Spirited Away (Studio Ghibli) (2001)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki Genres: Animation, Fantasy, Action-Adventure Origin: Japan Certificate: PG Running Time: 116 min

synopsis

Spirited Away is an astonishing work of poetic grandeur, surrealist spectacle, lucid imagination and visual symphony. It is an animated film from Japanese master Hayao Miyazaki (who also created My Neighbor Totoro and Princess Mononoke), the most influential craftsman in the profession. So highly regarded that John Lasseter, director of Toy Story and A Bug's Life, decided to approach Walt Disney Studios with a plan on how to release it for U.S. audiences. Basically, the voices were expertly dubbed by American actors. The lyrical beauty, the breathtaking enclosure of simple characters just standing still against fantastic backgrounds, the element of peace uncommon in plot busy cartoons; all remain intact, which is most important. The film tells the story of a bratty 10-year-old girl with an indifferent attitude towards her parents and everything else. They are taking a drive to their new home but are detoured in the woods where they find a mysterious tunnel. After walking through to the other side, they find what they believe to be some kind of abandoned amusement park. But when night falls it is populated by ghosts and spirits, sorcerers and witches who do not like the intrusion of humans.