SPIRITED AWAY DVD

From the studio that just has a knack for wonderful, whimsical, incredibly animated movies and stories, this one doesn't disappoint. Love this addition to the library.The movie itself was shipped quickly and packaged with care.

Regarded by many fans and critics as one of if not THE finest anime movie of all time, Spirited Away certainly brings the goods on all counts. Beautiful hand drawn images. Strong child character arcs. Deep dives into Japanese spiritual and mythological motifs and of course plenty of takes on moral questions of love, honesty, greed and the overarching themes of honor and self-sacrifice. The movie is basically a coming-of-age story. 10-year-old Chihiro starts the film as a somewhat clingy, winy, self-interested little girl and immerges a stronger, more thoughtful and independent young women. And as with all Studio Ghibli films Master Miyazaki sprinkles this journey with sly humor and commentary of the human condition. This is certainly a masterpiece but there are many of this genre that can also claim a place in the canon of Anime including other Studio Ghibli film classics. Also, check out the works of Shinkai, Hosoda and of course co-founder of Studio Ghibli, Takahata. All beautiful films with much for children and adults of all ages to enjoy!This GKIDS Blu-ray rerelease is beautiful to watch with excellent color, detail and an almost 3D feel to many of the hand painted scenes. There's really no DNR or hyped edge enhancement. It's an image that draws you in and lets the artistry of Miyazaki and his group of animators speak for themselves.The DTS HD audio track is very clear and enveloping with excellent fidelity and a surprisingly full LFE track. Both Disney supervised English dubbed, and original Japanese versions are excellent. This is highly recommended as a start or addition to your Anime collection.

Spirited Away has always held a special place in my heart. The world is so beautifully imagined, and every time I watch it, I notice something new. It’s not just a movie—it feels like stepping into a dream. The mix of magic, emotion, and quiet moments really stays with you long after it ends.

I've been introducing my seven-year-old to several of Studio Ghibli offerings, such as Kiki's Delivery Service, Howl's Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo, and more recently Studio Ghibli: The Borrower Arrietty DVD (Licensed boxed version, Japanese audio version with Eng Sub). I held off on showing her Spirited Away until today because I felt some elements such as the spirit world would be too scary for her until now.She watched it with me this afternoon and loved it! Before showing this to her, I explained some elements of Asian folklore (I am originally from Southeast Asia and could relate to some of the folklore underlying this story) so she could follow the story better, though this is not strictly necessary, especially for older viewers.Spirited Away follows the adventures of 10-year-old Chihiro who together with her parents is making a move from the city to the suburbs. Chihiro is not very happy about this move, and when her parents accidentally find themselves off the beaten path on their way to their new home, she discourages them from exploring. Chihiro has a strange sense of foreboding that this new place which her father presumes to be an abandoned theme park is much more than that and she is of course proven right. Her parents are turned into pigs after gorging on food they found at this place, which turns out to be inhabited by the spirit world.In Asian folklore, there is an emphasis on respecting old superstitions, which includes belief in the spirit world inhabited by the Gods and otherworldly creatures. When Chihiro's parents gorged on food meant for the spirits, they were being very disrespectful and so are punished accordingly. The rest of the story follows Chihiro's efforts, aided by the loyal Haku, to redeem her parents and make their escape from the malevolent witch Yubaba who rules over this world.The animation is simply amazing and conjures up a fantastical world of odd-looking creatures (that radish spirit was just out of this world!) in an alternate world that is vividly brought to life. The animation is superior but what makes this such a memorable film is the heartfelt story with its underlying theme of respect, loyalty,friendship, trust, and sacrifice. Chihiro's relentless efforts to save her parents credibly portrays the theme of filial piety and her courage and determination make her a true heroine, serving as a great role model for children. This is a film to be enjoyed by viewers of all ages, and I am so glad that I have the opportunity to share this remarkable film with my own child. P.S. Watch out for deals on Studio Ghibli films here on Amazon, as the prices tend to drop and I've been able to amass my very own Ghibli collection!

It is a very good movie, it uses lots of imagination.

Great movie

One of my favorite movies ever