From the art direction to the character design, Spirited Away showcases Studio Ghibli at some of its best work. While this story seems somewhat strange on the surface, the way it plays out is beautiful. The story itself tells the tale of Chihiro, a young girl who gets trapped in the spirit realm following her parents being turned into pigs. RELATED: 15 Video Games To Play If You Are A Studio Ghibli Fan It went on to win multiple awards and be voted into lists for the best film, animated or not, of all time.

The film would go on to gross nearly $400 million dollars worldwide and held the record for highest-grossing film in Japan for 19 years until it was surpassed by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. The North American distribution rights were soon purchased by Disney and the English dub of the film was released in 2002. Releasing in Japan in 2001, Spirited Away found immediate success and quickly outpaced even Princess Mononoke. Looking back 20 years later, what is it about this strange, intriguing story that has made it stand the test of time?

While many of their films hold places in the hearts of many, Spirited Away has been regarded as one of their best. The studio has consistently put out enchanting, unique tales that touch on everything from the power of childhood imagination to the history of an aeronautics engineer. Studio Ghibli has long been recognized as a powerhouse in both anime and general film history.

Spirited away english version