Anime Review: Spirited Away

On the way to their new home, 10-year-old Chihiro Ogino's family stumbles upon a deserted theme park. Intrigued, the family investigates the park, though unbeknownst to them, it is secretly inhabited by spirits who sleep by day and appear at night. When Chihiro's mother and father eat food from a restaurant in the street, angry spirits turn them into pigs. Furthermore, a wide sea has appeared between the spirit world and the human one, trapping Chihiro, the sole human, in a land of spirits. Luckily for her though, a mysterious boy named Haku appears, claiming to know her from the past. Under his instructions, Chihiro secures a job in the bathhouse where Haku works. With only her courage and some new found friends to aid her, Chihiro embarks on a journey to turn her parents back to their original forms and return home.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Spirited Away Genres: Adventure, Drama, Romance, Supernatural

Spirited Away Synonyms:

Spirited Away Studios: Studio Ghibli, Studio Hibari, Walt Disney Studios, GKids,

Spirited Away Review

Fantasy masterpiece that one is advised to experience at least once, regardless of age

Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (Spirited Away) is one of those smaller factors that contribute towards a great childhood. Being the first Studio Ghibli movie I saw, as well as possibly the first anime-focused product in general, I am always more than happy to hear about it at any given time. After rewatching it so many times that I've long lost the count on the matter, but having everything it presents carved splendidly inside my head, allow me to share my humble thoughts on this piece of art.

Overflowing fantasy done right. I believe those four words would examine Spirited Away the best. Starting off with the main point, I must heavily compliment the imagination used in the movie, as well as connecting just-that with some elements from the real world. By doing so, we are shown something totally new through the story, but we aren?t completely lost while doing so. We can follow the entire thing easily, and experience it in a unique way.

If perhaps you did not know, Studio Ghibli is known for the creations of whatever comes to their minds, and that is good, really good, since their minds are awesome. You won?t see anything mainstream if you give their works a try. In fact, you?ll get quite the opposite. I?m pointing this out since many like to connect the genres they see with some mainstream fan-service series that are rubbing the same things over and over again. I would like to call that a taste killer. One thing that has to known by any anime watcher out there is that some quality series should be the object to judge other things from, not some random mass-product money-draining releases.

If we go back to Spirited Away, it is a movie. A stand-alone movie, with no sequels or prequels. Such types usually express the creators? thoughts to the maximum, since there is quite a limited time in which they have to present what?s on their minds, and if there is a lot of it, you can expect something massive, for the better or worse. This movie goes for the better. What many creators and producers forget is the pacing in such 1-2 hour presentations. Spirited Away does that amazingly well. Starting slow, suddenly experiencing a whole fantasy drop, flying up and down through the new world in order to achieve a goal, meeting many new characters and experiencing many new things, as well as performing that finish, it rounds the entire ride up greatly. Yes, we could call Spirited Away a ride, since it is an experience that you simply love to follow from one act/scene to another. Intensive as it is from time to time, you get to adore it and its supreme, as well as a tad silly fantasy.

Complexity done right equals quality. Spirited Away has it.

I?ve mentioned childhood in the beginning of my review. Indeed, you might see the movie as a completely different experience if you watch it as a kid, a teen, or later as an adult. Regardless, the quality stays in any case. I can safely say so, since I?ve seen it around 10 times, the first time being around 10 years ago, and the last time being fairly recently. It is far from being the final time seeing it, though, I?m sure times will come when I?ll want to be taken through the ride again, like a little kid wanting to go on the roller coaster over and over again. If you?re discouraged to watch it because the main character is a 10 year old girl, then I must tell you to drop that idea right away. You get to sympathize with her, regardless if you are in the same age and gender group or not. Furthermore, being all honest, it?s not her that makes the show, but the story and the presentation. It is one of those rare cases in which the characters only spice the entire thing up, but the story delivers the main blows. That itself is one more factor of a quality-made product.

For a 2001 movie, I must compliment the animation as well. Although nothing mind-blowing, it does a more than splendid job at presenting us these fantasy wonders. The sound isn?t half bad, either. The voice actors as well as some OSTs fit with the mood perfectly, contributing that much more towards the overall whole. We get to sympathize with the characters fairly easily, and want them to experience only the very best ending. The negative points of some side characters are shown nicely, such as greed, hold of a grudge, and so on. On the other side, the main leads are well-gifted with some positive treats, such as guts, dedication, being ready to assist at any moment, and so on. Basically, by having the purely good vs purely bad style, it is that much easier for us to decide on whose side will our rooting go to.

Spirited Away has been and continues to be a beautiful experience. No matter how many times I rewatch the movie, my score for enjoyment hits the maximum possible. Rounded up point: This movie is simply a must-watch, regardless of your age and gender. Even if you are not a fan of fantasy in general, you might just change your opinion after you see this movie. However, if you are always up for some wide open fantasy-like experience, then I can assure you that you will simply love Spirited Away.