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Volume CXXXIII, Number 5 |
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Get Spirited Away by anime
DAVIN
MICHAELS
COLUMNIST
Most people are not used to animated films as our Hollywood-based culture is predominantly full of live action. However, there is an art of the film industry, known as anime, which uses special technology to produce very lifelike animated films.
American examples of this would be films like Toy Story (which was a breakthrough for the animation industry), Ice Age, and Shrek. Anime, however, is even more of a phenomenon internationally, especially in Asia.
This weekend, the Bowdoin Film Society proudly presents one of the most critically acclaimed anime films ever: Spirited Away (2001), directed by the very talented Hayao Miyazaki. This film was originally made in Japanese but was dubbed in English with a separate American cast doing the voices for the American release. It won the 2003 Oscar for Best Animated Film.
Spirited Away is about a little Japanese girl named Chihiro. In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, the sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by witches and monsters, where humans are changed into animals. Chihiro is smart enough to avoid being turned into an animal, but her parents fall victim to the spell. With the help of a friend, Haku, Chihiro must get a job working in a spa for strange creatures and powerful gods in order to survive in the world. With a great deal of bravery, discipline and maturity, Chihiro risks many dangerous situations in an attempt to free her parents from the spell and return home.
For those who have never seen an anime film before, this is a real treat and a classic example of the art of anime. This film targets younger generations and contains elements of Japanese culture. The lessons, however, are universal. This film is very entertaining and well done, and older audiences should enjoy it as much as kids do. Many have called it a Japanese Alice in Wonderland because of its surreal power and memorable story.
Spirited Away will be showing this weekend for all parents and students
in Smith Auditorium of Sills Hall on Friday and Saturday nights at 7:00
p.m.
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