It's the key to the most important thing there is

This is Run, a pocket love letter and fanlisting for Millennium Actress (千年女優, Sennen Joyū), the fantastical and moving 2001 Japanese animated film directed by Satoshi Kon and produced by Madhouse. This fanlisting is listed at Anime Fanlistings under the category Movies/OVAs.

One day, my dad came home with the mail, and tucked amongst all the letters, ad promotions, and paper spam was the Netflix rental DVD he ordered. (Remember when those were a thing?) It was Millennium Actress. To be honest, I don't think my dad or anyone in my family knew what the film was about. I think he saw that it was an animated film, and, knowing my sister and I adored the Studio Ghibli films, assumed it would be fun for us kids to watch.

Needless to say, I was blown away. The art and animation sequences were all so vivid and rich. The story took me through a whirlwind of emotions, leaving me sobbing in the end. I think a part of me was in—shock? Ha! I'm not sure how to describe what I felt exactly. Never had I experienced a film like that. Being a child at the time, that's probably not saying much, but I just knew it was something special. I even remember taking the rental DVD to my cousin's house and asking my uncle to help me burn a copy so I could somehow keep it forever, haha! It left such a strong impression on me that it just—became my favorite anime film. Of all time. Ever. Just like that. In the years following that first encounter, Millennium Actress was the answer I gave whenever someone asked me that question, even though at that time I'd only seen it once.

Even now my answer hasn't changed—although I've certainly rewatched it many times since then, now owning proper DVD copies myself! (Yes, I own two—three, including the old copy my uncle made for me. ) As I grow older, my love for Millennium Actress only grows deeper, and I expect I'll continue to rewatch and reexperience it for many years to come.