My Neighbor Totoro is that rare exception, a story about 'the magic of childhood' that is absolutely equal to its subject.
The things in the movie that are imaginary are wonderfully imagined. But no less wonderful are the things that are clearly real--from the relationship between the sisters and their father to the few incidental frames of background animation that remind you what it's like to catch a glimpse of a fish in a stream. The world of the movie and its characters are so detailed and specific, so well-observed, that you believe in them utterly; then, when the whole thing begins to steer towards 'magical realism', you believe that too.
My Neighbor Totoro is well past being a good anime. It's a great movie, and an artistic accomplishment that demonstrates the potential of the medium. If you're reading this site, odds are you're familiar with the director, Hayao Miyazaki. Totoro was my first exposure to Miyazaki, my 'gateway drug' to the world of anime, and I remain in the debt of the person who sat me down in front of it. If comics, or animation, or imagination are important to you, you owe it to yourself to see this movie.
