Wonderful, even for those who don't like anime

Rating: Null/10 (29 August 2003)

You know the drill: Chihiro is a ten year old girl who gets trapped in the world of the spirits after her parents gorge themselves on spirit food and turn into pigs.
My two cents worth: I've noticed a lot of people discussing in their comments that the movie "doesn't feel whole" or "doesn't make sense". It has a dreamlike logic. Things that seem perfectly ordinary at the time you watch it will make no sense when you try and explain it to somebody else. (Think "Alice in Wonderland")
That having been said, this movie is completely involving and absolutely beautiful to look at. The characters, as strange as many of them are, are completely believable. It takes someone of great imagination to make a film like this, and make it work. And this coming from someone who usually can't stand what most people term "anime".
On a side note, I've noticed some parents complaining about this movie for various reasons. The box for the movie says it is rated PG. This is not a Disney PG where it's been rated for slapstick or the occasional bad word. This is a "you're insane if you're letting any little kid who can't sit still for two hours/gets scared easily/under 7 years old watch this movie" PG, kind of like Harry Potter was.
Recommendations: If you like the story of Alice in Wonderland, you'll probably like this. If you're into enthralling animated fantasy, I'd recommend "The Last Unicorn". "Flight of Dragons" is also good, but doesn't hold up as well under repeat viewings.