Tonari no Totoro

'My Neighbo Totoro' is a wonderful family film. I think it depicts the stress of a child's life and the imgination they use to help cope with difficult times. Personally, the Totoro's are adorable!

My Neighbor Totoro would be a great family film on a rainy day, especially if that said family is going through a tough time. I found My Neighbor Totoro to be quite enjoyable when I watched it with several of my Anime-Loving friends.

The story-line is very serious, yet not to complex. The characters have wonderful personalities. The scenes that take place throughout the story are not only playful and funny, but ... heart-warming and enjoyable.

I would recomend My Neighbor Totoro to anyone who loves a good laugh and has a good heart.

STORY: My Neighbor Totoro is simple and whimsical. Although the story is a children's fable, the heart of the tale can draw out the child in everyone. The movie begins in a period of transition for a family, and the movie concludes alongside the end of the transition. The finished product is like a meaningful photograph. The events occurring in the story or picture are not life changing. It's the memory and feeling you take away that holds the worth of the story in Totoro. However, the story is not ground-breaking or awe-inspiring. But the it is delightful and unforgettable.

ART: Consistent, good quality in ... animation can do wonders for the experience, and this work is another fantastic example of Studio Ghibli's dedication to their art. The scenery in the film is immersive, and the world painted before our eyes is just out of reach, detached pleasantly from reality. The animation is not on par with the works Ghibli produces today, but the animation is still fantastic.

SOUND: The voice acting is good, and the sisters' actors are pleasantly convincing. However, their father always sounds less happy than he appears. Also, the acting for the different Totoro sounds too human for their completely non-human appearances. Although there won't be many musical moments that will stick with you after the viewing, the music is charming and fits perfectly with the events taking place. The show's audio succeeds in making this already joyous world more delightful.

CHARACTER: The characters of Totoro are relentlessly likable. Even though there is little character development, the everyday life appeal of these characters is so genuine and endearing. Yet as fun as these characters are, the lack of character progression leaves a longing for more. The glimpse into their lives is all too brief, which can be good and bad, showing just how attached you can become to this little family. Yet this element is a slight detriment to the power and draw of each character.

ENJOYMENT: Totoro is utterly delightful. The show is meant to put the viewer into the best mood possible, and it succeeds on many levels. The scenes are creative and curious and the characters make you laugh and smile. As endearing and involving as the show can be, the plots avoid hitting on the heart strings and emotions. Thus, at no point does the show place the viewer in suspense and tension, allowing the show to be pleasantly blissful.

OVERALL: My Neighbor Totoro is a movie brimming to the rim with fun and games. What really makes Totoro work is how openly the film acknowledges its simple, child-like style. Sometimes overly optimistic titles can overwhelm viewers with unrealistic and unnecessary happiness. With Totoro the film is happy but not overly so. There is realism within the fantastical here, and that realism makes the joy and laughter genuine, grounded, and accessible. My Neighbor Totoro is a story for all ages within the vessel of a children's fable.

Still a total masterpiece. It feels so old but it’s so well made. It has a simple story of confidence and resistance all wrapped in the connection to the world we go through. The world-building is so realistic and purposeful. The way how they interact with the worlds of humans, forest and spirits is super effective and immersive. It creates a memorable environment that flows to the narrative in such a great way. The characters are absolutely perfect and the growth they go through is really wonderful. Miyazaki’s appreciation of the unclouded judgement of children is exemplified well here, and it feels definitely like a ... practice to what would happen in Spirited Away. They’re both sensitive young girls who have to trust but at the same time still fear the world they move into. Combined with their mother’s illness it’s a challenging world in both their concern but it’s so empowering and heartwarming to see them surpass it and live in these times. I relate a lot to Satsuki in how she seeks to survive and support the lives of her family in her mother’s absence. And her sense of control is quite strong but the fragility underneath is very believable and beautiful. The spiritual aspects of this film is fantastic in how they’re used. The build up with Totoro’s influence and how the characters grow is perfectly balanced. Their trust of connecting and appreciation of the world they live is payed off in a beautiful poetic way. With Satsuki giving Totoro the umbrella paying off with him helping her find Mei in the end. It’s such an interesting world but it’s such a great message of confidence and hope. The ways that the actual spirits are portrayed is also really cool. With only the girls seeing them at select times and subtle hints that everyone has seen them before strengthens the belief that they are in fact real. The adult’s belief in spiritual is also really cool. In other films adults may brush off and say that they aren’t real but in this film everyone wants to connect and feel safe in this world so they wouldn’t they deny it. And Totoro’s design is so perfectly cute and weird. A character that would only ever make sense in animation or else it would look terrifying. And the little ones are adorable. I watched the Japanese dub and honestly, it’s kind of rubbish? Like especially with the Dad and Nanny, they can’t really quite capture a certain suspense for the moment and it feels super weird. In the English one they have great personality and emotional nuances that also feel real and it’s epic. Also the joke where Satsuki just says she drew Mei as a crab wasn’t in the original and it’s a bit bland in the Japanese version. But yeah this movie is perfect and I love it dearly.

