Spirited Away review: Miyazaki's masterpiece still enchants in 2026

Spirited Away, written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki for Studio Ghibli, opened in Japan in July 2001 and became the country's highest-grossing film for nearly two decades. It shared the Golden Bear at the 2002 Berlin International Film Festival and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, the first hand-drawn, non-English-language film to do so. Critics still place it among the greatest films of the century; the BBC's 2016 poll ranked it fourth.

This spoiler-light review is based on the film, its documented production history and critical reception. It covers the premise, the animation and music, whether it is suitable for children and how to watch it.

What is Spirited Away about? (No spoilers)

Ten-year-old Chihiro is moving to a new town with her parents and is sulking about it. A wrong turn leads the family to what looks like an abandoned theme park. By nightfall, Chihiro finds herself trapped in a world of spirits, her parents have been transformed into pigs, and the only way to save them is to take a job at a vast bathhouse that serves the gods.

From there the film follows her attempts to survive, make allies and find her way home. It is a coming-of-age story at heart: a nervous, ordinary child slowly discovering courage and kindness.

Animation and world-building

The bathhouse is one of the great settings in film. Every room is crowded with workers, steam, food and strange guests, and the camera lingers on small moments such as a train gliding across flooded tracks. The hand-drawn animation is fluid and detailed, and the character designs range from gentle to grotesque.

Miyazaki borrows from Japanese folklore and Shinto ideas about spirits in nature, but you do not need that background to follow the story. The film also carries quiet themes about greed, identity, work and environmental damage, which older viewers tend to notice on rewatch.

Music and voice acting

Joe Hisaishi's score, recorded with the New Japan Philharmonic, is gentle and melancholy, and its piano theme is one of his most loved pieces. In the Japanese version, Rumi Hiiragi voices Chihiro. The English dub, produced for Disney with Pixar's John Lasseter as executive producer, features Daveigh Chase as Chihiro and Suzanne Pleshette as the bathhouse owner Yubaba.

Sub or dub? Both are well made. Purists usually prefer Japanese audio with subtitles, while the English version is a solid choice for younger viewers who are not yet comfortable reading subtitles.

Is Spirited Away suitable for kids?

Spirited Away is rated PG in the US. There is no graphic violence, but several scenes are unsettling: the parents' transformation, a shadowy masked spirit and a few monstrous moments. Many families find it works best from about age seven or eight, depending on the child. Watching together helps, as the film is gentler than its eerie moments suggest.

A few points to keep in mind for younger viewers:

• The first 20 minutes contain some of the most frightening images
• The heroine is brave and resourceful, a strong role model
• There is no romance beyond a tender friendship
• The runtime of just over two hours may test small children

How Spirited Away compares with other Ghibli films

Compared with My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away is darker and more complex; Totoro is the better choice for preschoolers. Next to Princess Mononoke it is less violent and more whimsical. Many fans and critics name Spirited Away as Ghibli's finest achievement, although favourites vary widely. It is certainly the studio's most decorated film.

Spirited Away's legacy and reputation

Spirited Away grossed around 396 million US dollars worldwide and held the record as Japan's highest-grossing film for 19 years, until 2020. Its Oscar win helped introduce Studio Ghibli to a much wider international audience, and many viewers outside Japan discovered Miyazaki's earlier films because of it.

Its standing with critics has only grown. Beyond the BBC's 2016 poll, The New York Times placed it ninth on its 2025 list of the best movies of the 21st century. The closing song, "Always With Me", also became a hit in its own right. For many people it remains the definitive example of what hand-drawn animation can achieve.

Where to watch Spirited Away

Streaming rights differ by region, so check your local services; Ghibli's films have been offered on major subscription platforms in many countries, and the film is also available on Blu-ray and DVD. It still returns to cinemas for anniversary screenings, and a stage adaptation premiered in Tokyo in 2022 before touring internationally.

Key specs

Director / writer

Hayao Miyazaki

Studio

Studio Ghibli

Japanese release

20 July 2001

Runtime

About 124 minutes

Music

Joe Hisaishi

Awards

Golden Bear, Berlin 2002; Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (2003)

Box office

About 396 million US dollars worldwide

Languages

Japanese original; English dub produced for Disney's North American release

Alternatives to consider

• My Neighbor Totoro: A gentler Ghibli film that is ideal for younger children.
• Howl's Moving Castle: Another lavish Miyazaki fantasy with a strong heroine and a magical setting.
• Coraline: A stop-motion tale of a girl trapped in an eerie other world, for older kids.

Frequently asked questions

More than two decades after its release, Spirited Away still feels like nothing else. Its imagination, craft and emotional warmth make it essential viewing for animation fans and a wonderful family film for children old enough to handle a few scares. If you have never seen Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece, it is one of the best evenings of cinema you can plan in 2026.

How we research: Reviews are based on the maker’s specifications, published independent tests and owner reports. Scores compare the product with others in its class.