Tonari no Totoro

A while ago, I promised myself I’d watch all the Ghibli movies, or at least all the popular ones, and My Neighbor Totoro was next on my list. Αnyway, I finally watched it, and I've got to say, it was a pretty magical experience.
To be fully honest, it's been more than two years since I watched a Ghibli movie, so my excitement going in was pretty high. However, I can assure you that my hype is only a tiny part of it. The rest of it comes from the movie's great quality.
Directed by the legendary Hayao Miyazaki, this 1988 classic is one of those ... movies that just makes you feel good. It's a sweet, simple story that’s perfect for anyone who loves a good, heartwarming tale, without caring too much about all the details or being too critical.

Plot:
The plot of My Neighbor Totoro is really straightforward but charming. It’s about two young sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who move to the countryside with their dad to be closer to their hospitalized mom. The house they move into is old, but they quickly make it their home. The real adventure begins when Mei, the younger sister, discovers a magical creature named Totoro in the nearby forest. Totoro is a big, fluffy, and friendly forest spirit. Satsuki eventually meets Totoro too, and together, the girls have all sorts of whimsical adventures.

Characters:
The characters in this movie are loveable and distinctive. Satsuk is responsible and caring, while Mei is curious and full of energy. Their mom is a warm and hopeful person, and as for their dad, he is very loving and supportive. Totoro, even though he doesn’t speak, has so much personality. He’s gentle, playful, and a bit mysterious. The way he interacts with the girls is so heartwarming, it makes you wish you had a Totoro in your backyard.

Visuals:
The animation is absolutely beautiful. Studio Ghibli really outdid themselves with the lush, detailed backgrounds and the fluid, expressive character animations. The countryside setting is so vibrant and alive, it almost feels like a character in itself. The scenes with Totoro and the magical creatures are especially enchanting, filled with a sense of wonder and magic. The attention to detail in every frame makes the world of Totoro feel real and inviting.

Sound and Music:
The music is light, cheerful, and full of fantasy, just like the story. The soundtrack really enhances the magical atmosphere of the movie. The sound design is also great, with little touches like the rustling of leaves and the sounds of the countryside adding to the immersive experience.

Pacing and themes:
One of the things I love about this movie is its focus on childhood innocence, memories, and the magic of nature. It’s all about the simple joys of life, like exploring new places, making new friends, the great memories you have from your childhood, and just being in "the moment". There’s also a strong theme of family and support, especially in how the girls handle their mom’s illness. The movie doesn’t have a big, dramatic conflict, which, in my opinion, is refreshing. Instead, it’s more about the small, everyday moments that make life special.
The relaxed and leisurely pace, which might feel slow to some people, works perfectly for the story. It gives you time to really delve into the world and the characters. It's simple and direct, which makes it accessible to viewers of all ages. Even though there isn’t a traditional antagonist or high-stakes plot, the movie keeps you engaged with its charm and heart.

So, I've been praising this movie for a while now, and you might think that it's the best anime movie ever made. But, unfortunately, that's far from the truth.
The movie isn't perfect. In fact, I really wish there was more to the ending, as it felt a bit "too sudden" for me. Even an extra minute or an extended scene would have been great. The only reason I can't give it a higher rating is that, even though it's super charming, I just can't quite push it any further. That slight lack of closure holds it back from being "perfect". But still, this is just a tiny complaint, and it doesn't diminish its overall amazing quality. And don't get me wrong, the story has a proper ending. Maybe I'm just being a nitpicker because I enjoyed the movie so much and wanted to see a bit more.

Conclusion:
My Neighbor Totoro is a delightful, feel-good movie that’s perfect for when you need a bit of magic in your life. It’s got lovable characters, stunning animation, and a gentle, heartwarming story that’s all about the joy of childhood memories and the beauty of nature. Whether you’re a longtime fan of Studio Ghibli or a newbie, you don't want to miss this one. It’s a timeless classic that you can watch over and over again, and it always leaves you with a smile on your face. Also, Totoro himself has become an incredibly popular and iconic figure, to the point where he’s the logo of Studio Ghibli. And I think that says a lot.

Thank you for reading!

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.

As a young adult watching this movie for the first time, I would say this movie is the definition of a perfectly fine movie. Nothing bad about it, but nothing really amazing. It's as slice of life as a movie can get with a few fantasy moments thrown in. The music is good and the art is great as to be expected, but nothing really stood out to me besides Totoro's cute design. If you are learning Japanese, I would recommend this film since it uses basic Japanese for most of the film thanks to it being a slice of life kids film. Otherwise, you ... can honestly skip the film or just watch a compilation of the Totoro scenes online to get a similar experience.