In case anyone's confused about the bicycle: What appeared to be a stink spirit was actually a river spirit. His river got ruined by pollution and garbage, which caused him to become polluted as well. The bicycle and all the other junk that they pulled from him was the garbage that had filled the river. By cleaning him they restored him to his true form and power.
It really is a bizarre movie, but 2 things help: 1. View it as a fairy tale sort of story. It runs less on logic and more on emotion. Why does Yubaba steal Chihiros name? Why does the river spirit give her a ball of medicine? Why does Zeneba mess with Yubabas baby and bird? How does a hairband made by her friends protect Chihiro? Why does Yubaba have to give Chihiro a final test? Why can she not look back as she leaves? Because fairy tale dream child-logic. 2. A lot of ideas in the movie are based on the Shinto concept of Kegare and Misogi, meaning impurity and purification. The idea is that in life peoples souls accumulate impurities like dirt on boots, and if you let it build up and not take care of it, it can cause all sorts of problems, so Shinto has lots of rituals based sround cleansing yourself of these impurities so you can feel better. You see this in Chihiro cleaning the grime off the river spirit, No Face becoming more monstrous the more time he spends in the bath house surrounded by greed and gluttony, and becomes more docile and calm when he purges himself of everything hes consumed, even in Haku coughing up the black slug that Yubaba used to control him. Its kinda a central motif of the movie.
Great comment, but I feel like most of these questions have very easy answers if you just watch the movie. Yubaba steals Chihiri’s name because that’s how she controls people (when Haku remembers his, he’s free). The River spirit gives her medicine to thank her - it’s just a gift, could have been something else, but that’s what it was. Zeniba messes with the baby for pure fun (she literally says “what should I mess with now?”, etc. I don’t get why so many people are so confused by this movie when it’s very logical internally, it even gives us clues : the river spirit Chihiro helps looks a bit like Haku in his dragon form, so when we learn that Haku is also a river spirit it suddenly makes sense. There is fairy tale logic, sure, but nothing is nonsensical, a lot of answers are just told to us and the things we don’t get answers to can just be infered : why not look back ? There’s plenty of stories where you’re not supposed to look back on something if you want to be able to escape, for example. Knowing it’s inspired by Shintoism helps, but even without that knowledge, it’s not a complicated story at all.
If this is your favorite then u haven’t seen the others lol. Don’t get me wrong Spirited Away is amazing, but there are some Ghibli movies that r REALLY FUCKING GOOD. Mononoke and Nausicaa r my favorite
Ooh! 😮 No words can express how magnificent this anime film was when it first released in American theaters. It was a movie that set the standard for award wins, including the Oscar for Best Animated Feature! The first anime film in history to win it. One of Studio Ghibli’s brilliant works! If their work interests you, I suggest you check out the works of other anime filmmakers like Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Hosoda, or even Makoto Shinkai!
In my opinion, this is a movie you’re a lot more likely to enjoy if you watched it as a kid and are just revisiting it as an adult, instead of watching it for the first time as an adult. Not because of nostalgia-it is genuinely a really good movie-but just because the plot makes a lot more sense when you’ve seen it a bunch of times, especially if your kid brain already did the work of piecing the wackier parts together. Kids are really good at that lol. (There are a couple Ghibli movies I’d put in this category, including their newest, The Boy and the Heron. It didn’t do anything for me, but I bet if I’d watched it 100 times as a kid I’d love it lmao.)
I was a one year old when I saw it in theaters and I stood the entire time for it. When it came out on disk, I watched it so much that the CD got worn out.
"Yo what kind of parents are they?" 1:29 into the video. Literally watched this for the first time recently and that was my EXACT reaction. The parents consistently pissed me off even at the end LMAO
My top three Ghibli movies are Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke. Definitely recommend watching more Ghibli, these films are treasures.
All are good. My favorites are this, Nausicaa (technically pre-Ghibli I think but most people consider it the foundation of it), and Whisper of the Heart.
@@casinodertoten721 Whisper of the Heart is in so many ways not my style. But I LOVE it. It is sweet, it is gorgeous, and it makes me so nostalgic for when I lived in Japan. The sound of those train crossings is music to my ears.
@@davidmichaelson1092 I agree. I‘ve never been to Japan and yet the movie makes me nostalgic about a world that I never got to witness. And there is such subtlety in this film. There is no in your face magic and yet everything feels magical!
