Spirited Away (2001)

It's hard to put into words just quite how breathtaking Spirited Away is.

To begin, the animation is simply stunning. The rich colourful landscapes resemble watercolour paintings and even small details like swaying trees or ocean waves are intricate. Knowing this film was made in 2001 makes its production quality even more stunning.

Hayao Miyazaki's story is so complex and symbolic too. Spirited Away is a tale of growing up mixed with fantastical elements. At times it feels like an alternative Alice in Wonderland. This movie certainly shaped my imagination growing up and left a huge impact on me. While viewing it last night, I felt like I was being transported back to an easier time. Reality hit, cold and hard when it ended.

Each character feels interesting and layered too. Chihiro is a wonderful protagonist that undergoes great personality changes throughout the duration of the film. She was such a realistic character that I found myself rooting for heavily. Lin, Kamaji, Haku and No-Face were interesting too. Both Lin and Haku had sibling-like relationships with the protagonist that were genuinely lovely and added more depth.

Usually with my reviews, I don't often discuss music. But Spirited Away's musical score is so beautiful and touching, that the main theme evokes a strong sense of nostalgia. The music is so atmospheric and gorgeous that I just couldn't not mention it.

To conclude, Spirited Away certainly deserved that Oscar. I would even go as far to say it's one of my favourite movies of all time.