Great for younger audience; good but occasionally uneven for adults

Rating: 8/10 (5 December 2002)

Miyazaki films are always a treat to watch. I was hoping this film would surpass Princess Mononoke in quality, and it both does and doesn't. In terms of the life and joy breathed into the film, it is certainly Miyazaki's crowning achievement. But in terms of character complexity, deeper meaning, and richness of plot, it is not at the same level.
However, make no mistake, this is an excellent alternative to most family films. Anyone able to appreciate imaginative artwork, memories of childhood wonder, and curiosity will enjoy this film. Examining it with a cold, logical eye we might suggest that it seems like nothing more than a miyazaki sketchbook of characters. But the life that each character is imbued with would overpower this opinion once the heart is let in. What is great about miyazaki's children's movies is that none of the characters are really evil; just perhaps crabby or different.
Watching the film, we really feel as though the main character is swept away into adventure and wonder. As the audience we are able to stop and think, "what's she doing that for? what the heck is going on here?" but the character does not have such luxury. Tossed into a world of weird but charming creatures, she nonetheless has a very serious set of obstacles to overcome.
Perhaps the most rewarding part of the film is the way characters never turn out to be exactly what we expect, and how they are molded over the course of the film into characters we are fond of. And then there's the little bits of what I can only term throw-away joy.
However, those looking for even, structured stories should probably take a look at less child-like films. There are times when the movie just sort of veers off randomly in another direction, sometimes seeming to even conflict with itself. This is not uncommon to children's fiction, and certainly almost a mainstay of japanese animation. Still, people looking for well-crafted stories will find some parts a little disappointing.
For this reason I would rate this just below Princess Mononoke. Perhaps PM was a little too ambitious, a little too conventional, but it did succeed in telling a very complex, intricate story. This film seems a little more messy and convoluted. Which could be seen as a good thing to some.