Woods Jennings

A really beautiful anime. SPOILERS WARNING: I feel that people view this anime as sicker than it is, (due to just the overall themes as to what goes on) because it revolves around the story of a 16 year old girl and a very smaller child (Shio). I see them as having a sibling-like relationship. Anything else in outside interpretation is disgusting. There are no sexual themes, and the main character is messed up. By beloved, people seem to take that literally. To me, Satou (main character) is more of a mother for this girl. It's like her form of control over a happy life. Her entire childhood was having sweet things taken away from her. Like innocence, childhood toys, etc by an abusive masochistic aunt. Her form of love is twisted and she only felt bitter empty feelings before meeting Shio. She works to provide for this small child, and locks the door in her apartment to keep her away from the cruel "filthy outside world" The entire anime is a wild, almost traumatizing ride but it's really heart-touching despite it all.

An amazing film by Studio Ghibli, a classic at that. I grew up with such films and as I re-watch them now, as I'm older I notice how detailed and in depth these movies really are. It's truly fantastic what work is put into it. A great story, set in this fantasy world of spirits and with a strong sense of Japanese culture. It really is something that cannot be recreated, so please watch this, show it to your children like my parents did I. It'll open up their imagination and give them such a feeling no other movie can, unless it is another Ghibli film of course. But no other can math such a film. It really is magical. W Jennings