird techno music that plays sometimes. I did not expect to hear that, but it always made me chuckle and make a big smile. The voice acting in Japanese is so good. The actors all sound their age and fit their characters' personalities. The emotion especially in the main character is so raw. This movie does not hold back.

Character: 10
This excels over A Silent Voice, which I thought had perfect characters, who fit the themes well. They have nothing on this film. One thing I like is the surprisingly small cast. Everyone gets well fleshed out that needs to be. Everyone feels like a real person, and much moreso than a Silent Voice.

Enjoyment: 10
Although probably one of the slowest paced animes I've seen (besides Totoro), I was never bored. I am impressed with their ability to make a two hour movie with no filler (unlike Howl's Moving Castle), and without a world-ending story (like Kimi no na wa). The scene right before the ending had me in tears, and the ending (although odd) suited the characters well.

A 10/10 movie. Would reccommend to anyone who feels they don't fit the mould of the traditional life. The dual themes here can help anyone on their journey in the story. Watching this, the DVD skipped, and I accidently passed by 15 minutes of story. I realized after that there was something missing. I went back, and that 15 minutes I skipped made this my favorite movie I have ever seen. Love it.

This epispde gets all 9's and here's why:

This episode would fit right along in the series. Although it's 10 minutes longer than the average episode, I do think it can be cut down a little bit, as the beginning was a little bit slow for me. The story is great, and it gives an added layer that I'm suprised was never mentioned in the series. I suppose they were planning on it. The art has some beautiful scenes to add to your catalogue. The song near the end of this episode is very unique for the series and is absolutely incredible. However, this episode reuses ... a lot of the soundtrack from episode 9, when the emptional weight wasn't really there. I can forgive it though because one of my favorite characters (Roland) got some much needed characterization, as he played such a big role in episode 9 without enough screentime beforehand. Violet's character added onto subtley, just like most of the early episodes in season 1. If you're a fan of the original series, watch this. It fits right in, unlike that 2-part "movie" from a year later.

Story: 9
I don't have a single major complaint. In fact, the only thing that keeps this from being a 10/10 for me is that it's too long. I feel like I watched a whole 12 episode of slice of life by the end. About 20 minutes in, I thought about stopping, as, up to that point, it was exactly what I expected it to be. But then a development comes up, which I won't spoil, and it had me invested the rest of the way to the climax. Extremely slice of life. Everyone's actions make sense, even if one specific character is just a jerk ... the whole time. The falling action is almost 30 minutes, so be prepared for that. I would maybe cut out a lot of the falling action if I were to make this movie my own. Still great over all.

Art: 9
The art is extremely creative and at times experimental, which I appreciate. Most of the character designs are unique within the show (even though they look like any other anime). It's Kyoto, so it's good.

Sound: 10
I wasn't sold by the intro song, but after that it's all fantastic. Voice acting good too.

Character: 10
I thought Violet Evergarden had good characters... and then I saw this. This blows movies like Kimi no na wa out of the water. Rather than focusing on two major characters, there's like six major characters that are all completely fleshed out. Everyone acts like a real person with complexities and real consciousness. This is the best I've seen characters ever. Period.

Enjoyment: 9

Overall: 9
I loved this movie. I was going to cite it as my favorite, but in the end it was too long for me to want to rewatch it. Highly suggest it, but be prepared for its length. It does feel like I watched a six-episode mini series. This can also be considered a compliment.

Story: 5
The story is an odd one that makes the main character pretty unlikable. The plot twist in episode 3 makes no sense and has no buildup.

Art: 8
The art would be really good if it was made in 2004. For 2014, it's not outstanding. Every time the aliens show up, the art style changes completely from more realistic slice-of-life to the most hilarious thing you'll ever see. It's clearly done for comedic purposes, and I enjoy it a lot.

Sound: 8
The theme song is really catchy. One thing I enjoy is that in 4/5 episodes, the end credits song is different, which was a pleasant surprise. ... The voice acting for the main character is not great.

Character: 4
Around episodes 2 and 3, Momoko really had something going for her, but they didn't really build on that. The aliens are really funny though.

Enjoyment: 10
This was laugh out loud at every second. Whether laughing at the cliches, the dialogue, or the fight scenes, it has a little something for everyone.

Overall: 8

This is my only all 10's review for an anime, and this deserves it.

