I missed a lot of these Ghibli movies as a kid, so as an adult going back and checking them out, Totoro was one I knew only by its reputation as the movie with the big cat thing that people make merchandise of. I thought of him as a mascot character like Doraemon less than as a part of a film, and I assumed from the title that he would be a bigger part of the movie than he actually was. Luckily, the relationship with Totoro is much less an ET/Stich type of big-unique-animal relationship, and more a way to visualize the kids' budding relationship with nature and spirituality.
Totaro is by no means inappropriate for children, but it's a lot more slow and thoughtful than I initially gave it credit for. A lot of time is spent on establishing the house as a real place, details are gone over so carefully that you really sink into the immersive role of these two kids, exploring a new environment through the lens of whimsical innocence. The sound design in particular really stands out; it makes the world feel alive and rich, with sounds of bugs, rustling branches, flowing water, etc. It doesn't sound like much now, but it's beautiful to experience.
The primary source of tension in the story, which I won't spoil because I think it's worth going in blind, struck a nerve with me due to personal experience which won't necessarily carry over to other viewers. The tension created in the third act is really quite intense, even downright stressful. I respect it for knowing exactly how far to go with this, never going so far as to traumatize any young viewers, but not shying away from creating that pit in your stomach when you briefly consider the worst case scenario.
Even though I didn't grow up with Totoro, I find it so easy to relate to and so difficult to forget, that it almost feels like I did. It's a must-see for anyone interested in the Ghibli legacy.
