Prepare to be spirited away.

Starring: Rumi Hiiragi, Miyu Irino, Mari Natsuki, Takeshi Naito, Yasuko Sawaguchi
English dub - Daveigh Chase, Jason Marsden, Suzanne Pleshette, Lauren Holly, Michael Chiklis, David Ogden Stiers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Three days of eating our food and her smell will go away. And if she doesn't work hard, roast her, boil her, do whatever you want. Now get back to work." - Haku

Why watch this? You need to experience this visual wonder conveyed by Hayao Miyazaki.

Plot Summary: During her family's move, a sullen 10-year-old girl named Chihiro wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and spirits. Her parents are transformed into pigs after eating unattended food in an abandoned amusement park, leaving Chihiro trapped in this strange realm. To survive and find a way back, Chihiro must secure employment at a bathhouse for spirits, where she encounters various magical beings and faces numerous challenges.

Dad's Preview: Though this was released by Disney, it's  not a Disney film, and I suggest that it's not really for small children. It is a wonderful fable about a young girl's dream-like transition from child to young adult. Throw in a lot of creative symbolism, some of which has meaning, some not so much. It is visually wild, and you'll wonder, "Who thinks up this stuff?" Director Miyazaki apparently, and thank goodness for his unique perspective. Who also loved it was the Academy, rewarding this with the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

Studio Ghibli; Toho