"My Neighbor Totoro" is an absolute wonderful film. This movie can be loved by any no matter whose age. Totoro has even become the mascot of Studio Ghibli, and even appears in the logo before almost every Ghibli film starts. There's no villain involved, it's just filled with delightful characters, memorable moments, and just pure imagination.

The two main characters Mei and Satsuki are played by real life siblings/actresses Dakota and Elle Fanning (Note, I did not see the 1988 version released by 20th Century Fox, I watched the 2005 Walt Disney redub.), who I admired most in the movie because they don't act like they're ... reading off a script or anything like that, but they act like actual siblings throughout, and that's the kind of charm that I liked in the movie. And since this a Studio Ghibli film, this one is brought to us by the head master, Hayao Miyazaki.

The two little girls are moving to a new house in a small village with their father. Their mother is in the hospital sick, so they wait patiently for her to come to their new home. As soon as they come in, they see specks of black dust that live in their attic, which an elderly nanny hired by their father explains that those specks of dust are soot sprites, and says that if you leave them alone or even make some laughter, then they'll go away.

One day, while the father is working at home, and the elder sister Satsuki is at school, Mei is seen playing around the new house when she comes across a small mouse/cat creature leaving trails of acorns. She follows it into the woods and goes into an imaginative part of the forest, and finds a gigantic version of that creature sleeping heavily, with no dialogue with the exception of a few grunts and the sounds of the words "Totoro".

Satsuki returns home to find Mei sleeping in the real parts of the woods, and Mei finds that Totoro is gone. And unlike most kids movies where the family doesn't believe the younger sibling and thinks she was dreaming, they actually believe her and tell her that she met a spirit of the forest and says she can see the spirit whenever the spirit feels it wants to.

The story continues with adventures involving a local neighborhood boy who has a crush on Satsuki, a sad moment with the mother having to stay in the hospital for a little longer, and a scene where Totoro shows up next to the two girls waiting for their father to come home, while standing in the rain.

"My Neighbor Totoro" is so charming and innocent, that's it's impossible not to love. You instantly fall in the love with the characters, and you can sympathize the siblings' behavior with each other if you have a younger or older brother. The animation and imagination are purely great. Miyazaki is one of the most influential animated directors outside of America and everyone should see all of them. I know I will!

"My Neighbor Totoro" is a wonderful and remarkable family film.

If you're one of those people who still don't know what that thing featured on the Studio Ghibli company logo is, then the chances are, you haven't seen "My Neighbour Totoro" (for a while I thought it was meant to be a rather odd looking donkey myself). Well then, you've been missing out!

"My Neighbour Totoro" is a delightful film that most young children - as well as a good proportion of older viewers - are sure to enjoy. It's not a particularly deep film, nor a particularly exciting film. At the heart of it, it's a simple tale about a family relocating to the countryside ... and the children meeting some weird and wonderful creatures, but it is so much more than that. The magic is in the characters, for "My Neighbour Totoro" is filled with some of the cutest, most iconic characters in anime. And amongst these unforgettable characters, it's the big, adorably fluffy King Totoro himself that steals the show, so it's fitting he is somewhat of a mascot for Studio Ghibli the way Mickey Mouse is for Disney.

Fantastically weird non-human characters maybe a trait in Miyazaki films, but so are rather less interesting human ones, and "My Neighbour Totoro" inherits both of these traits. The human character has a familiar look about them, as though they're the bloodline relatives to the characters from other Miyazaki movies. Then there's the much used tomboy girl and the boy who wants to make friends with her set up that Miyazaki so likes to use. However, in the midst of these recycled characters, I do like Mei, who's like the adorable little sister that everyone would love to have.

