Spirited Away (2002) and Ponyo (2009)

Until just recently, I had not yet seen a Hayao Miyazaki film. Shame on me. This brilliant animator is a reminder that hand-drawn can out ‘wow’ even Pixar’s best computer effects. Plus, his films have deep themes and wonderful characters to match the visuals. Wow.

“Spirited Away” is intricate, imaginative and beautifully bizarre, and even two viewings don’t do its themes justice. That the plot can’t be summed up in a movie poster tagline is a treat onto itself. Long story short: Whiny pre-teen Chihiro must grow up fast after she and her parents become trapped at a derelict supernatural theme park that is anchored by a mysterious bathhouse. The kicker: Chihiro’s parents have been turned into pigs, and she alone must save them. The animation is pure magic: Every scene has depth – rooms look full and packed, as do stairs and even a rail car, and when characters collide into each other or into walls, you can feel the impact. There’s blood, and it looks sinewy and real. As Chihiro becomes the hero, it’s a pleasure to be by her side. Hell, Miyazaki’s fascinating world made me want to be inside the action. The voice cast, even in the American dub, is flawless. An absolute gem of animation. A+

“Ponyo” is geared toward a younger crowd, but has such a joyful surreal bounce to it, that the ride is equally enjoyable for adults. Here, a young boy finds a fish by his ocean island home. But, this is no ordinary fish. Ponyo, once she tastes bloods, can turn into a human girl. The film follows the boy, his mother, toddler Ponyo, her father – a protector of the water, and her mother – a goddess of the ocean. Bold colors, wide eyes and “monstrous” waves with scowling eyes all sparkle like the best children’s picture book ever given life. It’s not a homerun, though. Two of the major celebrity voices in the English dub don’t work. Mainly, Liam Neeson as the fatherly protector of oceans. With an unmistakable sound of stern male authority, I never once believed his was the voice of such an oddball, clumsy antagonist. Equally, Cate Blanchett is playing off her “LOTR” elf while voicing the goddess. The effect distracts. A-