Another excellent movie from Miyazaki.

Rating: 10/10 (15 October 2002)

This film is not as overtly violent as was Princess Mononoke (Mononoke Hime) but violence does not make a movie worthwhile usually. Instead the story and animation are both superb. This is very reminiscent of the early 90's Disney works (Beauty and the Beast, Lion King, Aladdin). But unlike Disney the characters don't break into song every other minute! The most impressive aspect of this movie was that even though the movie may be freightening to young children it also conveys a message (yes a moral) to the audience on two different levels...for children it tells them to be brave in the face of adversity and for adults it tells them to be aware of your child's feelings about any changes that they or the family might be going through. Miyazaki yet again has produced another masterpiece that the American public will not be aware of and those who might be aware of it will generally be biased because it is an animated film.