@@casinodertoten721 They save the magic for the sort of sequel...The Cat Returns. From Up on Poppy Hill has some elements of the nostalgia of Whisper of the Heart combined with the earlier nostalgia of an earlier time in Totoro. I love it. But not quite the best. And then Grave of the Fireflies. Possibly one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen visually. And most devastating. I have to admit I have not seen the most recent Ghibli movies. Don't really go out to movies anymore or watch cable. Mostly online but can't afford subscription services. But I have faith that they are wonderful.
I watched the scene where Yubaba breaths fire as a kid with my grandparents and I was so scared that we had to change the channel. I completely forgot that I had ever seen anything from this movie, I didn‘t even know its name until I watched it when I was 16 and when that scene came on it unlocked this hidden core memory. It was crazy and made the movie just a little bit more magical for me…
Someone else explained how the stink spirit was actually a river spirit, so I'll explain that the workers with human appearances are actually all spirits as well, also known as yokai, usually based on animals. Lin is most likely a weasel, Kumaji the boiler man is a spider [note the eight limbs], and a lot of the others are things like frogs. That's why they eat things like roasted newt, why Chihiro stinks of human scent to them, and why Lin says washing the big tub is 'frog work'. Chihiro is likely the only human working in the entire place, since she would never have made it to Yubaba to ask for a job without help from Haku, Kumaji, Lin, and the Radish Spirit.
Someone told me that the scene where they bathed the stink/river spirit was Hayao Miyazaki's direct commentary on pollution, apparently, he saw a bike pulled from a river in real life and he felt compelled to put messages of humans destroying nature in his films. The same is the case of Princess Monoke, which, if you haven't watched is a must if you ask me. It might be my favourite Ghibli film. Also I just want to say that as an emetophobe this is the only film I really watch and don't mind a vomit scene from which is really saying something about this movie's craft.
Ghibli movies are like surreal fairytales that the first time you watch them you are confused and intrigued. But by the second watch/ the end you will gain a better understanding of everything that happened and the meanings.
I like to say a couple of facts here: the movie was based off on Alice in Wonderland but in its own story and twist! It also shows that chihiro was afraid of growing up and change because change is scary, but during the course of the movie she overcome that fear and is ready to face her new life. It was portrayed in the end of the film that chihiro did not regain any memories after she got out of the spirit world, meaning she got her memory erased after learning her lesson. Finally, I feel like the movie portrayed a couple of sins , like for example, her parents were turn into pigs because of gluttony, Yubaba had her pride in check and became humbled at the end, and chihiro having her name changed into sen = sin
also I was scared of watching this movie when I remember it premiered in Cartoon Network because of the spirits and no face scared me a lot!!! But when I watched it again in high school freshman year I loved the movie so much I got two tattoos in dedication and love for the film, I got a chest tattoo of the flowers chihiro received in the beginning of the movie and her goodbye card and on my right arm I got Haku in dragon form bleeding and fighting the paper forms! I’m even seeing the composer Joe Hisashi (I probably spelled his name wrong) in NY for his studio ghibli orchestra tour!
I would also like to say this film won an Oscar! But due to political reasons Hayao Miazaki ( I probably butchered his name ) didn’t attend the award show
Lin is a kitsune (a fox spirit), most of the girls that look human are. Edit: 24:41 they’re actually red bean buns; a pretty good sweet treat from Japan
I can’t believe you’ve never seen this before omfg, you gotta watch other ghibli movies now I was terrified of the beginning of this movie as a kid, I couldn’t even get past the pig scene because the parents not listening to her just made me so upset 😭😭 then I watched the whole thing when I was a little older and it gets better everytime I see it
One of the best parts of the movie is the ending credit music, and almost no one listens to it. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have EVER heard. A note about the names. The "chi" in "Chihiro" is the Chinese character for 1000. But it also can be pronounced "sen." So Yubaba took away her name leaving her only with "Sen." Another note: The train that they take has the characters meaning "Middle Path." I assume this is a nod to Buddhism. Most of the plot is based on Shinto religion but Buddhism also is recognized.
YES CORALINE and honestly all the ghibli movies are 12/10, highly recommend princess mononoke, when the wind rises, totoro, howl's moving castle, and ponyo
hey scoot I don’t really watch spirit away. but I just want to tell you I’m going to watch all of your content again on your channel. and I love your channel.❤️🩹👍🤩
This is the only Studio Ghibli movie he Has watched????? dude he has to watch Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle also Ponyo is a really cute movie
I don't really understand the confusion, but to be fair, the first time I watched this was as a kid and I've seen it a million times since, so I might've been confused the first time too, idk lol
You should watch soul eater, but *warning* the first 3 episodes are not that great, just character introductions plus a lot of weird fan service. The ending sucks too and strays away from the original manga. After those 3 it gets pretty good. Highly suggest!
