"Once you do something, you never forget. Even if you can't remember."

We all have that one defining experience that marked the moment we truly "grew up". And trying to look back on it... Well, it's like trying to see the end of a dark tunnel. We may not be able to pinpoint exactly what that experience was and when or where it happened, we may not even remember it at all, but it's there, buried deep within our memories. Chihiro's experience was a journey into the spirit world, but you had a different one, I had a different one, and the next person had a different one. Though not as exciting as Chihiro's, all of these experiences had the same impact in all of us. As kids, we may have refused to grow up, because who the hell wants to stop being a kid, free and without worries? But the next thing we know, we find ourselves in unknown territory. And just like that... one moment we're kids, and the next... we're all grown up. Maturity comes for all of us. And if we embrace it instead of fighting it, like Chihiro did, it can be an adventure, something memorable, something beautiful. In many ways, her character is an example and a lesson to all of us. Even when offered an absurd amount of gold for free, she discarded it like it was trash without thinking twice, because her friend needed her help. Even at a young age, Chihiro knew her values, she knew what was most important, she knew that there is no place for greed in this world, that empathy and kindness are the ultimate weapons for good. Every single kid in the world should be introduced to Spirited Away, and I stand by that.

While I do prefer Princess Mononoke and Grave of the Fireflies, it's still pretty clear to me that Spirited Away is Hayao Miyazaki's and Studio Ghibli's magnum opus. It feels like a combination of all of Miyazaki's tricks and talents, the film he has been trying to make for all of his career. It also feels like a bigger version of Kiki's Delivery Service, larger in scale, a visual and narrative spectacle, while still felling deeply personal and close to our hearts, with ideas of witchcraft and the spirit world and themes of kindness, growing up and overcoming fears. Miyazaki sure knows how to end a film, but this one felt a little more special than most of his works. As Chihiro walked back from that dark tunnel with her parents, knowing she had just lived an unforgettable experience that she'll spend the rest of her life dreaming back on... I noticed I was holding back tears. And this film is surprisingly not sad at all. They were tears caused by sheer happiness and something else that I can only describe as Ghibli magic. I have so much in my mind right now, and there is so much I want to say, but I don't think these feelings can be translated into words. The magic of Spirited Away is indescribable, it's a comfortable feeling, like home, like love.

As the credits started to roll, I felt a numbing sensation, like I had just woken up from a dream – a feeling I usually feel after watching a masterpiece at the cinema, completely surrounded by immersive sound and imagery. But this time I felt it at home. There it was, this rare and enchanting kind of cinematic magic, oozing out of my laptop screen – solid proof of Hayao Miyazaki's immeasurable talent and ability to create these fantastical worlds and characters that feel so emotional, relatable and close to the viewers. Spirited Away is beautiful and perfect all around. Each scene makes for a mesmerizing wallpaper, the theme score went straight into my playlist, and the characters and themes of this wonderful film straight into my heart. Spirited Away has maybe the best animation in all of anime, No-Face continues to be one of my favorite Miyazaki creatures, Chihiro is now one of my favorite Ghibli characters, and the train ride to Zeniba's house continues to be one of my favorites scenes in all of Ghibli. It's so soothing and peaceful... I wish it lasted forever. I wish I could get lost in that spirit world with all those weird spirit creatures... I wish I could find a tunnel that would take me far away to a fantasy land, just for a little bit. I just want to be spirited away.

I have been thinking about Spirited Away ever since I first watched it nearly one year ago, and my love for it has only grown with each passing day. Today's rewatch cemented this masterpiece as one of the best animated films ever made in my opinion, and one of my favorite films of all time. The world is a better place with Spirited Away in it. This film deserves all the overwhelming love and praise it gets everyday. It's fun, cozy, sincere, important, fantastical, surreal, dreamy, otherworldly, magical, beautiful, heartwarming, peaceful, nostalgic, full of life and full of heart. A pure and genuine work of art for the ages. It's a masterpiece, it's perfect, it's unbelievable, and I love it so much.

My Favorite Films
2001 | 2000s | Hayao Miyazaki | Studio Ghibli
East Asian | Japanese | Anime | Animation