A movie deserving of its acclaim

Rating: 10/10 (2 December 2013)

Even among all of Studio Ghibli's—and Director Miyuzaki's— brilliant movies, Spirited Away sets itself apart. At the surface, it's no more than an Alice in Wonderland-esque journey with a Japanese twist, but the film is so much more beautiful and profound than that. We discover a whole world unlike anything we've ever known, and find humanness in the most unlikely of places. Through Chihiro, the story's protagonist, the movie expresses everything from the folly of youth, to first love, to the uncertainty of life itself. And though this may all sound overly decedent to describe an animated movie created over a decade ago, I assure you, It's a well-deserved description. From the start, in the first five minutes of the film, Miyazaki somehow manages to tell us all about who Chihiro is and what state of mind she's in—the anxiety of leaving a life behind, frustration with the breezy parents taking it all in stride, uneasiness about the future, the moodiness of adolescence; all rolling together to express that "immaturity" and "loneliness" that is combated and altered throughout the rest of the movie. For as Chihiro struggles through a world even more alien than the one she had being driving toward at the beginning, she makes the unlikeliest of friends, toughens up, matures, and learns to face the unknown. Spirited Away is a tale not to be underestimated or overlooked. But aside from the story itself, the film is masterfully created, starting with the animation. Though at first it may seem very odd to Western eyes, used to Mickey Mouse and the like, the style of story-telling is very interesting and apt. The use of cartoon animation to express such deep and meaningful themes is very demonstrative of what anime—Japanese cartoons—can do as a medium. And the animation, style aside, is very well done. The flow of movement is smooth and eye-catching. From Chihiro tapping her shoe to get it on better to Haku gliding through the air to Baba casting her spells; every movement almost entrances the watcher in a way live action could not do. The color schemes from scene to scene are quite atmospheric, and it's quite interesting how they may contrast the mood in some parts of the movie and compliment it completely in others, such as (spoiler alert!) when Chihiro is weeping in a vibrant garden full of flowers versus when she sits basically on her own, in a dim and unremarkable train, headed to a place that she does not know or fully understand. Of course, the animation isn't the only thing that gives this movie its unique and poignant feel. The sound is remarkable as well. Joe Hisaishi, the one behind the soundtrack, captures the mood of every moment with a perfect and moving piece. The train scene would not be the same without his beautiful "The Sixth Station." I find that, even listening to his music alone, without the film to accompany it, the emotion behind Spirited Away comes clear as day. And the voice acting is good too, though the quality varies depending on if you watch it in the original Japanese or not. Over all, Spirited Away has more than earned the awards it has received over the years. It's a fantastic film to watch at any age. If you're lucky enough to grow up with it, you'll notice that it seems to grow and mature as you do; you'll notice more in it the older you become. And it's certainly mature enough to watch for the first time as an adult. There's no "wrong" time for it. It's a movie almost as mysterious and timeless as the setting in which it takes place.