Spirited Away [Blu-ray/DVD] [2 Discs] [2001]

This is an excellent addition to any collector’s library - both in terms of how they produced the Steelbook as an item, and the movie itself. If I had to recommend one Studio Ghibli movie to someone, I would recommend Spirited Away. Put simply it is a masterpiece. In a weird way, it’s a classic coming of age story about how one young girl must navigate the challenges of getting older and having to fend for herself. The protagonist gets separated from her parents and embarks on a journey in the spirit world where there is no well defined right or wrong, just different obstacles she must overcome. The art style is captivating, as is the music. The quality of the animation in particular is stunning, it’s so smooth you could cut a butter knife through it. The case itself has a simple, classic image of the “No Face” character, while the interior shows our protagonist, 10 year old Chihiro, kneeling against a backdrop of chaos. Inside the case is a small pamphlet type book with short reflections by the producer and director of the movie, which is a nice bonus. I heartily recommend you get this, especially if you haven’t seen the movie before.

Great story with awesome background music! Every kid would love it!

The cultural significance of Japanese animation has many, many historical gems within its filmography, however, Spirited Away has to be one of the finest of them all. Hayao Miyazaki has been one of animation’s most vital directors since the late-‘70s and an example of his greatness rests in the heart, mind and spirit of this classic. The coming-of-age themes surrounding its protagonist’s character development, the dazzling animation, the imaginative designs of the spirits and landscapes, it’s a Holy sight nobody, child or elder or in between, should miss. It’s an inspiration from the first minute to its very last. And for once, I’d recommend it in English dubs or subs, as Walt Disney made an excellent attempt to match it with its Japanese counterpart almost entirely and the English voice actors are just as memorable as the original actors.

I've been watching anime since the mid 90s and this is in my top 5 all time favorites! Spirited Away tells a engrossing, original story in a way that's totally unique. If you have smaller children, be warned that some of the characters may be considered scary. Your mileage may vary from kid to kid. I upgraded my DVD copy to Blu-Ray for the better picture and sound quality and have seen no issues.

This was on my daughter list and is her one of her fav movies. She loves it.

This is a really great movie! I was really happy to find it at Best Buy.

Bought for my son for Christmas! Absolutely great items! No issues

Many of you may be wondering the same thing I was when these releases hit stores. Are these Blu-rays an upgrade over the Disney releases? They are, in my opinion. However, are they worth purchasing again? Probably not. But, for hardcore fans, maybe. Here's why. First, picture quality. GKIDS has completed new 4K scans for these Blu-rays. In my opinion, it shows. The image is a bit cleaner. The details and colors do differ in some respects from the Disney releases. In comparing some scenes from Nausicaa, Castle in the Sky, and Princess Mononoke, I prefer the GKIDS releases. Is it a huge difference? No. But it is there. The reds are more intense and look red, not orange. And in Nausicaaa, the colors differ in scenes from the Disney Blu-rays. Actual color grading differences. Plus, the GIDS releases have more shadow details. The packaging and presentation on these releases tops Disney's with ease. The slipcovers are beautiful, with many of the releases using the same artwork as previous releases, with some exceptions, like Princess Mononoke. I also prefer the Nausicaa art here over Disney's. Each release is in a quality keepcase (not eco case) with art inside the back cover, so that when you open the case, you see a beautiful image from the film. The discs have art on them as well. I prefer the design on the GKIDS discs over Disney's, although, the Disney DVDs sometimes had very nice art as well. Lastly, the GKIDS releases also come with a small booklet that has some art and words from the creators behind the films. The menus on the GKIDS releases fall short of the Disney releases. They are not animated. There is no music. But, they are clean and simple. It would have been nice to have at least had music playing in the background like the Disney releases. Some releases include new extras. Many, if not all, extras from the Disney releases are ported over, but some may not be HD, as is the case on Nausicaa. As you can see from the descriptions, the Disney dubs are ported over to these releases as well. Plus, you get Japanese audio tracks, although, I have not confirmed if these are the original Japanese audio tracks, as I know that was a problem on some previous releases. Overall, I prefer the GKIDS Blu-rays, but if you have the Disney releases, you probably should save your money. However, if you're like me and you love the films and want the best presentation possible (video and packaging) and you find them on good sale, like they were on release at Best Buy, then it may be worth it to you.