| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Movie Name | SPIRITED AWAY (2001) |
| Director | Hayao Miyazaki |
| Writer | Hayao Miyazaki |
| Lead Actor | Rumi Hiiragi (voice) |
| Cast | Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Bunta Sugawara, Takashi Naitō |
| Genre | Animation, Adventure, Family, Fantasy |
| Release Date | July 20, 2001 (Japan) |
| Duration | 2h 5m (125 min) |
| Budget | $15 million |
| Language | Japanese |
| IMDb Rating | 8.6/10 |
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SPIRITED AWAY
Disney hopes this will be the U.S. breakthrough for Japanese animation genius Hayao Miyazaki. The biggest ever box-office hit in Japan, Spirited is now deftly dubbed in English.
It describes the bold adventures of Chihiro, a 10-year-old girl sulking en route to a new home and school when she and her parents take a wrong turn. They become lost in a deserted theme park that proves to be a vacation spot and bathhouse for spirits.
Expertise in theology is not required: One can simply be delighted and astonished by their variety of shape and form. Many spirits may seem menacing, but these weird-looking folks turn out to be kind, especially if Chihiro is kind to them. (The real world, of course, is full of monsters, but is that what we want to tell our children?)
Chihiro has to be unselfish and brave. In her efforts to rescue her enchanted parents, she learns courage and self-confidence. The beauty and cleverness of the artwork stimulate the imagination.
We’ll see much more of Miyazaki, whose earlier films (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service) are already on U.S. home video but largely undiscovered. Disney has bought worldwide distribution rights to his work. Maybe a bit long and complex at over two hours; otherwise, highly recommended for families.
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