Ever heard of Hayao Miyazaki?

Unless you're a film buff or an anime fan, chances are you won't have heard of Hayao Miyazaki. It's a sorry state of affairs, given that he’s one of Japan's greatest filmmakers, who’s been making the most magnificent and thoughtful animated feature films in the world for the past two decades.

Spirited Away, his most recent feature, finally gets a UK release this autumn, over two years after it was released in Japan. It's the story of a young girl, Chihiro, who stumbles into a magical otherworld, much like Alice or CS Lewis' Narnia gang. However, unlike her Western equivalents, Chihiro must toil in a bathhouse that caters for spirits and gods if she's to save her parents, who’ve been transformed into pigs, and win her freedom.

Such a synopsis can't do justice to one of Miyazaki's rich films. Although they function well as children's entertainment – the filmmaker's heroes are generally young girls – they’re also replete with enough serious themes (learning responsibility, empowerment through labour, protecting the environment), beautiful visuals and wit to offer even the most jaded adult something worthwhile. This is nothing unusual in Japan where anime and manga traditionally cater for all tastes and genres, unlike in the West, where animated films are for kids.

Following its July 2001 home territory release, Spirited Away went on to become the most commercially successful film ever in Japan, beating reigning box office champ, Titanic. It subsequently garnered awards such as the Berlin Golden Bear in 2002 and the 2003 Best Animated Feature Film Oscar. Gradually, it seems, the West is cottoning on. Or is it?

There's something dubious about the American handling of his films. The Oscar might be a shiny-happy commendation, but the US establishment very much needs to address his work on its own terms. In the US, Miyazki is dubbed "the Japanese Walt Disney" and the film is promoted with a trailer that Disney-fies it. Sure, Walt was a genius in his time, but these days the brand is more associated with the entertainment equivalent of McDonald’s (remember – the corporation's best releases these days are all made by Pixar, a separate company).

Does Miyazaki benefit from being thus tamed for US release? It's questionable. But at least his films get released. Well, in the US at least. Disney and its distribution arm, Buena Vista, didn't bother to release the film in the UK. It’s thanks to Optimum Releasing that we’ll finally be able to experience Spirited Away. And a good thing too. But in general terms, wider access to all Miyazaki's masterpieces is long overdue. Daniel Etherington 12 September 03

Spirited Away, on national release 12 September 03.

useful link: www.spirited-away.co.uk