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Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakshi
AKA "Spirited Away"
Episodes Reviewed: DVD
The DVD sucks. Movie good, DVD sucks.
Overall Grade: A
Flawless (almost) in execution, a fairy tale-like story, memorable moments, and memorable characters.
Storyline: 9
Chihiro is a 10-year-old girl that is moving away. A wrong turn sends her family to what her father seems to think is an old abandoned amusement park. While her parents decide to eat in a restaurant (with no visible shopkeeper), she looks around. While on a bridge, she is turned back by a boy who warns her to leave before nightfall. As she leaves to get her parents, she sees that they've been turned to pigs! She then runs off to where the car is, but a once dry riverbed is replaced by a river! With no escape possible, she is helped out by the boy that warned her. The boy, Haku, tells her to get a job... something she needs to survive the new world she's in. She manages to get work in this strange place, which happens to be a hot springs resort for the gods. To work, she makes a deal with sorceress Yubaba, who takes away most of her name, leaving only the kanji "Sen." She has to do what she must in order to survive, restore her parents, and return to the world outside.
Type: I dunno
I guess it's the same type as Kiki's Delivery Service.
Ch. Development: 7
Chihiro grows stronger and affects those around her. I guess that's the best I can do.
Sexuality: 1
A single sentence that implies something... I guess I'll leave it up to you to find out.
Romance: 5
Standard girl-meets-boy-and-falls-in-love-because-he-helped-her fare that rivals Disney for nonsensical crap.
Drama: 4
Almost every plot element is unpredictable, but the sheer fact that there's practically no action or even a powerful antagonist means there's a distinct lack of a mega-dramatic climax. Not like it needs it, but it woulda been nice.
Action: 4
Amazingly, there's a dragon, wind spells, energy blasts (well, one), humanoid eating, and meaningless destruction.
Comedy: 6
There's the so-called "Stink god," the cartoony animal characters, and several minor gags and lines.
Dub
Dub Voices: 9
Dub Music: nonexistent
Dub Lines: 9
Believe me when I say that Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakshi is a fairy tale of the 21st century. That's the way the style and story is like. The only difference is that it was created by Miyazaki-sama, meaning it's better than most movies. The music blends well, though it isn't quite memorable. The characters are well designed and convey emotions well. And the visuals... it's digital animation at its best. The only flaws I see are the nonsensical romance and the predictable ending. But then, some call that nitpicking, so despite those flaws, this is a classic masterpiece that shouldn't be missed. Unless you're into action or hentai only.
That's my Story and I'm Sticking to it!
