Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (2001)
After watching as a child an animated Japanese TV series about frogs who were frequently killed, I've since avoided Anime films - until last year when I inadvertently watched Howl's Moving Castle. I was blown away and vowed to watch Spirited Away by the same filmmaker (Hayao Miyazaki).
A very young girl, Chihiro, accidentally becomes trapped in another dimension at a spa for spirits. She is forced to use her child-like virtues to survive, but also to transform the oppressive regime. The story is littered with double-agents, magical creatures, and horrifying beasts. We never know what is going to happen next, in fact the major quest in the film is only given towards the end.
The reason these films are so enjoyable is for two reasons: the superbly original animation and the completely different set of rules that the stories are based on (very post-modern).
I look forward to seeing Ponyo on the Cliff very soon.
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