Chihiro is a melancholy young girl, unhappy at having to leave her old life and school behind. She holds a bouquet of flowers, the first she's ever received, and a farewell card from a friend as she lies in the backseat of the car that her parents are driving to their new home. However, when her dad decides to take a detour along the way, the whole family stumbles into a different world that she never could have imagined.
Chihiro is the heroine of the story, as she is soon separated from her parents, and is left to fend for herself in a world where gods in various forms are paying customers at a bathhouse run by talking animals, which is owned by the tyrannical witch Yubaba. She only has the aid of a young boy, Haku, who is somehow familiar and comforting, but also mysterious in that he's also known as Yubaba's henchman. In order to survive, Chihiro agrees to work for Yubaba, but surrenders her name and is then called Sen. But in order to return to her old world, she must not only win back her name, but face challenges that may be impossible to overcome.
A beautiful story of a girl who starts off longing for her old home and ends up longing for her world, this movie combines fantasy with endearing characters with superb results. Chihiro is a sweet character, a klutz who hasn't grown to be spoiled by materialistic desires (in contrast to her parents), and her desire to return home and reunite with her parents is a driving force as she couragously continues on. Even more admirable are her very human weaknesses; in one scene she cannot stop eating because she's so hungry, but she can't stop weeping because of all that she has lost and the way her life has changed. Haku is one of many people who forms a friendship with Chihiro, and it's their relationship that reveals itself to be the sweetest, most touching in the story.
Filled with trademark gorgeous animation and stunning imagery in this world where trains appear to run on the water and dragons soar into the sky, the story also includes subtle lessons for the audience as well. The consequences of greed are evident through Chihiro's adventures, as well as a look at the sad remains of meetings between nature and humans. In addition, it's a delight to see many creatures from director Hayao Miyazaki's other films, such as the soot beings from Tonari no Totoro, ducks who wear hats like Totoro, among many others. A homage to John Lasseter of the Pixar films is also seen in a certain hopping lamp (although not exactly like Luxor Jr.). And it wouldn't be Miyazaki if there wasn't a certain cuddly being somewhere, and these adorable creatures (rat, flying bug), are unique to this film.
Spirited Away is a beautiful movie for an audience of all ages, and for anyone who wishes to visit a world of fantasy where the only limit is what the imagination of Miyazaki can dream up to be animated.
