Anime: Best Miyazaki film?

@Jennlee3 (292)
United Kingdom
December 29, 2012 7:46am CST
My favourite Miyazaki film has to be 'Spirited Away'. It was ironically the first one I saw and though the films I watched following were incredible, something about 'Spirited Away' just stole my heart. I'm not sure if it is because it was my introduction into Anime or because I just genuinely loved it the most, but Chihiro stole my heart. What about you? Favourite Miyazaki film? How about just favourite Anime films in general?
2 responses
• Philippines
30 Dec 12
Coincidentally, Spirited Away is the first Miyazaki film I've seen too, and just like you I was really hooked by the movie, that even though I've seen most of the other movies of the production, my love for Chihiro and Haku will never be conquered by other films. lol! I really love 'em all though, although some are heartbreaking, especially when it comes to ending, Miyazaki is just like that, a cliff hanger and all, yea? The story and the animations are very good, although it may sound simple to non-anime lover, but the plot of these films are very touching and heart warming. :D
@Jennlee3 (292)
• United Kingdom
30 Dec 12
Yes. Haku and Chihiro stole my heart. But beyond the love story, I just adored the plot. I thought it followed the typical fantasy idea of being whisked to a different world but it was brilliantly innovative with the personification of objects and the little girl as the heroine and there being no clear cut "villain" so to speak. I've seen many others by Miyazaki too and believe them all to be brilliant, gorgeous and creative with well developed plot lines but I never enjoyed any as much as Spirited Away. Again, I'm not sure if it was because Spirited Away was my first or just because it was genuinely my favourite but either way, I'm sticking to it! Have you seen any of his son's films? He followed in his father's footsteps and took to the screen as well!
@saizo6 (2199)
• United States
29 Dec 12
My favorite Miyazaki film would have to be 'Princess Mononoke'. My reason is a bit similar to yours. This was one of the first anime movies I recall and it played a bit part in getting me into anime. There were other Miyazaki works before that but this was the one that stuck to me. Princess Mononoke was vastly different from the Disney animations I was so used to. I especially like the animation style as well as the story (the concept of man vs nature can be seen clearly here). Mononoke aside, I'm a fan of pretty much all of Miyazaki's and Studio Ghibli's works. They are all just so well done and engaging. Other anime films that I like are 'Sword of the Stranger', 'Ninja Scroll', 'Piano no Mori', and 'Millennium Actress". Sword of the Stranger is about a nameless samurai who becomes the bodyguard of a young boy on their journey to a temple. Along the way they have to fend off attacks by the Ming (from China). This anime is full of action and it is pretty gory. Ninja Scroll is another action packed anime. It's considered to be a classic. This was one of the first anime movies I every watched, along with Mononoke. Piano no Mori is about a young boy named Kai who is an unconventional piano prodigy. It's a very cute story. Millennium Actress is a story about this veteran actress getting interviewed and she starts telling stories about her life and movie roles. I like this movie because as you keep on watching you get sucked into this woman's life. The facts start to blend in with fantasy and your swept into some kind of journey.
@Jennlee3 (292)
• United Kingdom
29 Dec 12
Princess Mononoke is my partners favourite! And yes I agree with you that Miyazaki's work is pretty incredible. I will definitely check out Sword of the Stranger--sounds fantastic! thanks for your response!