Why not just tune into Nickelodeon?

Rating: Null/10 (4 January 2004)

I had ordered this film with much anticipation off the Internet, since I had already seen most of Miyazaki's works, and I was surprised that it didn't grab me at all. The animation is very simple, it looks exactly like any Saturday morning cartoon (although admittedly, some of the backgrounds are of a higher caliber). The only things to differentiate it from a programme on Nickelodeon are the magical and beautiful score by Hisaishi, and the storyline. I would've loved to love this movie as much as I did Miyazaki's other efforts, but it just didn't have any resonance, it was too cartoony and childish. Maybe I'll watch it again and gain a different impression, maybe I've been spoiled by Spirited and Mononoke, but I just know this isn't anywhere near as impressive as those.
4/10