This movie is strange. Its visuals are just pure art, and there is a ton of vibes, but the story is all over the place nonsense. I always thought it was the most overrated Ghibli film. I get why people who saw it as a kid would have a ton of nostalgia for it, but it just never worked for me.
@@Banana_bro1287 I think this is the best way to describe this movie. The story is pretty nothing; and the its more about 'concepts', most of which come from a perspective far removed from modern Western ideas, which makes it extra confusing to a lot of people. Even if you are someone who watch a lot of anime and stuff, which often helps with tropes of the genera, this movie has a lot of deeper cultural related meanings that go beyond what typical anime would give context to. Its a beautifully animated movie and I love that it takes the time to animate minor things that give character to scenes, the music is great, and probably its best quality is the ability to transport you to another world that feels full and developed even if you don't understand. But I think it's overrated, honestly, but it's still great. I think a lot of people rate this movie so high because they saw it as kids and so were just totally captivated by the animation and world they they don't remember not understanding the story the first few times. I feel like people recommending this movie so strongly to others FIRST when it comes to Ghibli is a mistake when it comes to these movies, which is where the overrated issue comes in. There are a bunch of ones that have more cohesive stories that don't require knowledge of deep Japanese 'lore' and are animated just as well that make much better entry points.
I never watched Ghibli films as a kid and I loved this movie. Only Ghibli movie I watched as a child was Arriety. You're free to dislike the movie but I don't think it's fair to criticise it for it being more about vibes than plot. That's like saying a campy horror is bad cause it's too campy. I personally don't really like camp. As a queer woman, Bottoms was PRAISED so much it's almost unheard of for a queer woman to not love it since it came out. I don't like it at all, felt like a total waste of my time. Because I don't like camp. I get it for others but it's not for me. This movie is for others. Is nostalgia a factor for a lot of people? Sure. But nostalgia is about vibes so I think if it's any film where I don't think nostalgia is "blinding" people but still enhancing the experience, it's this one. Cause as a kid you don't care about plot you care about vibes.
In case anyone's confused about the bicycle:
What appeared to be a stink spirit was actually a river spirit. His river got ruined by pollution and garbage, which caused him to become polluted as well. The bicycle and all the other junk that they pulled from him was the garbage that had filled the river. By cleaning him they restored him to his true form and power.
It really is a bizarre movie, but 2 things help:
1. View it as a fairy tale sort of story. It runs less on logic and more on emotion. Why does Yubaba steal Chihiros name? Why does the river spirit give her a ball of medicine? Why does Zeneba mess with Yubabas baby and bird? How does a hairband made by her friends protect Chihiro? Why does Yubaba have to give Chihiro a final test? Why can she not look back as she leaves? Because fairy tale dream child-logic.
2. A lot of ideas in the movie are based on the Shinto concept of Kegare and Misogi, meaning impurity and purification. The idea is that in life peoples souls accumulate impurities like dirt on boots, and if you let it build up and not take care of it, it can cause all sorts of problems, so Shinto has lots of rituals based sround cleansing yourself of these impurities so you can feel better. You see this in Chihiro cleaning the grime off the river spirit, No Face becoming more monstrous the more time he spends in the bath house surrounded by greed and gluttony, and becomes more docile and calm when he purges himself of everything hes consumed, even in Haku coughing up the black slug that Yubaba used to control him. Its kinda a central motif of the movie.
This is a great comment
Great comment, but I feel like most of these questions have very easy answers if you just watch the movie. Yubaba steals Chihiri’s name because that’s how she controls people (when Haku remembers his, he’s free). The River spirit gives her medicine to thank her - it’s just a gift, could have been something else, but that’s what it was. Zeniba messes with the baby for pure fun (she literally says “what should I mess with now?”, etc. I don’t get why so many people are so confused by this movie when it’s very logical internally, it even gives us clues : the river spirit Chihiro helps looks a bit like Haku in his dragon form, so when we learn that Haku is also a river spirit it suddenly makes sense. There is fairy tale logic, sure, but nothing is nonsensical, a lot of answers are just told to us and the things we don’t get answers to can just be infered : why not look back ? There’s plenty of stories where you’re not supposed to look back on something if you want to be able to escape, for example. Knowing it’s inspired by Shintoism helps, but even without that knowledge, it’s not a complicated story at all.
