h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I can still remember today when Spirited Away came out. I remember watching it win the Oscar in 2003.
At this time, I had never heard about Hayao Miyazaki, and the best exposure I had thus far had to the world of animé was Dragonball Z, which is a rather feeble excuse for quality entertainment.
I remember watching the clips at the Oscars-being awed at the quality of the animation, and at the same time, intriuged.
I remember being in Downtown Disney (Orlando, FL., USA) and seeing the poster at a theater. These kinds of movies never come to my town. I wanted to see it, but I was on a family vacation and the wants of the one to not always satisfy the wants of the many.
I had seen bits and peices of Kiki's Delivery Service on Disney Channel, which remained the best animé I had seen until FLCL started airing on Adult Swim in the states.
Sadly, I never saw this gem on the big screen. I did get the oppertunity to see the DVD, which sparked my intrest in Miyazaki and the wonderful work he was doing.
Shortly after, I saw Castle in the Sky. Another great Miyazaki work, featuring none other than a celebrity from another favorite film, Mark Hamill.
This reminds me, I need to edit in a celebrity voice acting section.
Of course, the reminder of which I speak is for my latest guide entry, which is on none other than Hayao Miyazaki.
I was inspired to write this rather long (by the standards of what I've written so far, at least) entry on a brilliant man after I finally saw my first big screen Miyazaki movie, Howl's Moving Castle.
Yet again, I did not have ready access to it. I had to drive for an hour to get to a cinema showing the film, which was infinatly better than the previous option of going across the lake to the state of Wisconsin to see it.
The hour drive was well worth it. Howl was every bit as genious as his previous films.