Spirited Away: An Anime Review

Being a kid is tough. You feel misunderstood. You are constantly being told what to do. Then your parents move you far away from your friends, stop in an abandoned amusement park and instead of listening to you-oh that hasn’t happened to you? Well it is the very start of this story. 

Hayao Miyazaki has given the world so many wonderful animated stories. In 2001 a new movie was released from Studio Ghibli. Spirited Away is such a beloved film for so many fans of Miyazaki. This is no small feat coming from an animation studio with so many hits. In fact most of these films are many fans’ favorite movies. 

Chihiro is a young girl moving with her parents to the countryside. She is, understandably, sad to be leaving her friends for this whole new life. After a wrong turn her father leads them to an abandoned amusement park. Looking for food, they venture further and further in. Then events take an unexpected and sinister turn. Chihiro goes on an amazing adventure that tests her character. During which she meets many interesting characters and even some new allies. 

The animation for Spirited Away is absolutely phenomenal. It is one of the reasons why so many people love this film so much. The background art is breathtaking. The designs of the different characters are also so fantastic and aid in letting fans know about each character. The creators knew how important it would be to nail the characters in this story and they did so. The music is also an integral part of the storytelling. The studio really stepped up the art for every aspect of this film. 

The story itself is wonderful. Like most Miyazaki films, Spirited Away showcases the power of friendship and of people helping people. That message will always be important. It is such a gift to have stories that reinforce it to such a wide audience. Audiences continue to count themselves lucky that Miyazaki has given us this lovely story.

I think it is obvious that I highly recommend Spirited Away. It is a compelling story for movie lovers of multiple ages. The characters are well-written and creatively drawn. The music is beautiful. Spirited Away is a wonderful anime for new and seasoned fans alike. 

ALWAYS KEEP SPARKLING!!!