Like a lot of other Miyazaki films, "My Neighbour Totoro" does contain a dose of the usual environmental messages, but this isn't Miyazaki in one of his more preachy moods. In this film, the message isn't forced upon us, instead it is gently conveyed across by opening our eyes to the wonders of life. Totoro himself is like a kind of guardian of the forest, doing rain dances, making the trees spring up, all in a very lovable manner. For sure, a lot of the stuff is made up - obviously, in reality there are no creatures like Totoro that can perform miracles such as accelerating the growth of trees etc, but beneath all the imagination, the feelings and the message themselves are very genuine. This is helped along by the beauty of the artwork - I may not be a fan of Miyazaki's human character designs, but the beautifully drawn natural scenaries are as stunning as always.

Even though this is film is rather uneventful - there aren't really any particularly dramatic or epic events, but it succeeds because there's a sense joy that's prevalent throughout. For instance the scene where Mei bounces up and down on the fluffy belly of Totoro, and another where rain drops falls repeatedly onto the nose of a rather dopey looking Totoro... these are all simple scenes, but they're scenes that are bursting with pure, innocent charm. It's these little things that makes "My Neighbour Totoro" a bit special, and it's these little things that makes it one of my favourites from the Ghibli collection.

Hayao Miyazaki's name has become synonymous with Japanese animation, rightfully so. His boundless imagination has taken us to awe-inspiring fantasy worlds, brought us on epic adventures and showed us the magic of the world that can only be seen through a child's eyes. The last of those three, the magic that children can see, is epitomized in one of his earliest and most beloved works, My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Tororo in Japanese).

The story is a simple one of two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who moved to the country side with their father to be closer to the hospital where their ill mother is staying. ... They quickly get settled into their new place residence and get acquainted with their new neighbors. As they explore their new home, they discover the wonders of the country side, notably three strange creatures, including the gigantic and beneficent Totoro. And honestly, that is all there is to the plot.

Judging by that summery, this movie could be an hour and a half snooze-fest, but against all odds it isn't. Not much might happen, but what does happens has a simple, almost indescribable beauty to it. A lot of this comes from Miyazaki's visual mastery, his eye for nature and knack for breathing life into everything he animates. The movie captures the wide open fields, rivers, lakes, and forests of the rural country side simply but beautifully. The art work is so lush and well detailed, it is easy to get lost in; I often felt like I was there in the brush, amongst the wilderness.

Just as impressive is the careful animation of the people and creatures, especially that the two sisters. Satsuki and Mei's expressive faces and body language are those of a real child. Satsuki is the precocious, responsible and adventurous older sister; Mei is the attached younger sister that often mimics big sis, but is happy to go on adventures of her own. Seeing them explore and interact with the world around them, one gets the genuine feeling of watching two kids playing around. The mystical creatures they encounter have an sort of mascot look to them, especially Tororo and the Cat Bus (Heck, Totoro did become Ghibli's mascot), but still move and feel like they are alive. The movie is just so exquisitely animated.

Of course, it is Satsuki and Mei that are the heart and soul of the movie. It is their curiosity and sense of wonder that gives the already gorgeous art a magic that makes the movie truly special, and there innocence that gives power to the movie's theme of growing up. For Mei in particular every bush, trail, and even the inside of her own house holds an adventure; something new to discover. Untainted by the complications of the grown up world, Mei sees the world in a nice, simple, and generally pleasant light with a hint of hesitation without her father or older sister around. Satsuki shares Mei's sense of adventure, but being a little older, she is also learning that the world is more complicated than the innocence of childhood that she has known til now. This shows in the last third of the movie, in which Satsuki is faced with possibilities she is not ready for (which I will not get into, the plot is so simple it is easy to spoil). Suddenly, the optimistic innocence she is so familiar with disappears, replaced by worries of the worst possible outcome. It is a quite, maturely understated revelation that childhood eventually ends. However, the movie ends with the same light-hearted optimism it began with, holding onto a piece of that childish innocence even with the knowledge kids will one day grow out of it to some degree.

My Neighbor Totoro is a movie of simple pleasures. It spends most of its time indulging in the beauty of nature, and the magic of a child's heart. There are glimpses of life beyond childhood and the complications that come with maturity, however, the movie never allows them to completely eclipse the joys and youthful enthusiasm of adolescence. And that is what makes it so special. Where many other stories portray growing out of childhood as hard and harsh, Totoro handles it gently but knowingly; an approach as wonderful as it is rare.

I don't particularly care for anime movies. I have seen most of the popular ones and I'm not impressed. I consider Japan's most famous anime directors overrated and the list includes Hayao Miyazaki (keeping him company are: Momoru Hosoda, Isao Takahata, and Satoshi Kon). So, you can imagine that I didn't have high expectations going in; boy was I wrong.

