SPIRITED AWAY

Director: Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki

2001, Japan, 125, PG

Cast: With the voices of: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, David Ogden Stiers.

 

“Maybe these films are my way of blessing the child.” – writer/director Hayao Miyazaki (My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke). 20 years after its first release, no one can deny that Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, enjoyed by all ages. The wildly imaginative tale – best seen on the big screen – begins as 10-year-old Chihiro gets separated from her gluttonous parents at a mysterious amusement park. Trapped in a magical bathhouse, Chihiro teams up with an enigmatic boy (Haku) to outsmart a funny, outrageous, and scary collection of creatures including a Stink spirit, a greedy witch, and fan favorite, the melancholy No-Face. It’s never been a better time to reconnect with Spirited Away’s reverence for the living, natural world.

Winner, Oscar for Best Animated Feature. “That a children’s film is so meditative and trusting in the emotional intelligence of its audience feels miraculous.” Kambole Campbell, Thrillist.