Different and brilliant

Rating: 10/10 (23 January 2003)

This is truly one of the great animated films of our time, right up there with "Beauty and the Beast" and "Toy Story," although very different from both of those films. Like the director's earlier film, "Princess Mononoke," this mixes Japanese myth with other influences and the filmmaker's own imagination (which includes some really creepy touches) -- but this film is tighter and more focused (and therefore better) than "Princess Mononoke" was. The plot summary doesn't do it justice: A girl and her parents wander into the spirit world, her folks get turned into hogs, and she has to figure out how to rescue them. But this is really a beautiful coming of age story about trust, seeing the good in people, being kind when it isn't expected, and, of course, facing new challenges. A terrific movie that's suitable for anyone age 8 and up.