One of the best animated films of all time

Rating: 10/10 (23 April 2013)

Seeing Spirited away for the 12th time (rough estimate), I decided that it is time I write a review for this anime masterpiece.
Getting mildly nostalgic, I remember when I first found Spirited Away at Walmart in the Summer of 2003. My dad had read the paper earlier that day, and discovered a little film called Spirited Away, which came highly recommended from the Washington Post (along with winning an academy award for best animated feature that year). I was instantly eager to watch it, and we took a midnight Walmart run pick up this gem. My dad and I watched the film that very same night, and we knew we had been missing out on some of the most legendary animated films of this generation. But enough about the past...
Spirited Away is an absolute treat. If you have never seen this film, stop reading and watch it now. Spirited Away is a one of kind trip into another world that not only presents itself in a unique manner, but is also shown in a beautiful way: through the eyes of the legendary anime film director and artist Hayao Miyazaki. It is a tour de force of an animated film.
First off, let me say this: they don't animate films like this anymore. Not just animation, but the art itself. Every scene in Spirited Away is a piece of art in itself; Spirited Away is not only a hand drawn film, but it is also a moving work of art. I still get chills from some of the beautiful landscapes that are shown in the film. I want to frame and hang them up. The animation is not only beautiful, but also vastly beyond the imagination capacity of any other anime film I've seen. (More notables such as Metropolis and Howl's Moving Castle have come close).
The imagination of Hayao Miyazaki, unlike any other director, is innocent yet brilliant all at the same time. We see creatures for split seconds in Spirited Away that Miyazaki-san created in his mind. No short sticking was done here; everything, from the creatures and spirits of the bathhouse to the hand drawn world itself is magically and wonderfully crafted with so much heart.
Another notable quality of Spirited Away, like all other anime films directed under Studio Ghibli, is Joe Hisaishi's wonderful score. Accompanying nearly the entire film, Joe's score is fantastic from top to bottom. From the spine chilling rolled piano chords at the beginning to the wonderful and sweeping melodies that accompany the wonderful finale, the soundtrack to Spirited Away is one of my all time favorites.
The wonderful creativity of the world transcends into the story itself: a simple and nostalgic tale, yet well told story of trials, growing up, and personal strength. While it may come across as simply silly to most American audiences, this is definitely one of the better, if not best, character driven stories in the anime universe.
If anything has caught your attention here that hasn't before, then hop to it. Spirited Away is a masterpiece, and out of all the 5 star reviews I've given, this is one score that stands the test of both multiple views and the test of time itself. This movie is watchable by anyone, despite your knowledge in Japanese Anime. It's the best of the best; start here and you'll only be seeing anime thats running for second.
But for those looking for simple tales, big filmmaking, and un-cultured romps through big action set pieces, skip this. Sadly, some are too uncultured to understand the brilliance and craftsmanship of an anime film of this proportion, and will disregard Spirited Away as a bizarre, strange, and dumb test of patience. If you think you're too old, too hip, too American, or too late to the party to see Spirited Away, then you're already too far gone. Get over yourself; shut up and watch it.
But for those who are about to see Spirited Away for the first time, I envy you. Spirited Away is like a steroid shot to the imagination, never failing, even after seeing it more than a dozen times, to reinvigorate the imagination of any viewer, no matter the age. The first time you see this wonderful film is a time I hope you'll forever remember and never forget.
Spirited Away achieves Masterpiece Status: 5/5 stars