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Watching legendary Japanese animation filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki's unique, wondrous and highly imaginative Spirited Away is an incredible experience. The film takes the viewer on an Alice in Wonderland-type adventure world of fascinating visuals and wonderful characters. Spirited Away also contains smart moral messages ranging from greed to environmental protection. It’s also a film of life: through imagination, belief, and experience. Ultimatly however the beauty of the film lies in Miyazaki's animation which as the title suggest takes you away on a magical an unforgettable journey. The attention to detail and elegant shading of colors within every frame is absolute genius artistry (including the imagery throughout the closing credits- a Miyazaki trademark). Simply put, Miyazaki is a master of animation filmmaking and storytelling. His films are amazing, and to me, Spirited Away rates as his one or two greatest masterpieces (alongside Nausicaa of the Valley of the Winds and My Neighbor Totoro). I absolutely love this film and repeat viewings only add to the pleasures this film brings to both cinema and life. I can’t justify my love for this film in words as I certainly rate it among the very greatest ever made (animation or otherwise). To me, this is absolutely one of the most perfect films ever made. Spirited Away is a rare film experience of creativity, imagination, thought-provoking storytelling, spiritual connection, and above all: art! To see this film is to experience it, and to experience it is to cherish it. Ok so I'm repeating myself and probably not giving any thoughtful insight or justice to the film, but that it what it does - turns me into an obsessive fan. This is a film I will continue to revisit throughout my lifetime and in fact since 2003 I begin every year by making Spirited Away the first film I watch.
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