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Review

Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki is telling some of the most creative stories in animated film. And Disney, the American distributor of his films, has taken notice of his talents. Spirited Away transports viewers into an even deeper realm of imagination than his previous work, Princess Mononoke. When a vacationing family comes across a mysterious cave in the woods, the parents stop to explore. To their daughter's dismay, the parents discover a ghost town and indulge in lavish feasts mysteriously set before them. What happens next starts the daughter on a magical and bizarre journey through a spirit land to help resolve her parent's missteps. The colors are rich, the animation detailed, and the characters are as imaginative as any figure found in Alice in Wonderland. Plus, the message here is a deeply spiritual one. Miyazaki is not only concerned with making pretty pictures, but also with creating a story that is as poignant as it is compelling. A film about one's connection to roots and family and the importance of those elements, Spirited Away makes for one richly rewarding animated experience.

Mekado Murphy