Spirited Away Review: Miyazaki's Dreamlike Masterpiece
9.5/10 — Spirited Away (2001)
Pros
- Stunning hand-drawn animation
- Inventive spirit world
- Moving central character
Cons
- Episodic structure
Ten-year-old Chihiro, moving to a new town with her parents, stumbles into a spirit world where her parents are turned into pigs and she must work in a bathhouse for gods to free them. Hayao Miyazaki’s film became Japan’s highest-grossing film at the time.
What works
The imagery is endlessly inventive, from the faceless No-Face to the bathhouse’s oddball staff, and the hand-drawn animation is gorgeous. Chihiro grows from a sulky child into a brave, resourceful girl, and Joe Hisaishi’s score adds to the magical, melancholic atmosphere.
Where it falters
The episodic plot and some cultural references may be confusing for first-time viewers.
Verdict
A beautiful, imaginative, utterly original animation for all ages.