Tonari no Totoro needs no introduction, it is the face of studio Ghilbi, its first release alongside Hotaru no haka, and it is referenced and spoofed in other works constantly.

During the first minute of the movie, the experienced viewer identifies the familiar studio Ghibli ... animation and the newcomer is left wondering how a movie released in 1988 can still look so beautiful, while Miyazaki introduces us to our two heroines, Satsuki (10) and Mei (4), as their father drives them to their new residence, in a rural village.

After a few minutes more, we are quick to realize the main characteristic of the movie: This is a story being told while looking through the eyes of a kid. If you think you have heard that one before, allow me to make a distinction; Miyazaki managed to capture the way a kid views the world, in such a way, that it doesn't feel like a story written for kids by adults, but it feels like the accidental filming of a kid's dreamy state of mind.

I will take this point even further; I don't think this is a kid's movie. I recognize, of course, that it has all the elements a kid's movie should have, but I'll insist. I can not imagine a kid older than 6 liking this movie. Most kids will find it unexciting, opting instead for a show that triggers are pulled, or princesses are getting crowned.

I cannot imagine myself up until my late teens liking this movie. Instead I can easily imagine myself saying the Greek equivalent of, “well, that was a waste of time” or “nothing fucking happens”. Indeed the movie seems uneventful at first glance, but there is a distinct shadow of death and loss looming throughout the movie; Its existence maybe be lost to the younger audiences, but it appeared to me as a potent a “villain” as any.

But it is high time I get to what makes this movie great. After the Kusakabe family steps out of the car, having reached their new home, we, the audience, realize that we have stepped in a magical world. The interesting part is that this magical world feels familiar and I was quick to be filled with nostalgia; watching the two sisters rush to fetch a bucket of water reminded me the first (or, at least, one of the first) times that I watched running water. Those of you who discard these feelings of nostalgia, I ask you to remember the first time that you came across a small river. And then try to imagine who happy and excited you were.

That brings us to the main point of why Tonari no Totoro is so great; It doesn't coerce nostalgia from us with its imagery, but it reminds us how perfectly happy we were with the simplest of things: The shade of a big tree, a path to the woods, and some folklore.

Continuing, we are introduced to the countryside and its denizens, human and magical, but most of all we experience a sense of harmony between man and nature, so seamlessly interwoven, that it puts preachy environmental-friendly works (including ones from Miyazaki) to shame.

The feelings of euphoria and harmony continue, while the two sisters meet and interact with the spirit world and combat the shadow of loss with their own childlike (I mean that in a good sense) way. The ending is simple but fulfilling.

My new favorite anime movie. 9.0/10. If you like this one, my second and third favorites Hotarubi no Mori e (8.5/10) and Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki (8.0/10) share some traits.

Hayao Miyazaki has implemented himself as one of the most well known individuals in the medium of anime. This is due to his numerous animated works that he creates with the brilliantly creative staff at studio ghibli. What makes their films so appealing us their ability to appeal to both adults and children alike. My Neighbor Totoro definitely does not dissapoint when compared to other anime films in existence.

Tonari no Totoro, also known more commonly as My Neighbor Totoro is a simple story about a family moving into the country side and meeting several spirits of the forest. One of these spirits ... is known as Totoro and he lives in a tree near their house. The story sounds simple but the execution makes it so special.

As I just mentioned the story is very simple but this fact does not detract the film's quality at all. The film oozes with creativity wherever they can cram it. I love the design of the spirits and the creative premise in particular. The story has a sense of whimsical charm that children and the little kids in all of us can surely appreciate.

The setting isn't all that unique but is utilized well. The theme of different spirits being present works with the setting. This would not have worked if the story had taken place in say New York City. The rural setting also gives off a good and peaceful atmosphere throughout the entire film.

The movie's conclusion was very satisfying and there was some great resolution present. The film did not seem very long or short winded as the running time runs just outside of the average movie running time at 1 hour and 26 minutes. The comedy was also well done and there was some quality and realistic drama present. So overall the narrative of this movie is amazingly executed.

The characters were also quite solid in this film. The characters were all very likable and were put in believe able situations. Characterization and development were present and we did get to know the characters. The characters also captured child like whimsy and fun while also maintains realistic family dynamics.

Totoro is an absolute beast, he was very sweet and funny despite his scary aesthetic appearance. He can be described as a gentle giant. The adults in this story were good too, the mother who was in the hospital still had a good attitude about it. The father had a very fun and believeable relationship with his daughters. And granny provided wisdom when the time was needed. And do I even have to say anything about the cat bus? The characters were overall a massive hit.

