Reviews

Classic Film Review – Spirited Away (2001)

5 February 2016

By Oisin

Like many other Western viewers, I found Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away opening my eyes to the potential of anime. Earning comparisons to Alice in Wonderland, Spirited Away follows the journey of ten-year-old Chihiro. Her parents accidentally lead her through a magical tunnel into a supernatural plane before they are turned into pigs. Chihiro is then forced to work to earn their freedom with the catch that she too will be trapped if she ever forgets her own name.

Considering that the film is primarily for children, Miyazaki is not afraid to tackle dark concepts, from consumerism to loneliness, and it is the elegance with which he does this that makes the film so unique. I feel genuine empathy for the characters, and care about each of their stories. This extends beyond the main characters such as Chihiro, or the part boy, part water dragon Haku, to lesser characters such as the spider-like Kamajii. Trying to describe the characters in words seems ridiculous, but they truly highlight Spirited Away’s originality. I was left questioning where the ideas for these creations even came from.

I don’t watch much anime, but even I can recognise how visually beautiful Spirited Away is. Exquisite attention is given to each character and setting, and the resulting detail truly grounded me in the film. The score, composed by Miyazaki’s regular collaborator Joe Hisaishi, adds another layer to this surrealism, creating a truly mesmerising experience.

After over five viewings Spirited Away continues to inspire me with its storytelling, its creativity, and its originality. It is deserving of its numerous accolades, ranging from its Oscar win to its 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and to being ranked number 16 of the highest-rated movies of all time on Metacritic.

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