Of the many Miyazaki fans out there, this seems to be the collective “favorite” Studio Ghibli film and for good reason. The animation is absolutely gorgeous. The story is so compelling, bursting with creativity and ideas, and every moment seems to bring with it a new concept you’ve never seen before.
I particularly love how Miyazaki shows the spirit world as a dangerous and foreboding place. That’s one thing that’s so cool about Ghibli films, they put kids in danger and it gives the story so much more weight. It’s something sorely missing from most kid-oriented entertainment today.
This along with My Neighbor Totoro are usually considered two of Ghibli’s best and required viewing for any fan of Japanese Anime.