The only real problem I had with this film were some of the presentation. The animation in this film was good but not great. I really liked the use of color and the fluidity of the animation. However some of the animation was reused and the animation had aspects that didn't age a whole lot well and just looked awkward at some points in the film.

The soundtrack here was very good and went along with the film's atmosphere very well. The English dub was also pretty well executed with some annoying voices peppered throughout the film at different points. I would like to see the sub version because the father's voice actor is the same as someone who worked on the mother series of video games.

So overall My Neighbor Totoro was a great experience. It succeeded with quality characters and a fun story. There weren't too many significant flaws and it is another great film from Stidio Ghibli. This movie succeeded in making me feel like a little kid which is a very rare occurrence indeed.

~ STORY ~
The story begin with two sister , Mei and Satsuki on a truck with their father , they are moving to their new home which is where the whole story revolves around. Their new home, their new place in the world. At first I didn't really understand the whole purpose of Totoro. I know the title of the film is based around him, but i didn't see much purpose to him being there. it was just basically a little magical element added in. And it suppose to show that someone is there for those girls. There ... wasn't much to the plotline, but I enjoyed it still immensely. There were times near the end where you sat up straighter because of the heart felt scene thats happening, and you feel all fuzzy when Totoro appears to help. I felt that the characters of Satsuki and Mei were definitely played more here. The role of the older sister watching over the younger one, the whole misinterpreting what each other really means and getting into a squabble.

~ ART ~
The same style that has been used over and over again which never in my mind seems to lose its quality. The best character design would be the more magical creatures especially the cat bus, its so cute! The furry lining seemed so warm and cuddly that you yourself just want to go on and sit there enjoying the ride. The next ones in my favourite character design would have to be Totoro, Chibi-Totoro, and Chu-Totoro. Again, so damn cute! Weird creatures, but loveable look created for them the same.

~ SOUND ~
The sounds of this film didn't really stick with me as do some other Studio Ghibli animations, the music score didn't really hit me, so the music therefore must have been good enough to accompany what I was watching that I didn't really notice it. i do remember some parts of the film where i did listen. The background music really did fit into the whole action at that time. the rain began to fall and you could feel as if something magical was going to happen by the music. You just knew.

~ ENJOYMENT ~
Definitely enjoyable! Loved every minute of it when i was younger and when i watched it again when i was older. I think this is the kind of film which can be enjoyed by just about everyone.

~ OVERALL ~
Its an easy enough film to watch. If you want depth, you won't really find it here. Its sentimental at the most. Its a magical experience that you will get.

I will try to be precise in this review:

First up, the art was absolutely amazing. The landscapes and details in every minute object were breathtaking. Leaving the characters on a basic style made the movie over all very balanced.

Sound was great, they added all the right sounds in all the right places, especially in the natural scenes.

Characters were very enjoyable. They are almost symbols of different stages of our life. The younger sister represents our innocent and imaginative ways when we were small. The older sister shows the kind of people who are growing older and more mature but still have an inner kid inside. ... The mother is one of those hopeful people who believes in fairytales and happy endings despite downsides. The father is the stage where we are adults who can enjoy ourselves every once in a while with the help of some youngsters. There are more characters, but you can see the movie. All I can say is that each one had their own personality and no two were the same.

The story was almost perfect, it basically is about how a family moves to the countryside (most likely to help the sickly mother get well) and the children adjust to their new surrounding, meeting a spiritual neighbor named totoro. Other than the last quarter of the movie, there was no specific plot. But its a kids movie, and its japanese so its excused. :P

OPINION:
To be honest, I did not want to see this movie and kept delaying it for a long time. It didn't seem very impressive but I'm glad I gave it a shot. It is a very uplifting movie that helps one's spirits rise and bring back old memories from childhood. It definitely fits in the group with Spirited Away and Ponyo but it brings a new edge all the same. I highly suggest you watch it. If you don't believe me, give it 10-20 minutes and we will see who is right.

If you have kids, this is a very fun movie to watch it with :)

It is with tremendous shame I confess to one of my darkest secrets- despite owning 500+ physical anime blu rays, including the entire Ghibli steelbook collection, and despite being an older, longtime anime fan, as of last night I had never seen My Neighbor Totoro. Better very, very late than never, so last night I finally remedied this unacceptable situation! As with any other time I review old anime- VERY old, nearly 35 years in this case- the standard disclaimer of "the only fair way to evaluate anything is in its own time and my perspective, watching it now for the first time, is not ... the same" is very much applicable.

