Spirited Away (7.9/10)

This is a 2001 Anime/Fantasy/Adventure directed by Hayao Miyazaki. I was pleasantly surprised by it, especially since anime has never really been a go-to genre. It’s a coming-of-age story that often appears on the “50 best films” lists, included in the New York Times. While it leans more on the youthful side, I can understand why it’s so celebrated. For my taste, it felt a little childish at times, but it left me curious to explore more mature anime classics. "10-year-old Chihiro (Rumi Hiiragi) and her parents (Takashi Naitô, Yasuko Sawaguchi) stumble upon a seemingly abandoned amusement park. After her mother and father are turned into giant pigs, Chihiro meets the mysterious Haku (Miyu Irino), who explains that the park is a resort for supernatural beings who need a break from their time spent in the earthly realm, and that she must work there to free herself and her parents."