Better Than "The Lion King"

Rating: 10/10 (22 October 2013)

Rarely do children's films trump Disney but Hayao Miyazaki proves himself to be a master storyteller.
This story is about the immature ten-year-old Chihiro Ogino. She and her parents are traveling to their new home when her father takes a wrong turn. They unknowingly enter a magical world that Chihiro's father insists on exploring. While Chihiro's parents eat at an empty restaurant stall, Chihiro explores around and eventually finds an exquisite bathhouse. She meets a young boy, Haku, who warns her to return across the river before sunset. However, Chihiro discovers too late that her parents have turned into pigs for eating food that is not theirs and she is unable to cross the flooded river, becoming trapped in the spirit world. She must survive and escape Yubaba, the owner of the bathhouse. Along the way she learns and grows, becoming a better person, by working hard and meeting new friends.
The animation is fluid and beautiful and the storyline moves at a good pace and leaves you satisfied.
The film does have some blood in it (a dragon suffers severe internal bleeding) but it shouldn't be disturbing to most young viewers.
This film is a masterpiece in every sense of the word and definitely should not be missed. I highly recommend it!