Cartoons for Adults?

Rating: 10/10 (31 May 2007)

Yes, director Hayao Miyazaki gives us an excellent anime film without the children's themes and still keeps it entertaining. Miyazaki starts the film in an understandable situation for anyone who as ever moved in their life, immediately making the viewer wonder what next; which is an underlying theme to this film. Chihiro reluctantly follows her parents into the gateway to the spirit world where her parents become entranced by the food they found and Chihiro is lost in the spirit world upon the darkness of the night and his forced to sell her name, which becomes Sen, and is then forced to work in hopes of recovering her parents who had turned into pigs.
Chihiro is clearly the main character and simply steals the film. While this time lapse of this movie is about 3-5 days, to see her rapid growth in maturity is outstanding and Miyazaki clearly portrays this by putting her through several tests, but this film center's around much more than Chihiro and her struggle. Miyazaki's main purpose of this film was to show his criticism for today's society. From consumer greed to modern pollution, tradition vs. modernistic themes, Miyazaki covered his bases in this one. Not only is the animation simply outstanding, but all the characters are as well.
This film is great for anyone, it maybe too difficult for some children to follow as the themes run deep within the movie. It is sure to keep you entertained whether you are watching for fun or for social critique. If you do watch this movie, I suggest taking a moment to really understand the themes and recall what you have just watched.