let your spirits run W i L d!

wow, "Spirited Away" is a brilliant film! it's filled with interesting characters, humor, wit, rich imagination, stunning visuals, and so much more.

i'm not really into anime because some lack emotion, and the visuals look flat. but this film is so different. the creator of the film, mr. hayao miyazaki, is truly an artist because he is so observant, and applied those small observations (that are often overlooked by general anime) to the film to make it seem almost real even though it is a story filled with magic and strange talking creatures.

the first time i saw the film (about 3 years ago), i thought it was a gem, and i was immediately drawn to it. i was amazed by the intricate details the film captured, such as the way chihiro was tying her hair while keeping the rubber band between her teeth, or how she tapped the tip of her feet lightly on the floor after putting on her shoes to test if the shoes were secure and comfortable.
the second time i saw the movie was in film class (i'm glad mr. D showed it to us), i was once again captivated. the sounds in the film made it seem disarmingly naturalistic. the score was undoubtedly beautiful and nostalgic. besides that, i liked the sound of the characters' footsteps, whether they were walking across the bridge or running around doing chores in the bath house. i also liked the sound of water that appeared so many times in the film, such as when it was being poured onto the stink spirit (the contaminated river spirit), or when the train was gliding smoothly in the water that made small splashing sounds. they sounded so real!

the characterization of the main character and the plot of "Spirited Away" were very touching. chihiro, who in the beginning of the movie was a whiny, dependent and clingy emotionally weak child, matured throughout the film. after her gluttonous parents turned into pigs, she set out to save them. she remained determined to find them even when impossible obstacles came her way. throughout her journey, she was hardworking and courageous. she was kind to no face and let him inside the bath house when he seemed lonely and cold, and later did not abandon him even after seeing the damage he did to the bath house. she was also a loyal friend to haku; she looked for him when he was in danger, cared for him when he was hurt. chihiro possessed great self control during her stay at the bath house. unlike her parents, she was not greedy at all; she persistently refused the appealing gold that no face offered her, and stuck to the mission of rescuing her parents.

at the end chihiro's adventure, she had undergone a metamorphosis. she was not a scared, one dimensional brat anymore, but an intelligent and brave heroine. she not only learned about love and friendship, experienced fear, and battled obstacles, but also affected the people around her with her honesty and determination.

chihiro's love and kindness were contagious.