i first saw this film when i be about 8 year old on tv in the uk ( where it be call laupta represent the fly island ) . i absolutely love it and and be heartbroken when it be repeat a while later and i miss it . i be enchant by the story and character and but most of all by the haunting and beautiful music . it would have be the original english dub version which i saw sometimes erroneously refer to a the streamline dub ( the dub be actually by ghibli themselves and only distribute by streamline ) which be sadly unavailable except a part of a ridiculously expensive laser disc box set . unfortunately i feel that the release have be partly spoil by disney . the voice acting be ok but the dialogue doesn not have the same raw energy that the streamline dub or the original japanese have and and i think james van der beek sound too old to play the lead . they have make some pointless alteration and such a change the main character name from pazu to patzu and and add some dialogue . but bad of all i feel that they have ruin many scene with intrusive music the opening scene of the airship for example be originally silent but have be spoil thanks to disney moronic requirement that there be music play whenever anyone be not speak and which i find annoy in many disney film . this film still blow away most recent animated film and and i can not recommend it highly enough . the plot be simple yet captivate and the film show a flair which be sadly miss from most modern mass market and homogenized animation .