Spirited Away 2001

     This film is a follow-up to the film Princess Mononoke.  Chihiro and her parents are moving to a new home.  Chihiro is not happy to be moving away to a small Japanese town in the country.  On their way, her father takes a wrong turn and drives down a one-lane road.  It dead-ends in front of a tunnel and her parents decide to explore the area.  Through the tunnel is an abandoned amusement park with a little town.  Chihiro doesn’t want to go into the town and she doesn’t want to eat at the Café because no one is there to wait on them.  Chihiro meets a boy named Haku and he tells her that they are in danger and they must leave immediately.  When she goes back to the restaurant, she finds her parents have been turned into pigs.  They didn’t know that demons, spirits and evil gods inhabit the park. 

     The animation by Hayao Miyazaki is very meticulous, rich in detail and filled with endless variety.  There is boundless imagination in the story with few human characters and many spirit or animal creatures.  All the humans must find a job of their own or they will be eliminated from the park.  Chihiro must remember her name and keep track of which two pigs are her parents or both with be lost to her forever.  4* (I really liked this movie)  

125 min, Animation directed by Hayao Miyazaki with the voices of Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Jason Marsden, Susan Egan, David Ogden Stiers, Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis, John Ratzenberger, Tara Strong, Mickie McGowan, Sherry Lynn, Jack Angel Mona Marshall, Bob Bergen.

Note:  Imdb 8.6 out of 10, 97% critic 96% audience on Rotten Tomatoes, Roger Ebert 4*.

Special Note:  Spirited Away has also been released in 5 volumes of paperback books and also a picture book.  Awards for Best Animated film were received from Critics' Choice, Academy Award, Golden Bear, New York Film Critic Circle, Satellite, National Board of Review and Hong Kong Film For Best Asian Film.