The first thing that stood out to me, shockingly, was how well this film holds up graphically today. It's amazing that something 35 years old still looks reasonably good today, and it must have looked INCREDIBLE at the time, and certainly Studio Ghibli deserves every word of praise that they've received as far as the presentation is concerned.

If I'm being honest, the opening song made me a little nervous. It very much gave me the "this movie is made for young children" vibe and before the film even really began I was concerned it was going to be a long hour and a half. Ultimately the movie probably IS aimed at children/younger audiences, or at very least it's completely appropriate for them, but I think it's reasonable to assume it can be enjoyed by adults/the whole family as well. Of course, had you watched this for the first time around the time it came out as a child of a certain age I'd imagine it would be a magical experience, albeit one I unfortunately cannot duplicate for myself in 2023.

As with other Ghibli films that I've seen, the plot and character development here are actually relatively minimal. The goal of their films certainly seems to be to take viewers on an enchanting, very pretty magical journey and let audiences experience the wonder of the spirit world- a staple of Japanese culture- as relates to everyday people and situations. Deliberately, they choose to keep things simple. This would certainly miss the mark for the kind of viewer who needs deep, complex messaging in their anime.

Is the plot realistic? Of course not! Are there multiple elements that are never explained and couldn't ever happen in the real world? Of course! There isn't any explanation for anything and Totoro's motives, powers, why he exists, how long he has existed, etc are all never discussed whatsoever, so you're either able to accept "It's magic!" as an explanation or you'll be sorely disappointed. Given the tone of the film and it never taking itself overly seriously or trying to be something that it isn't, I was able to roll with that punch, but certainly the film being highly simplistic and lacking anything remotely close to an explanation as to how any of its magical elements work is a criticism I can appreciate as well. In this world, the existence of magic and spirits and supernatural happenings is something that's simply known and accepted and it's no more weird than the fact that humans need to eat and drink in order to survive.

While the film did do enough to keep me engaged, I'd certainly say it lacks any sort of climax or any major standout moment that triggers an emotional response or gets burned into the viewer's memory. As a whole it lacks impactful plot points, harkening back to their approach of simply providing a journey and an experience above all else and keeping it simple and on a smaller scale. The ending wasn't overly impactful or memorable either.

At the end of the day I can appreciate this film for what it is as an adult in my 30s, but it's simply not possible for me to know what I would have thought had I experienced this as a child all those years ago. It's simple, arguably overly so, it's very pretty (unbelievably so for its time) and it's inoffensive and family friendly. Where does that leave us? With a classic, one worthy of its praise and longstanding adoration, but not one that is going to blow away a proper adult who does not have nostalgia goggles for the film, like myself, 35 years later. It's still worth a watch though! Now on to Howl's Moving Castle, which I somehow also haven't seen...

2023 RATING- 8
1988 RATING- Impossible today, but if it were a 9 or a 10 at the time, that wouldn't surprise or offend me whatsoever.

This movies wasn't half bad. It was fair. It did have its moments when it was pretty boring. There were a lot of times when they drug out the movie with pointless pictures. For example there was a scene where they were at the bus stop for quite some time. I got the reason later but they didn't need to make it that long.

Like I said, it was a decent movie. It wasn't a complete waste of time and it might be better if you are younger. I watched it once and i am pretty possitive i will never watch it again.

As for ... the totoro: creepy freaking things. If i was ever standing and suddenly one of those things walked up to me, i don't care what it could do for me, i would be keeping my distance. But, that is just me.

Overall: 6 / 10
re-watch value: Never.

I really don't want to criticize this movie (lest the wrath of the internet come upon me), but I didn't leave this movie feeling satisfied. Sure, most Studio Ghibli films are more slice-of-life pieces, not really full of a plot that goes from point A to point B, however, I really feel like this one needed more than what it was. Maybe if the girls got to play with and go on adventures with the fantastical creatures more, I would be more pleased. Regardless of that, this movie was really nice and had a definite air of childlike curiousity and wonder all throughout. I just ... feel like there could have been more to it.

A beautiful masterpiece that explores the world of two young girls. There names are Satsuka and Mae, they have just moved to the country side with their dad while their mom, who is ill is in the hospital. Underneath the stress and playfulness of these two girls lies a world all their own. it just happens to be inhabited by totoro's and cat buses.

