I was at the El Capitan Theater two years ago when a subtitled print of Miyazaki's Laputa was playing there. The crowd back then was quite large, with a line extending about three to four feet. Now two years later, with reserved seating, there were two long lines around both sides of the theater with a variety of people. Cosplayers, voice actors, fans, and even newcomers. There were even people who drove from other cities to see Spirited Away. While we waited, free copies of Animation Magazine were handed out and the staff from the Egyptian Theater (host for the event) was giving fliers for samurai films playing later this month.

When I got inside, I found out that the reserved seats out-numbered the empty ones, and I thought I'd never be able to get a chance to ask Miyazaki a question. But luckily, I found a convenient location near the front that wasn't reserved, and even got a good view of the film. The person in charge of the event thanked the audience for coming, while he introduced the movie.

The story behind Spirited Away begins with the premise of a girl named Chihiro, moving with her family to a new neighborhood. Along the way to their new house, they enter a windy cavern that leads into a (literal) ghost town. When Chihiro's parents stuff themselves with food left at a restaurant, they suddenly turn into pigs, and Chihiro is forced to find a job in this spirit world, so that she doesn't suffer the same fate as her parents. In exchange for her name, she works at a bath house run by a witch named Yubaba, who only cares about the bottom line, regardless of the unsavory customers her establishment attracts. Befriending Chihiro is a mysterious boy named Haku, who is also stuck in this spirit realm against his will, and Kamaji, a mutli-armed man who takes care of the furnace with his soot spirits.

Despite the PR about each Japanese cultural element being explained in the dub, the myriad of creatures and objects within this unique environment will still leave most Westerners scratching their heads. However, many of these spirits generally stand in the background, making the story very easy to understand. (I'm hoping the upcoming Spirited Away film books will clear up any further confusion I might have about the cultural elements within the movie.) The story itself, while emotionally and visually powerful, is slightly fragmented, with Miyazaki implying a different message, depending on whatever deity or monster Chihiro encounters. He tries to cover the issues of pollution, greed, and child neglect in different scenarios, thinly tying them together into the primary plot. This also constrains any real character development. In other words, unlike his previous films, the transition isn't as smooth.

But what really keeps the viewer motivated to continue watching the movie is the uniqueness of each creature. From a baby the size of a sumo wrestler to a river god covered with toxic substances, there's a variety of characters that will make a mental and emotional impact on the audience. (In fact, a mouse which Chihiro takes on her journey got the most applause.)

The background is still as detailed and beautiful as previous Miyazaki films, with fields of blooming flowers that spring out at the viewer, rich blue skies which convey Miyazaki's love of flight, and tranquil grasses. However, once again, I have to admit this film was a little bit sloppy for Miyazaki, with one scene where the clouds look more like an ink spot. And some of the oceans don't blend well with the rest of the background, because of the CGI (computer graphic imaging).

As for the music, Jo Hisaishi composed a decent, if slightly subdued,score. Not that I didn't like it, but it was a little too deep in the beginning and light near the end. Though it's a real shame the audience didn't bother to listen to the ending theme song-and already started to talk-as it's probably one of the more passionate-and yet down-to-earth-melodies I've had the pleasure of hearing.

As for the dub, I had no problems with it; the voices fit many of the characters, and didn't sound artificial. Although Daveigh Chase tended to be a little too melodramatic as Chihiro, and even a little too fast in one scene, she got the jist of Chihiro's character. (Let's just say she executes a more believable performance than Claire Danes.) I'm glad that for once, Disney chose voice actors based on talent, and not star power.