I would be with you most of the time but Spirited Away has a fairly clear narrative structure. It’s a somewhat classic formative story.
A young girl is thrown out of her daily life when she wanders into a supernatural world and facing hardships, grows with the help of benevolent older figures and finds that she actually possesses the strength to overcome them.
As you rightfully pointed however what distinguishes Spirited Away is how original and evocative its setting is. Miyazaki is a master at reframing common experience in enchanting way. The train is a good example. Anyone can relate to the fear of taking public transport alone for the first time, being surrounded by stranger, having to use a ticket but in the act is both stripped to its bare essential and yet shot beautifully.
A young girl is thrown out of her daily life when she wanders into a supernatural world and facing hardships, grows with the help of benevolent older figures and finds that she actually possesses the strength to overcome them.
As you rightfully pointed however what distinguishes Spirited Away is how original and evocative its setting is. Miyazaki is a master at reframing common experience in enchanting way. The train is a good example. Anyone can relate to the fear of taking public transport alone for the first time, being surrounded by stranger, having to use a ticket but in the act is both stripped to its bare essential and yet shot beautifully.