I love this movie. I remember watching it for the first time in the cinema. We went in to watch something else, I can't remember. After the movie finished we noticed that we can simply walk into the next theatre because the tickets were checked at the entrance to the area and not to the theatre. We watched 3 movies that day! Anyway, Chihiro was the second one and I was under the spell.

I like how the story shows the transformation of the weak little chihiro to the very brave, loving yet rational person that is not afraid to do the counter intuitive. The situation with the ill/foul water spirit shows how she can handle an uncomfortable situation by keeping a clear head, she even gets rewarded for it in the end. The coolest part is actually how she treats no-face after he has gone rampage. She is not afraid or disgusted by him but simply understands what is happening with him, accepts him as a comrade and simply does her thing. While everyone is lost in a mix of greed and fear, she cuts through the bullshit and draws him in her mindset instead.

the only part I dislike is this weird romantic scene between Chihiro and Haku at the end. It felt like the movie would have been better without it.