A big thumbs up

A big thumbs up (I would give the trusty Japanese "peesu" sign, but wouldn't want to appear to be making any political "statements") to Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi (English title, Spirited Away) for winning Best Animated Film at the Oscars last night.

It's technically anime, but more like Disney meets Japanese quirkiness with a little bit of Brothers Grimm thrown in.

If you haven't already seen it, rent it for an insight into Japanese culture. At every turn it revels in it's "Japan-ness", from the hot springs bath culture to their pantheistic shinto gods to the pigs everyone makes of themselves at the open-air yatai...