17 Oct 2002 - Review SPIRITED AWAY

There is a reason why Miyazaki's animation movies do better business that all American blockbusters in Japan.

Actually, many, MANY reasons. Finally got around to seeing Spirited Away last week. It's been out in theaters for the last month (albeit very much under the radar). I have to say, without a doubt, it is the best Miyazaki film I've seen since My Neighbor Totoro. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed Princess Mononoke, but Spirited Away is even better.

The setting is the most imaginatively fantastic since Laputa: Castle in the Sky. The lush and detailed animation is par for the course for Studio Ghibli. Still, I draw particular attention to the fusion of hand-drawn and computer animation to bring a new life to Miyazaki's oft-favored "wind rippling through the trees/water" shots. While Yubaba echoes the legends of Baba Yaga and visually invoked Pirate Mama from Laputa, she is her own creature here. Chihiro likewise is at once typical Miyazaki character and holds her own.

The themes and morals are not so pat as "good deeds save the day" or "love conquers all." Rather, the journey of our heroine Chihiro is one of continuous change. She triumphs at some points and just screws up again at others. Likewise there are no absolute clear cut villains and heroes, particular the nature of Chihiro's "savior", Haku, remains an open question.

Nota bene: John Lassiter, Pixar's head animator and director of the Toy Story movies, is executive producer, and Kirk Wise, director of my favorite of the newer Disney animated films Beauty and the Beast has credit for directing the English redubbing. Much care was taken in keeping the Japanese flavor yet making the film accessible to an American audience (although we'll never understand ALL the Japanese folklore references!)

The kids' take: I could see my youngest niece (5) being a somewhat frightened by some of the spirit monsters, but my other niece (7) and my younger nephew (9) would likely take them in stride. The eldest nephew (13) is more a Princess Mononoke-kind of guy. If I can, I'm going to try and take them this weekend to see Spirited Away in San Diego.

See Roger Ebert's review at http://www.suntimes.com/output/eb-feature/cst-ftr-ebert19.html.