PhdInCartoons

Story

Good, but as usual you have to overlook a few things.The story here is heavily driven by the characters, and if you look at it as a singular entity it seems rather thin. The pacing, or lack of any, may not be to everyone's liking but it is not as serious as some of the other films. 

Animation

Studio Ghibli-y, excellent. You get the real feeling that Hayao Miyazaki is a real plane nut and has taken great pleasure in the animation. Everything looks so good and the detail iinvolved is breathtaking.

Sound

The music is extremely suitable. It matches the air and mood the filmcreates amazingly well. The voice acting is good but feels strangely detached

Characters

Very well done. The driving force of the film. The characters interact amazingly well with each other and you are left in no doubt at all that all of them, including the half-pig one, could exist. 

Overall

Superb, as you would expect. A little different from the other Ghibli productions, almost all of this could have happened, and is in no way worse off for that.