Spirited Away

I watched this for the second time, opting for the dubbed version, on 2/22/2024.

My main concern lies with the first and last 10 minutes. The initial 10 minutes seem filled with unnecessary fluff, lacking a cohesive connection to the ending. Perhaps integrating a scene where Chihiro is saved by Haku could have strengthened it. The ending feels overly contrived, from the involvement of the sister witch to the forced romantic angle and the sudden return of the parents. Everything felt rushed. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the middle part. However, 100 minutes of excellence can be marred by just 20 minutes of subpar anime. The dub itself was also cringe-worthy, though I won't let that affect my overall assessment. Chihiro tends to serve as an exposition machine; I wish she would allow events to unfold without constant commentary. No-Face seems to be a force of nature, and the way he's written out of the story just feels off to me. I love him so much but wish there was a final goodbye with Chihiro and maybe learning more about him.

I feel I need to add at the end that I really adore this movie. However, I can't help but feel it doesn't compare to the likes of Howl’s Moving Castle, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, or Princess Mononoke. I believe this would be a perfect movie if my suggested changes were implemented.