meta: Family

At the heart of Hayao Miyazaki's most effortlessly charming film is a character of equal charm, learning her magic alone isn't what is most important about her

It amounts to a glorified interstitial episode from the TV show, but one that fills in a vital part of Hana's past, and presents it with the charm and sentiments this franchise delivered so capably

Despite some pacing problems and a few fumbled story elements, the first film from Hiroyuki Okiura since 'Jin-roh' is a good-hearted treat