A Masterpiece From Studio Ghibli

Rating: 10/10 (28 June 2008)

This is probably Hayao Miyazaki's best film and given the very high quality of his other films that is saying a lot. As always with Studio Ghibli films the animation is absolutely beautiful and the story is enthralling.
The story follows the adventures of ten year old Chihiro who finds her self trapped in a spirit world when her parents take a wrong turn on the way to a new house. They enter this world through a tunnel which they think leads to an abandoned theme park. Her parents help themselves to the food at a restaurant and while they eat Chihiro explores fearing they will get in trouble for eating the food. While exploring she meets Haku, a young boy, who tells her she must leave before it gets dark, unfortunately when she gets to where her parents were eating she finds two pigs and she can't return to the car as a river now blocks her way.
As it is too late for her to leave and she wants to rescue her parents she has to stay. Haku tells her that humans are not allowed in the spirit world but if she can get a job there she will be allowed to stay. She manages to get a job in the bath house where she impresses the others when she deals with the stink god who isn't quite what he originally appears to be. She also lets the mysterious No-Face enter, at first he is welcome as he hands out gold to the workers but as he eats more and more they realise he isn't as benevolent as he seems. There are further adventures involving Haku, No-Face, Yubaba (a witch) and a giant baby amongst others.
The film is full of strange and wonderful characters, some are friendly, some are creepy but none seem really malicious. This film is suitable for all but the youngest or most nervous of children, it ends with Chihiro earning freedom for herself and her parents not slaying some evil monster. If you enjoy traditional animation and have yet to see this then you really should give it a go, I'm sure people will be enjoying this for decades to come.
These comments are based on watching the film in Japanese with English subtitles.