“Our next movie is quite simply a masterpiece…”
So said Roger Ebert on one episode of Ebert & Roeper back in 2002. The movie in question was Spirited Away, and up until that point, my knowledge of anime did not extend beyond the Pokémon TV show.
For one reason or another, it would be nearly two decades before I finally saw the film on the big screen, but during that time, I couldn’t think of another film released this century that I revisited more. The setup of the story is simple, as a young girl named Chihiro is on route to her new home when her parents have to take a detour that leads them to an abandoned theme park. It does not take long before the walls of your imagination begin to expand.
Looking back, they came out at the perfect time for me (15 years old). I was definitely at the age when I thought animated films were just for kids, and I was too grown up for the newer things coming out (although my childhood favorites are still buried in my soul to this day). With Spirited Away (and, as I would learn going forward, basically any film from Studio Ghibli), I learned that it was okay for older kids (even adults) to still like animated films, regardless of their origin.
I like to hope against hope that producers in Hollywood know this is one animated property that could never be done justice if it were made in live action (although I did hear of a play based on the film that was done in Japan).
Once the story is known, you find yourself going back for multiple viewings just to see the detail. Nearly all of the film was simply hand-drawn, and when you pause the film, you can’t help but marvel that a true world has been created that you would long to explore in depth.
This is the quintessential anime film for people who say they don’t like anime films but want to try and watch at least one. I still wait patiently for the day when I will get to watch this with my niece and nephews (I tried it once, but we were busy that day and could not finish it…they seemed intrigued at least.) Hopefully, this leads them to wanting to see some of the other greats in the Studio Ghibli library.
So yeah, Ebert was right, simply a masterpiece.
(As of this writing, Spirited Away is available on HBO Max. You can also rent it on VOD.)
Nothing else to say 