"My Neighbor Totoro" is Miyazaki's fourth feature film and just like his others it is beautiful to look at and has a charming story, a bit more melancholy then his other works though. Not a whole lot happens in this film ... but that's why it works. The country home feeling, the large trees and tall grass. Miyazaki explores nature like always and this is defiantly his best forte into it.

The Fannings do a good job in the dubbed version I think. This is for sure a kid friendly film full of cool looking creatures, harmless jokes and amazing animation. Roger Ebert said this is one of the 10 best films for kids ever made. Can't argue with that logic.

There are still strange creatures like these in Japan, supposedly.

As I'm revisiting some of my favourite Ghiblis I thought of writing about them as I go. Started this with Spirited Away. This is not much of a review, merely some of my thoughts on the film.

Totoro is only a figment of Miyazaki's boundless imagination, but I wholeheartedly wish it was a real forest spirit. As it is widely known, the movie was released as a double bill alongside Takahata's haunting feature 'Grave of the Fireflies', which in itself is very ironical cause both of them are on the very opposite ends of the spectrum as ... far as the subjects go.
As I said in my write-up about Spirited Away, Miyazaki's quality is to trap you into a universe of his own. Does it matter what is real and what is not? To me as a viewer it does not, at least for the entirety of its runtime, like a child I believe in everything that happens on the screen infront of me. After the credits roll however, I wish more and more of it was. This draws comparisons to the Toy Story franchise which is a collection of some of my favourite animated movies of all time. But Totoro preceded everything.
This is not to say that the movie doesn't have other aspects except it's world, it surely does. But humour, love, joy and care are so deeply ingrained into it that you don't have to look for them to feel these emotions. Because the movie is not about a conflict or an impending danger, it is about the experience and wonders of adventures. The monsters, the ghosts, the animals are provided a different meaning altogether because it's just a new perspective to look at things. Or is it really new? I wonder if as children, we too had this sense of looking at different things. But that has definitely been lost and you'll find moments in the film that might bring out the child in you. It's the work of the mind of Miyazaki, a child aged 78.

“I also believe that you met the King of the Forest, Mei, and meeting him is a sign of good luck. But there’s no guarantee that you’ll see him all the time.”

I find this dialogue to be very special. Unlike the usual cynicism of day to day life and the general narrative of the seemingly light hearted movies, adults don't assume the role of guarding spirits. They simply believe in what the children are saying, there is no misunderstanding, the adults just find it to be true, perhaps from their own perspective, but true all the same. Perhaps it's not seen in the current world but I know as a kid that this is what a lot of children look for, perhaps the world isn't as kind as Miyazaki makes it, perhaps the characters don't behave in the same manner as real life human beings; regardless, all of us look for this aspect in human life all the time. But as it goes, "there’s no guarantee that you’ll see him all the time." You just find it from time to time. I know all of us do. And this emotion is what Miyazaki manifests into his characters, the goodness of the human soul.

Tonari no Totoro was one of my first exposures to anime, when I was but a young lad of 5 my eldest sister sat me down and watched it with me. at such a young age, I was enthralled by everything, the fuzzy looking art, the beautiful backgrounds and probably my favourite aspect of the film to this day, the music.

Joe Hasaishi's score is brilliant, the main theme, Kaze no Torimichi, whilst not being my favourite Ghibli theme, is excellent, and still gives me goosebumps when I listen.

Before I decided to write this review, I rewatched the film to make sure I wasn't just ... having fond memories due to nostalgia, this however, was not the case and the film still holds up to this day.

Because it was so instrumental in my discovery and subsequent enjoyment of anime as a whole and all the other points discussed, I can rate this film a 10/10 in confidence.

Man I love this film, Everything About it just hits me so hard and its almost like going through childhood again, Its a film with such stellar Direction and theme and i'm going to express my thoughts about it.

STORY: 8

Although Childish and whimsical you can sense a slight dread as you see these kids coping with these sad situations, My Neighbor Totoro is genius in the way it uses totoro, He Always Appears in the worst of situations and just gives you a rush everytime he is on screen and almost removing all that dread from your mind, you become those kids and you begin ... to feel fully entranced by the worlds and scenarios they create.

ART: 9

ah yes Animation and Art this film even 33 years later just nails it, the animation sells that idea that they are children so hard, the amount of movement and grass, totoro flying, it all has a certain amazing feel to it and most importantly, It Feels Authentic.

SOUND: 9

No complaints except for age.

CHARACTER: 8

they are extremely basic but the thing that makes the characters special is that you feel them even as a grown as man it makes me feel like im in their mind almost like im a child again.

