  Last year I urlLink rented Spirited Away for my family and my son was so enthralled that it began a long series of frequenting Japaname films for his enjoyment. Since then, I've discovered that Japaname is a fantastic genre that matches my parenting values far better than Disney, Pixar and the typical American kid films. Primarily, Japaname plots often feature female protagonists who virtually always manage to save their own day--relying on traditional Japanese cultural values like strong character, selflessness, respecting elders, finding physical grace through mental calm--without needing a man to save it for them. Power Puff Girls are easy enough to find, and their Beat-Alls spoof on the Beatles makes a great introduction for parents and kids alike. Myazaki, who wrote and produced Spirited Away , also has two movies that are great for your kids even if they don't rival the masterpiece of Spirited Away : KiKi's Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky .
Here is a NYT piece about new Japaname coming out, too: urlLink New Contender for the Anime Throne : "Japanese animation has its elder statesman, Hayao Miyazaki, 63, whose 'Spirited Away' won last year's Oscar for best animated feature. And now a new generation is asserting itself, led by Satoshi Kon, 40, whose 'Millennium Actress' was released in the United States in September, and whose latest creation, 'Tokyo Godfathers,' opens on Friday. " 
