Welcome to The Best Movies I’ve Never Seen! This is the part of the blog where I work my way through 100 films I’ve never seen that are generally considered to be great. You’re invited to watch along with me if you can find a copy or find it streaming. So grab some popcorn and let’s get started!

Spirited Away

2001

Directed by Hayao Miyazaki

Have you ever wondered what lies behind that creepy abandoned theme park on the edge of town? Well, in acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away, 10-year-old Chihiro finds out when she wanders into a magical realm filled with spirits, monsters, and a mysterious bathhouse run by the witch Yubaba.

This 2001 animated fantasy adventure whisks viewers away to a spirit world inspired by Japanese mythology. When Chihiro’s parents are turned into pigs after gorging themselves on the bathhouse’s food, she must get a job from Yubaba to save them and find a way back home. What follows is a thrilling, fantastical journey as Chihiro befriends characters like the boy Haku, the boiler-man Kamaji, and the spooky masked spirit No-Face.

With its hand-drawn animation, Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli create a richly detailed world, from the dusty, abandoned theme park to the ornate bathhouse interior. The story seamlessly blends comedy, drama, action, and emotion, taking audiences on an emotional ride as Chihiro faces challenges that require courage, compassion and self-reliance to overcome.

The excellent voice cast for the English dub, including Daveigh Chase as Chihiro and Jason Marsden as Haku, brings warmth and personality to the characters. Joe Hisaishi’s magical score accentuates the sense of wonder and mysticism.

Spirited Away was a box office smash in Japan and worldwide, becoming the highest grossing film in Japanese history at the time. It was the first hand-drawn and non-English animated film to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

23 years later, the film still dazzles with its imagination and emotional depth. It’s a moving coming-of-age story as Chihiro transitions from a scared girl to a brave, determined heroine. Spirited Away reminds us that magic can be found even in the most ordinary places, if you just know where to look.

Let me know your thoughts on this anime classic! Were you a child when you first saw it or a child at heart? How does it hold up for you today? Share your favorite scenes or characters in the comments!