The finest animated film of all time

Rating: 10/10 (29 October 2017)

Animation is a tricky genre and always has been. While the medium is designed to appeal to a wider audience, including children, there have undoubtedly been animated films that capture the true heart of the stylistic choice. That is, animated films have the ability to be more artful than live action. Entire worlds can be created like paint on a canvas.
That's where Spirited Away comes in, Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece from 2001. It was released over 15 years ago and still it stands alone in the genre. That's a bold statement, given the historical animated films, like Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, the golden age of Disney, like The Lion King, or Pixar's deep catalog, particularly films like Inside Out. Even now, we are in a wealthy age of animated films and television.
Yet Spirited Away still holds its own. Why is that? The obvious reasons are the same arguments critics used when this film came out in 2001. It is beautifully drawn, powerfully scored with an excellent story and fantastic acting from the voice actors. None of that has diminished in the years since its release.
But there is also a deeper reason why this film is as close to perfect as you can find. It is undeniably genuine in its message and its reflection of the world we know. Struggle is a part of life, especially for children. Change brings struggle and how we react to those struggles defines who each of us is as a person. We have all been Chihiro at one point or another in our life.
Spirited Away is on the same level as The Wizard Of Oz when it comes to showing us the most important challenge in life in a fantastical environment. I could watch this film over and over, and the emotional impact will be acute every time. That is a testament to Miyazaki's care and passion as a filmmaker. Spirited Away is without a doubt his masterpiece and one of the finest animated films, nay, finest films ever produced.