This is one of my favorite Ghibli films.
If this is your favorite then u haven’t seen the others lol. Don’t get me wrong Spirited Away is amazing, but there are some Ghibli movies that r REALLY FUCKING GOOD.
Mononoke and Nausicaa r my favorite
Same
@@ryomahoffman6803 Key word: *ONE* but anyways, it isn't a competition it's a preference. Tastes are subjective, not objective.
@@ryomahoffman6803read the full message before you make a reply
@@ryomahoffman6803yeah your right, if this is their favorite movie then they are just wrong, clearly you don’t understand what a opinion is.
watch princess mononoke!! its another ghibli movie but its a bit darker or more serious, its animated so beautifully
Ooh! 😮 No words can express how magnificent this anime film was when it first released in American theaters.
It was a movie that set the standard for award wins, including the Oscar for Best Animated Feature! The first anime film in history to win it. One of Studio Ghibli’s brilliant works! If their work interests you, I suggest you check out the works of other anime filmmakers like Satoshi Kon, Mamoru Hosoda, or even Makoto Shinkai!
In my opinion, this is a movie you’re a lot more likely to enjoy if you watched it as a kid and are just revisiting it as an adult, instead of watching it for the first time as an adult. Not because of nostalgia-it is genuinely a really good movie-but just because the plot makes a lot more sense when you’ve seen it a bunch of times, especially if your kid brain already did the work of piecing the wackier parts together. Kids are really good at that lol.
(There are a couple Ghibli movies I’d put in this category, including their newest, The Boy and the Heron. It didn’t do anything for me, but I bet if I’d watched it 100 times as a kid I’d love it lmao.)
WATCH HOWLS MOVING CASTLE !! It’s another studio movie that features Christian Bale ! Personally my fav movie by them
I was a one year old when I saw it in theaters and I stood the entire time for it. When it came out on disk, I watched it so much that the CD got worn out.
"Yo what kind of parents are they?" 1:29 into the video.
Literally watched this for the first time recently and that was my EXACT reaction. The parents consistently pissed me off even at the end LMAO
My top three Ghibli movies are Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke. Definitely recommend watching more Ghibli, these films are treasures.
All are good. My favorites are this, Nausicaa (technically pre-Ghibli I think but most people consider it the foundation of it), and Whisper of the Heart.
For me it’s Spirited Away, Totoro and Whisper of the Heart (and right after that Princess Mononoke)
@@casinodertoten721 Whisper of the Heart is in so many ways not my style. But I LOVE it. It is sweet, it is gorgeous, and it makes me so nostalgic for when I lived in Japan. The sound of those train crossings is music to my ears.
@@davidmichaelson1092 I agree. I‘ve never been to Japan and yet the movie makes me nostalgic about a world that I never got to witness. And there is such subtlety in this film. There is no in your face magic and yet everything feels magical!
@@casinodertoten721 They save the magic for the sort of sequel...The Cat Returns.
From Up on Poppy Hill has some elements of the nostalgia of Whisper of the Heart combined with the earlier nostalgia of an earlier time in Totoro. I love it. But not quite the best.
And then Grave of the Fireflies. Possibly one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen visually. And most devastating.
I have to admit I have not seen the most recent Ghibli movies. Don't really go out to movies anymore or watch cable. Mostly online but can't afford subscription services. But I have faith that they are wonderful.
I watched the scene where Yubaba breaths fire as a kid with my grandparents and I was so scared that we had to change the channel. I completely forgot that I had ever seen anything from this movie, I didn‘t even know its name until I watched it when I was 16 and when that scene came on it unlocked this hidden core memory. It was crazy and made the movie just a little bit more magical for me…
Someone else explained how the stink spirit was actually a river spirit, so I'll explain that the workers with human appearances are actually all spirits as well, also known as yokai, usually based on animals. Lin is most likely a weasel, Kumaji the boiler man is a spider [note the eight limbs], and a lot of the others are things like frogs. That's why they eat things like roasted newt, why Chihiro stinks of human scent to them, and why Lin says washing the big tub is 'frog work'. Chihiro is likely the only human working in the entire place, since she would never have made it to Yubaba to ask for a job without help from Haku, Kumaji, Lin, and the Radish Spirit.
