Title: Spirited Away

Year Released/Rating: 2001 PG

Starring: Daveigh Chase, Suzanne Pleshette, Miyu Irino

Directed By: Hayao Miyazaki

Written By: Hayao Miyazaki

Genre: Animation

Star Rating:  4/5 stars

Where I Got It: We own it

Trivia:

• The cleansing of the river spirit is based on a real-life incident in Hayao Miyazaki's life in which he participated in the cleaning of a river, removing, among other things, a bicycle.
• The star-shaped treats the Susuwatari (black soots) were carrying are called kompeitô, a type of traditional Japanese candy.
• Executive Producer John Lasseter of Pixar supervised the English-language dubbing of the film and tried to match the actors' English-language dialog with the mouth movements of the animated characters.

Summary: In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into animals; and a bathhouse for these creatures.

Review: 

Not my absolute favorite Miyazaki, but it's still a really good movie.  The high point of this movie is the atmosphere.  The movie has this incredible moody atmosphere.  I really fell into the movie.  I feel like some of the story gets lost in transition, but it's still great.

Best Bits: 

• Zeniba: [after turning Boh into a mouse] There. Your body matches your brain.
• Lin: What's going on here?  Kamaji: Something you wouldn't recognize. It's called love.
• Zeniba: Once you do something, you never forget. Even if you can't remember.