Ranked #58

My Neighbor Totoro

You may be wondering how on Earth I could possibly give My Neighbour Totoro a perfect score right across the board. But I tell you, it has earned its right as being called a masterpiece of an anime.

The story may come off as juvenile to other viewers, namely older audiences. Well, that's because its about kids. This is a story about two young sisters who experience the wonders of childhood in the countryside. Maybe I'm just more inclined to this sort of exploration and nostalgia-themed type of anime. I can vividly recall as a child being completely enraptured by every scene in this movie. I wanted to go have adventures in a forest, I wanted to play with spirits, I wanted to go ride inside a giant cat bus. There is so much more to this story than the basic plot: two girls who move to the country go to visit their mother in the hospital with the aid of forest spirits. It is that, but it isn't just that.

My Neighbour Totoro explores and shows us once again what it means to be young, and what was important to us when we were young. And what was important to us as children? Combatting world domination by an evil organisation? Nope. Becoming the ultimate warrior? Not really. Working through years of angst and dealing with romantic trysts? No. This is a story of simplicity. It's of a time when those things didn't matter to us--when the most important thing would be peeking into our attic to see if there are ghosts living in there. For those who can't appreciate that kind of story, then you'll find the storyline for this movie rather childish or dull. I believe it to be wonderfully energetic, unique and it exudes a certain quality of life that we no longer care about as we get older.

My Neighbour Totoro was made before I was born, yet I still find it to be breathtakingly beautiful. The art is astoundingly good. It does have a dated character design style, but it is wonderfully detailed and animated. There are gorgeous scenes even when nothing happens. There is a lot of attention paid to background details. I've never seen a small drain look so pretty before. I've never seen a thicket look so inviting. The forest is a wonder to look at. Even the simple house the family lives in is a beauty. There is a scene where they are cleaning, and I've never had my attention so raptly caught up in watching people clean a house before. I kept looking at this movie and wondering why it is things aren't that beautiful in reality. I'm sure you'll be wishing you could get down on your knees and crawl through a thicket bush tunnel after seeing this anime. The animation is excellent. I may just be overly sentimental, but there is one particular scene that even moved me to tears; the girls plant a seed and watch it grow. It sounds bland now, but it is the definition of how witnessing something great can actually stir up emotions inside you.

The sound is incredibly well-suited to the anime. It relates to every scene in the movie. It is like listening to a wave build up and hit the shores: you can hear it swell, hear it rise, and hear it crash and roar. It's like listening to the life of whatever is seen onscreen. It is a sweeping score that is absolutely a marvel.

Satsuki and Mei are two excellent characters. Who said children can't be complex characters? No, not complex in the brooding, wiser-than-thou sort of way. They act like kids, they think like kids, they feel, speak and move like kids. They are some of the closest and most believable representations of children I've encountered in anime. They are inquisitive, superstitious, sweet, bratty in an acceptable way (most children are; I deal with kids a lot), nice and adventurous. You can't help but liking them and loving their reactions to the magical things around them. Totoro itself is a show-stealer at points. It's hard not to love the giant spirit. You just want to hug it or bounce on its large belly.

My Neighbour Totoro is wonderfully fun. It's definitely a movie the entire family could watch. I've seen it when I was a little kid, and I can still watch this movie now with my younger siblings and still feel the same about it as they do. It is just a sweet, peaceful, whimsical movie that is hard not to like. Of course, if you hate children, like violence, want innumerable plot twists, then you're looking at the wrong movie already.

I may be a little biased to My Neighbour Totoro, but why shouldn't I be? It has consistently proven itself to be one of the greatest, most imaginative and inspiring anime I have ever seen in my life. I strongly urge any anime fan to watch it. read more

Another win for Miyazaki!

The story was just unique. I don’t think I’ve seen anything like it – and originality is always a good thing. It had me watching closely the whole time. It’s a story for kids and kids at heart alike.

It was like watching a Dr. Seuss story come to life, except it has a Miyazaki spice to it. Another good thing about it is that it’s easy to understand, but not so easy that it’s dumb.

The characters were all very likable. I like adorable Mei, and her doting older sister Satsuki. I also love how their father is so child like – he’s definitely not one of those stern looking dads. Finally, Totoro and is companions were fun to watch. I kinda want to meet him myself.

And because it’s a Miyazaki movie, you’d expect that it’s another well animated movie. Animation – wise, I wouldn’t say it’s his best work I’ve seen, but the animation is still noteworthy. The movement was very fluid and the illustrations were all very detailed. It was like watching a Children’s water colored story book in motion.

The music is also very nice. I like both the opening and ending themes, as well as the BGM. Everything was very upbeat and cheerful, definitely something kids would like to hear, but all tracks were very nicely done.

It’s definitely one timeless story that rivals Disney’s greatest works. Another must see from the genius known as Hayao Miyazaki. read more