ENJOYMENT: 10

i ENJOYED IT, I LOVED IT, I CAN REWATCH IT A LOT OF TIMES.

Overall its a Great film for kids and adults alike and hayao miyazaki's direction skill really shines in this film i give it a strong 9/10 because all though its great its not perfect but its damn near perfect.

My Neighbor Totoro, I really don’t know where to begin to tell you about this fantastic anime. It’s been one of my favourites since I watched it for the first time and now I guess I should tell you about my reasons.

First of all, the one things that impresses me most was, like in most of Miyazaki’s animes, I could feel imagination pouring out of the movie. It was floating so freely that my mind just relaxed and felt at ease for the first time in a long time. I felt like the movie was breaking the walls of my mind and by that ... way, it was setting ME free and this wasn’t the first time that I’ve lived this experince, it happened with a few of the books that I’ve read or movies that I’ve watched, but it happened every time when I’ve watched one of Mayazaki’s works.

Okay, now let’s try to find the reasons of this freedom.

The movie is through the eyes of two little girls; one is the big sister and the other is the little sister, so it’s their imagination that we are seeing, but you don’t really question if it’s real or not, what they are experiencing and the one point that I’ve really liked is, it is actually quite real, because the adults, which are the people that have lost their imaginations, can also see the proofs of the girls’ magical world and this made me very happy, because I want to believe that something magical is happening in the world and there should be, otherwise it would be plain world and where is the fun in that?

Other thing that I’ve really liked was the purity and innocence of the characters. Maybe some of the people that have watched this could think, “This isn’t real, this isn’t how people are acting in the real world.” Well, genius, that’s the my main point. Ofcourse they aren’t acting like your usual jerk that lives around you or upside you or below you. This is the perfect world where forest is happy and people are innocent and good. That’s why I feel happy when I watch this. I don’t want to see everyday people when I watch an anime from Hayazaki anyway. I know they are good and I’m perfectly happy about it.

Also, ofcourse, another thing that makes this movie so perfect is the animation and how well it can reflect the great story to us. The movements of the characters and the views of the forest, everything is just excellent.

By this point, I’m sure you think that I’ve liked everything about My Neighbor Totoro. Actually, no. The one thing I didn’t like was the song at the end, it was really simple and easy to compose, but even that can’t change my overall point, which is the perfect score, because it’s main target is children and children like songs like this, therefore, even though I didn’t like that song, it’s understandable why they chose it. I guess you were right about when you’ve thought that I like this movie and everything about it then, becuase I even adore its flaws.

So, if you are going to watch this anime and I think you should definitely watch it, this is a perfect Hayao Miyazaki movie; nothing more, nothing less and if you don’t feel happy after you’ve finished watching it and don’t want to movie to never end, then maybe you should arrange your “human settings” to factory defaults, because obviously you have lost something on the way here. Have fun.

Tonari no Totoro, So many words I could use to describe just how wonderful this movie actually is. It's starts off slow, but after a while you start understanding the characters they're mind set and their relationships with each other and how they are a family. It's a beautiful transition, to not knowing these characters as in they're complete strangers and goes in to making you feel like your part of they're family.

The art style for being a older movie was comfortable it looked nice. it felt like you were watching a nice old movie from childhood with wacky creatures and curiosity at it's peak.
Sound ... is at a point in which I would call perfect because every moment in the movie either it be a fast pace run scene or a calm relax scene has its own little melody that just makes the movie even more interesting.
Characters overall are generic-ley awesome in the best way possible, compared to your average classics. Being the traditional wacky family that fit in with each other like puzzle pieces.
Enjoyment overall is a 10/10, the movie was so enticing that it had me wondering why it ended so fast and why they're couldn't be more, I wanted to explore more with the characters and get to know the family more. To be able to understand the things in that world more, like no other.

Story: 6
The story is very simple, yet magical. Every time we see one of the larger creatures, I feel transported. The beginning and climax leave a lot to be desired though.

Art: 7
Art is great. It's Ghibli of course! Especially as this was made in '88, this is a masterpiece when it comes to the art. I just wish the more beautiful moments lasted longer, or that there were more of them.

Sound: 3
The two main voice actors are annoying throughout most of the movie (English and Japanese). They're not really charming for me. The older girl does do better at the serious moments though.

Character: 5
There are ... things to enjoy about the characters, but I wish there was more. Especially from the parents; they be kinda bland.

Enjoyment: 9
That said, I liked it. I recommend this if you haven't seen it yet. A lot of classic moments. This one's especially good for younger kids.

Overall: 6