Someone told me that the scene where they bathed the stink/river spirit was Hayao Miyazaki's direct commentary on pollution, apparently, he saw a bike pulled from a river in real life and he felt compelled to put messages of humans destroying nature in his films. The same is the case of Princess Monoke, which, if you haven't watched is a must if you ask me. It might be my favourite Ghibli film.
Also I just want to say that as an emetophobe this is the only film I really watch and don't mind a vomit scene from which is really saying something about this movie's craft.
Ghibli movies are like surreal fairytales that the first time you watch them you are confused and intrigued. But by the second watch/ the end you will gain a better understanding of everything that happened and the meanings.
I like to say a couple of facts here: the movie was based off on Alice in Wonderland but in its own story and twist! It also shows that chihiro was afraid of growing up and change because change is scary, but during the course of the movie she overcome that fear and is ready to face her new life. It was portrayed in the end of the film that chihiro did not regain any memories after she got out of the spirit world, meaning she got her memory erased after learning her lesson. Finally, I feel like the movie portrayed a couple of sins , like for example, her parents were turn into pigs because of gluttony, Yubaba had her pride in check and became humbled at the end, and chihiro having her name changed into sen = sin
also I was scared of watching this movie when I remember it premiered in Cartoon Network because of the spirits and no face scared me a lot!!! But when I watched it again in high school freshman year I loved the movie so much I got two tattoos in dedication and love for the film, I got a chest tattoo of the flowers chihiro received in the beginning of the movie and her goodbye card and on my right arm I got Haku in dragon form bleeding and fighting the paper forms! I’m even seeing the composer Joe Hisashi (I probably spelled his name wrong) in NY for his studio ghibli orchestra tour!
I would also like to say this film won an Oscar! But due to political reasons Hayao Miazaki ( I probably butchered his name ) didn’t attend the award show
Lin is a kitsune (a fox spirit), most of the girls that look human are.
Edit:
24:41 they’re actually red bean buns; a pretty good sweet treat from Japan
Yes. Love this movie I always used yo be scared of the parents turning into pigs when I was a kid. XD
You should watch Tomm Morre's Irish Folktare Animated Movie Trilogy: The Secret of Kells, Song of the Sea, & Wolfwalkers
LETS GOO glad u watched this one scoot
I can’t believe you’ve never seen this before omfg, you gotta watch other ghibli movies now
I was terrified of the beginning of this movie as a kid, I couldn’t even get past the pig scene because the parents not listening to her just made me so upset 😭😭 then I watched the whole thing when I was a little older and it gets better everytime I see it
One of the best parts of the movie is the ending credit music, and almost no one listens to it. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I have EVER heard.
A note about the names. The "chi" in "Chihiro" is the Chinese character for 1000. But it also can be pronounced "sen." So Yubaba took away her name leaving her only with "Sen."
Another note: The train that they take has the characters meaning "Middle Path." I assume this is a nod to Buddhism. Most of the plot is based on Shinto religion but Buddhism also is recognized.
YES CORALINE
and honestly all the ghibli movies are 12/10, highly recommend princess mononoke, when the wind rises, totoro, howl's moving castle, and ponyo
"they acting like animals"
the intro you were spot on
Madoka Magica
1000 times yes
YESSS A MILLION TIMES YES
CENTAUR
WOOOOOOORLDDD👩🎤
hey scoot I don’t really watch spirit away. but I just want to tell you I’m going to watch all of your content again on your channel. and I love your channel.❤️🩹👍🤩
These uploads been making my day, I love this new scoot era
I LOVE SPIRITED AWAY I WATCHED IT SO MUCH AS A KID
If you watched disney movies, Haku's voice actor also played Max from a goofy movie and Kovu in Lion King 2.
Amazing as always
Castle In the Sky is a rly good Studio Ghibli movie thats more streamline story telling and easier to understand.
Woah video featuring the old mic! studio ghibli movies are the besttt
I never warched this movie even though i wanted to countless times before
Greatest animated film of all time, not even close
I remember watching this anime as a kid and then being scared of my parents becoming pigs lmao
One of my favorite Ghibli movies, I’ve seen it countless times
pls pls PLS watch Princess Mononoke next!!!!!! loved this reaction btw so glad ur starting the ghibli journey
Josie the tiger and the fish
I watched Kiki’s Delivery Service last month and kept loving it on the rewatch.
alot of the studio ghibli movies are rlly good! the first i watched from them was my neighbor totoro
Watch Big Fish & Begonia, its so emotional.
My favorite movie of all time
yess I love spirited awayyy also yesss watch Coraline next
You should watch more Ghibli films!!! Like Porco Rosso or Nausicaä!!!