Story:
I love how the A and B plot interweave, and depending on your mood at the time, they switch themselves. (Hint: No face is not part of the A plot). I love how Chihiro changes throughout the movie, and learns some of the harsh realities of life, as well as this truth: That life has much more to offer than that harsh life. She learns charity, or love, and this is so relatable, as none of us have really got there yet. Yet Chihiro grows so fast in just a couple of ... days. It's inspiring. Recommend for all ages 8 and up (for some blood and admittedly terrifying moments).

Art and Sound:
Nothing seems out of place when it feels like they should be. From the rolling grassy plains to the train moving across, every moment is beautiful and complimented by the soundtrack. Or I should say the soundtrack is complimented by the art, as the music feels nostalgic, whistful, and hopeful in a bittersweet way. I can listen to the Violet Evergarden soundtrack without context, and appreciate how great it is. But in Spirited Away, the music takes me to this world, and I am immediately in Chirhiro's shoes, seeing myself from the outside.

Character:
Every character has purpose and makes sense. Even characters that we don't see (like Lily), who is mentioned in the first 10 seconds of the movie, feel real, and it has me thinking about all of them throughout the movie. Chirhiro's relationship with Haku feels so real, and she is so full of love despite distressing circumstances. I won't spoil anymore. The antagonists are good too, but they don't really feel like antagonists, because they are so fleshed out. SO good.

Overall:
Spirited Away is my favorite anime of all time. If you haven't seen any anime, I wouldn't suggest watching this first. Personally, I would watch something by Makoto Shinkai like Your Name, or one of Miyazaki's more lowkey works like Totoro. This one's a lot on the first watch. In fact, I wasn't a fan my first time, but it grows with every watch, and never grows old or irrelevant.

Story: 6
The story is very simple, yet magical. Every time we see one of the larger creatures, I feel transported. The beginning and climax leave a lot to be desired though.

Art: 7
Art is great. It's Ghibli of course! Especially as this was made in '88, this is a masterpiece when it comes to the art. I just wish the more beautiful moments lasted longer, or that there were more of them.

Sound: 3
The two main voice actors are annoying throughout most of the movie (English and Japanese). They're not really charming for me. The older girl does do better at the serious moments though.

Character: 5
There are ... things to enjoy about the characters, but I wish there was more. Especially from the parents; they be kinda bland.

Enjoyment: 9
That said, I liked it. I recommend this if you haven't seen it yet. A lot of classic moments. This one's especially good for younger kids.

Overall: 6

Story: 5
I thought this story was good at first, but compared to any piece of anime, it doesn't really compare.

Art: 8
This was my introduction to anime, and this art does not disappoint. It looks like something from a Makoto Shinkai film. If it was full length, it would go above any of Shinkai's work. That said, the ending is weird. Not a fan of that.

Sound: 10
Great music that fits the message of the video. The Japanese voice acting for the intro and closing are incredible, with a lot of emotion put into it.

Character: 8
Those voice acting bits add a lot to the main character. ... This could easily be a full-length movie, and be acclaimed.

Enjoyment: 8
Although I love this, the song is repetitive at times, so I don't visit it often.

Overall: 7

Story: 10
Despite a slower paced sequence near the beginning (which brought my enjoyment level down to 9), this story delivers at confusing me, which is a compliment. This is the weirdest plot I've ever seen. Spirited Away, get out of here. Mononoke Hime, not even comparable. The visuals really add to this.

Art: 10
The colorful art makes this war-ridden town feel like a utopia, to the point that to a kid, it may seem like a utopia. I wouldn't recommend this for young children though, as some of the scenes are very dark, unusual, and spine-tingling. I loved it, but I would give this a ... PG-13 personally.

Sound: 9
I can't even remember if there was music...but I'm sure it was there. The English dub is great, although "Granny" is hard to understand at times.

Character: 10
The main character arc is very subtle, and you have to look beyond the surface. Howl, Calcifer, and Markl are all intriguing to watch as well. I can't say much else without spoilers, but great overall.

Enjoyment: 9

Overall: 9
This movie gave me the most pleasant surprise, especially as I had already seen Spirited Away, and I didn't think this can get any weirder, but it did. Very funny at times, yet terrifying. Sophie's actions confuse me a lot, but it's part of her arc I suppose.