i have a strong feeling that what you think of this film will strongly depend on your frame of reference . if you have never see a miyazaki film before and then it will probably confuse the heck out of you . if you have see a miyazaki film before and then it will still probably confuse the heck out of you . but you would not really care . that because i find that the first time i saw one of his animated film and i try too hard to figure out what be happen and why and it impact my enjoyment of the film . now that i have see just about every miyazaki film and i see the bizarreness and just take it all in enjoy the beauty of it all . in many way and these film ( at least to western audience ) be like drug lot of strange and beautiful image that do not always initially make sense but sure feel great to see . of all the miyazaki film and this might have the most unusual and incomprehensible story line even more so than spirit away and princess mononoke or my neighbor totoro . but and like these and many other studio gibli film and if you just sit back and watch you be reward with a fabulous tale . but and because it be so hard to describe ( and others have already do so ) and i would not even go there . a for the artwork and it very typical of one of these japanese film and though there be one noticeable change . there be a very extensive use of what look like color pencil for the background . this be not a bad thing at all the lovely pastel like look be very pleasing and unique . in some way it look like a tiny bit of bill plympton art style be infuse into a typical miyazaki film . with a high frame rate and exceptional character animation ( which imbue them with ton of personality ) and a great wow factor and this be an exceptional film for all age . though clearly design more for young audience ( the totoro fan especially ) and it be a bit scary here and there ( during the storm segment ) but there be plenty of great stuff for adult . a an adult ( at least chronologically so ) and i love the cute stuff and applaud the other worldliness of the film . a great film among miyazaki best . i do not give it a 10 because i be hesitant to ever do that plus i do like a few of the studio other film a bit more ( particularly totoro ) . but that doesnt mean you shouldn not rush out now and see it do it and do yourself a favor .