Great for all ages

Rating: 8/10 (3 May 2005)

My 4-year old daughter **LOVES** this movie. We watch it with great regularity. The characters are terrific, especially if you have any connection to the Japanese and rural lifestyle. It's great for kids to see other cultures in such a positive light.
The soot spirits remind me of the characters in "Spirited Away".
My only complaint is that Mei screams too much. Other than that, the cat bus is wonderful, the house is beautiful with the tatomi mats and screened walls. I love the tubs, too. I don't fully understand why this scene is considered "creepy" by other posters. My host families often had tubs similar to this and bathing as a family is not uncommon (not only in Japan).
Anyway, we still enjoy this film (even after 234 viewings) and are looking forward to the two-DVD set.