Directed & Written by: Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by: Studio Ghibli
Awards
- Best Animated Feature; 75th Academy Award (oscars) , Critics Choice Award - Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, National Board of Review, USA (NBR Award) & Online Film Critics Society Awards
- Golden Bear (Best Film); Berlin International Film Award
- Silver Scream Award; Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival
- Annie; Annie Awards
- Outstanding Achievement in an Animated Theatrical Feature
- Outstanding Directing in an Animated Feature Production
- Outstanding Music in an Animated Feature Production
- Outstanding Writing in an Animated Feature Production
- Best Film & Best Song; Japanese Academy Prize
- Best Film; Blue Ribbon Awards, Durban International Film Festival, Mainichi Film Concours & Nikkan Sports Film Awards
- Special Combination "For artistic contribution to the field of animation"; Boston Society Of film Critics
- Audience Award - Best Film; Cambridge Film Festival
- Cinekid Film Award; Cinekid
- Best Animated Film; Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards, Mainichi Film Concours & New York Film Critics Circle Awards
- Best Foreign-Language Film; Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards
- Best Animation; Florida Film Critics Circle Awards & Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards
- Best Animation/Family; Golden Trailer Awards
- Best Asian Film; Hong Kong Film Awards
- Reader's Choice Award - Best Film; Kinema Junpo Awards
- Best Director & Best Music Score; Mainichi Film Concours
- Best Animated Film; Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
- Best Narrative Feature (Audience Award); San Francisco International Film Festival
- Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media; (Golden) Satellite Award
- Special Mention; Sitges - Catalonian International Film Festival
The 2001 animation indulged in fantasy-adventure that can only be produced by the illustrious minds of the Japanese animation industry (just being real people...). What started as a girl moving to another home ends in a nightmare-ish situation filled with ghosts, monsters and an old hag off a witch caused by a simple detour by a father who seriously needs to get a GPS. Chichiro (voiced by Rumi Hiiragi) is forced to surpass her fear and find a way to return to the human world and save her parents.A movie that captivated me when I was young and still does when I re-watched it.
- The so-called "Japanese Walt Disney".
As a movie brought to us by the man who gave us My Neighbor Totoro and the nationally praised Princess Mononoke, it was already deemed watch-worthy before it even hit theater. So when the first scene rolled and million of viewer had their eyes glued to the colorful animation full of expectation and excitement, It was decided...A movie that lives up to its hype has a richer viewing experience. Yes Hayao Miyazaki did it again, at the age of 60 he was still able to prove us that his craftsmanship hasn't rusted. The diversity of spirit and magical creatures where not only interesting on their own but also a great asset on their own as Chichiro tries to find her way true beings she never thought existed (I think some of them actually eat humans...who knows?). But i wouldn't praise a man for the collective work of a well oiled animation team now would I?
Bringing us to the story of this film. The story of a young innocent yet faint-hearted girl who just happened to have a father that took a turn estranged from the main road and could not control his curiosity as he ended in-front of an old building which eventually lead him to an abandoned town which was surprisingly filled with a king's meal, which he and his wife ate....let me just momentarily interrupt this review by asking you: who does that?Eating food that's just lying there? Well they shouldn't of had that's for sure. Luckily Chichiro was too gullible t do so saving her from a curse that launched this small adventure driven by curiosity to a child's nightmare driven by the bizarre and colorful.
A once weak and courage-less girl is forced to face reality and pull herself out of a bad dream with the help of a young spirit boy who supposedly met her before named Haku and a few other people she meets and sadly also an old greedy witch named Yubaba (lit Bath crone), the owner of the hot baths that has the power to keep her and human by making her sign a work contract which changes her name from "Chichiro" to "Sen" (hence the Japanese title) a name that almost made me forgot her real name throughout the movie. A great concept by using the power of names.
Bringing us to the story of this film. The story of a young innocent yet faint-hearted girl who just happened to have a father that took a turn estranged from the main road and could not control his curiosity as he ended in-front of an old building which eventually lead him to an abandoned town which was surprisingly filled with a king's meal, which he and his wife ate....let me just momentarily interrupt this review by asking you: who does that?Eating food that's just lying there? Well they shouldn't of had that's for sure. Luckily Chichiro was too gullible t do so saving her from a curse that launched this small adventure driven by curiosity to a child's nightmare driven by the bizarre and colorful.
A once weak and courage-less girl is forced to face reality and pull herself out of a bad dream with the help of a young spirit boy who supposedly met her before named Haku and a few other people she meets and sadly also an old greedy witch named Yubaba (lit Bath crone), the owner of the hot baths that has the power to keep her and human by making her sign a work contract which changes her name from "Chichiro" to "Sen" (hence the Japanese title) a name that almost made me forgot her real name throughout the movie. A great concept by using the power of names.
That's how Yubaba controls you. By stealing your name. So hold on to that card. Keep it hidden. And while you're here, you must call yourself "Sen."-Haku
The metamorphosis from the faint-hearted and slightly annoying (in my opinion) Chichiro to the Strong and responsible Sen is well animated and well portrayed. Going as far to confront spirits that legitimately freaked me out earning the respect of the spirits,Customers and workers alike. Towards the end of the movie you'll realize that Chichiro wouldn't be able to do half what "Sen" was able to. The determination to free herself and her parents above all surprised me, mainly because as the story unfolded it was cast aside temporarily as she grew accustomed to her entourage willing to help her new-found friends. A kind of 'anime-cliché' tough, but I was fine with it.
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| Image taken from Ganool.com |
Rating:**** Spiritual enchanting!I was blinded by the diversity in elements and thoughtful planing that went into this HAND DRAWN animation. Hayao Miyazaki emerged as my favorite animation director/Writer bringing with him all that is good in animation. I couldn't help but draw forth my inner-child (corny I know) and let him enjoy it twice as much as I did. It would be foolish to pass on this animation.Now if you'll excuse me, Hayao Miyazaki's filmography is waiting for me.
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