This is my fourth favorite Studio Ghibli movie. In top 4 I have, Spirited Away, > Princess Mononoke, Howl’s Moving Castle, > The Boy And The Heron.
When it comes to visual effects. This was the most beautiful movie I have ever seen!
It felt like a mixture of past Studio Ghibli movies. The beginning felt like Grave of the fireflies (in other words slow and sad), then The secret world of Arrietty (still slow but picking up the pace), then Howl’s moving castle mixed with Princess Mononoke (this is where it takes off), then Spirited away, and finally the cat returns. But around the end was something new and refreshing. I loved it!