A little girl named Chihiro travels too far into an alluring village where spirits and creatures come to rest. She encounters a boy named Haku, who is human. He says he forgot his name and warns that if she does, she will never be able to return home. To escape this strange realm, Haku tells her to get a job at a spa house for spirits where humans work. She meets creatures of all kinds, finds love, and helps restore peace with her extraordinary courage. With all these fantastical experiences, does she still want to go home?

Spirited Away is an elegant, wondrous journey into the fantasy world of Studio Ghibli. Directed by the renowned Hayao Miyazaki, it’s no wonder that it’s considered one of the greatest animated films ever made. It has won many prestigious awards, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film and the Golden Bear.

This film teaches about the dangers of greed. While everyone around Chihiro seems to want money and fame, she just wants to protect the people she loves. In the end, her motivation outlasts the others, and she saves her family and friends. It also warns people against forgetting who they are. In the movie, the spirits call Chihiro different names to try and make her forget her real one. Despite their attempts, she remains confident in who she is and never loses sight of why she is there. I highly recommend this film to anyone who loves movies with intricate meanings and different interpretations. When every scene looks like a painting, it’s hard not to fall in love with Spirited Away.

Spirited Away is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library.