Cute, and probably a good entry point for Ghibli films, but ultimately nothing special and a fairly predictable story. As an adult I don’t get as much out of this as a child probably would. It’s very whimsical and light, cozy and pleasant in the moment but nothing will stick with me for a longer time. The ending is a little more melancholic, but because the direction the story is headed into is so obvious it doesn’t entirely hit the mark. I don’t know if I’d even recommend this if Miyazaki didn’t nail the technical aspects. The animation and music are a lot more atmospheric than his previous Ghibli films, it’s a very vibey, gorgeous movie. Like with many Miyazaki films, it’s a world that’s very easy to get lost in. Thematically it’s nowhere near as ambitious as _Nausicaä_ or _Castle in the Sky_, it’s a pretty simple film about the imagination of a child. Again, it feels like this is more specifically aimed at children and because of that it plays it safe. It doesn’t have enough structure, the main characters can be annoying (though you’ll grow to like them more by the end) and I generally wish it took more risk. I’d probably like it more if it had included more comedy, fantasy and/or action. All in all, this one’s not for me, but I get why the general audience loves it.

5.5/10