SPIRITED AWAY

Imagine a world where witches and spirits reign and being human is the worst possible creature to be.
This world is exactly where young Chihiro, a 10 year old girl finds herself.
Let me start from the very beginning though, before all the witches and spirits. Chihiro and her parents are driving to their new home when her father realises he has missed the turn needed to reach his destination and, rather than turn back, he decides to take a short cut through the woods because it will "save time". Typical.

They don't get far when they reach a huge gate, which clearly blocks their path using the car down this route any further. Chihiros parents decide to explore what's beyond the gate, reluctantly she joins them and the three find themselves unknowingly entering a different world. As they explore the new area, they notice ruins of where a river used to flow and various different buildings in the distance, attracting them with delicious foodly smells. 

The closer the family gets to the buildings, the more appetising the food smells. Her father stumbles across the source of the delicious scent; an abundous of foods cooked and ready to eat! Unable to find any shopkeepers, mum and dad start to stuff their faces and insist they will pay the bill once they find a worker. Chihiro is less than impressed with her parents and decides to explore the abandoned area, noticing a bath house that appears to be in full operation judging by the steam exhaling from the various vents. The bath house is on the other side of a bridge and Chihiro begins to make her way across when she is met by a boy. A boy a little bit older than her who looks startled and angry to see her here, telling her to leave this place and ushering her back over the bridge. 

Confused and scared, Chihiro runs back to where her parents were insisting that they leave this place at once. When she arrives back to the building where her parents were eating there are no sign of them, just two big fat pigs! Could they be her parents?! She must be dreaming. She runs back to where the car is parked but before she can reach the final gate there is a giant river blocking her path. The river that was ruins was now fully flooded. Chihiro runs back to the bathhouse but begins to notice dark shadows.. Spirits wandering the streets. When all hope is thought to be lost the boy appears again; this time offering help instead of neglect.

All alone in a different world, could you imagine anything worse... I know I couldn't! Regardless, Chihiro begins her adventure in the new world, starting by finding the boiler man who will hopefully give her a job. Not sure why anyone would employ a 10 year old girl.. I mean it's not even legal but WHO CARES IT"S SPIRIT WORLD. Chihiro finds the boiler man, Kamji. A thing half spider half man who notices the loving nature of Chihiro and helps her down the path of getting a job. I like Kamji, having all those extra hands would be so helpful in today's world and the way he drinks from his teapot.. THE BEST. Chihiro then finds herself moving through the bath house with a female worker named Lin. Lin advises Chihiro that she must make her way to the very top of the establishment to find the witch who in charge. The witch who will give her the job she needs. 

When Chihiro reaches her destination, she barely even manages to knock on the door when she is swept into the witches lair. And now let me introduce to you ladies and gentlemen, the very villain of the story.. Yubaba. Such an ugly thing she is. Mind you, she resembles a woman I know who owns a local cafe, in both appearance and personality. Yubaba reluctantly gives Chihiro a job in her bath house in exchange of her name. Yep. Her name. Get a job here and you lose your name. Chihiro is now Sin. Don't forget who you were Chihiro!

The first job Sin gets in the bathhouse is to clean the most filthiest bath tub. Not bad for your first day eh. As the day goes by, Sin notices a spirit standing outside the bathhouse in the rain. Being the loving character she is, Sin lets the spirit inside and the disturbances in the bathhouse begin. The spirit Noface. He is one of my other favourite characters. Such a confused creature who only wants the best for those who help him. 

As the story progresses, we see Sin grow as a person and show other people the effects of love. Love being the one thing that is stronger than any magic available. I'm not going to give any spoilers away in this review except that Spirited Away is one of my all time favourite movies,and opened up me to the world of anime.

Rating: 10/10
Would recommend: YES. I personally guarantee that you will enjoy this movie.