My second favorite anime movie.
You should really react to "from up on poppy hill" or "kiki's delivery service"
Princess mononoke is also great, if you want some action
Ponyo next please
This is the only Studio Ghibli movie he Has watched????? dude he has to watch Princess Mononoke and Howl's Moving Castle also Ponyo is a really cute movie
One of anime movies classic. So heartwarming and adorable!
Scoot I know this is unrelated but I recommend watching the movie 9 in your free time it’s such a good movie also love your vids
Yoo i frogot ab that movie. That movie was sick
I think Scoot will f with Princess Mononoke
i watch this movie all the time i love it sm
YAYY this movie was amazing 🫶🫶
Great reaction!
Scoot should watch moana or encanto
Omg you never seen thid till now. You have to watch their other movies. Esp princess mononoki. And howels moving castle.
I don't really understand the confusion, but to be fair, the first time I watched this was as a kid and I've seen it a million times since, so I might've been confused the first time too, idk lol
But I remember liking it enough to rent it from the video store alot because "kids" movies were free to rent lol
Coraline pleaseeee! 🙏🏽
Kikis Delivery Service ❤
Princess mononoke next
I do like this movie, I Think Ponyo and Arrietty are better.
Speaking of movies,do you plan on watching the mlp movie after you finish season 7? Cause season 8 takes place shortly after.
No face is caseoh because he eats all food in sight
Watch princess Mononoke PLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!
You should watch The Book of Life
YOU SHOULD WATCH A SILENT VOICE
EWWWWW! YOUNG SCOOT!
You should watch soul eater, but *warning* the first 3 episodes are not that great, just character introductions plus a lot of weird fan service. The ending sucks too and strays away from the original manga. After those 3 it gets pretty good. Highly suggest!
React to The Haunted Mansion (2023) movie next ❤❤❤
if you stretch and your bellybutton hurts it might be worth it to check for a hernia lol
YOOOOO
slay
PLSSSS WATCH JOJO PART 5 OR 6 PLSS
This movie is strange. Its visuals are just pure art, and there is a ton of vibes, but the story is all over the place nonsense. I always thought it was the most overrated Ghibli film. I get why people who saw it as a kid would have a ton of nostalgia for it, but it just never worked for me.
Watch "words bubble up like soda pop" as your next movie!
Its a romantic movie about a insecure girl / influencer that... well you'll find out!
My hot take is this movie is pretty but did nothing for me story wise. Overrated tbh
it definitely is more visual driven than story driven, the story and message are good but they're not as obvious as most movies
@@Banana_bro1287 I think this is the best way to describe this movie.
The story is pretty nothing; and the its more about 'concepts', most of which come from a perspective far removed from modern Western ideas, which makes it extra confusing to a lot of people. Even if you are someone who watch a lot of anime and stuff, which often helps with tropes of the genera, this movie has a lot of deeper cultural related meanings that go beyond what typical anime would give context to. Its a beautifully animated movie and I love that it takes the time to animate minor things that give character to scenes, the music is great, and probably its best quality is the ability to transport you to another world that feels full and developed even if you don't understand.
But I think it's overrated, honestly, but it's still great.
I think a lot of people rate this movie so high because they saw it as kids and so were just totally captivated by the animation and world they they don't remember not understanding the story the first few times. I feel like people recommending this movie so strongly to others FIRST when it comes to Ghibli is a mistake when it comes to these movies, which is where the overrated issue comes in. There are a bunch of ones that have more cohesive stories that don't require knowledge of deep Japanese 'lore' and are animated just as well that make much better entry points.
I never watched Ghibli films as a kid and I loved this movie. Only Ghibli movie I watched as a child was Arriety.
You're free to dislike the movie but I don't think it's fair to criticise it for it being more about vibes than plot.
That's like saying a campy horror is bad cause it's too campy. I personally don't really like camp. As a queer woman, Bottoms was PRAISED so much it's almost unheard of for a queer woman to not love it since it came out. I don't like it at all, felt like a total waste of my time. Because I don't like camp. I get it for others but it's not for me.
This movie is for others. Is nostalgia a factor for a lot of people? Sure. But nostalgia is about vibes so I think if it's any film where I don't think nostalgia is "blinding" people but still enhancing the experience, it's this one. Cause as a kid you don't care about plot you care about vibes.
Did Scoot really not notice that Susan Egan (Rose Quartz) voiced Lin? 🥲