Viewing Log: Spirited Away

Spirited Away (2001) is a Japanese animated film directed and written by Hayao Miyazaki. It is the highest grossing Japanese film and won an Oscar in 2003 for Best Animated Feature.

Animation style:

• Very thin weighted lines. Gives it a sophisticated look
• The characters have quite exaggerated expressions (quite common in Anime)

• Extremely detailed, almost photographic backgrounds

Further research:
The film was created without a script. Miyazaki prefers to create his storyboards first and then sees where the story goes from there.
"The story develops when I start drawing storyboards. The production starts very soon thereafter, while the storyboards are still developing. It's not me who makes the film. The film makes itself and I have no choice but to follow"