My Neighbor Totoro

New DVD by Disney has new voices and wording for the characters. We were used to the older voices and the colloquial wording. Sad to see the change.

I just loved this movie - and I'm an adult. It really is a very cute touching film, even if it is a bit slow. I personally found it to be very entertaining, and I'd recommend it as a family film.

Miyazaki has done a great job of making the sisters seem believable as real children and also likeable - they're not too sweet/cute, but not too bratty. I also loved how elements of reality and fantasy were nicely interwoven - such that the appearance of the Totoro(s) felt believable, yet still cute(and who doesn't want to give the big Totoro a good squeeze?). The film also suceeds in presenting everything from the perspective of the children. Why don't we know exactly what's wrong with their mom? Because they don't exactly know. The information given is what the children perceive, thus we see the world through their eyes.
I also ejoyed thier portrayal of the father. He seems to be a very patient, loving father who actually spends some time with his children despite having to work alot. It's very refreshing to see a film portrayal of the loving sensitive father (we could use more of that). For this reason I think the film has a very positive portrayal of family, thus making it a good family film (there's also a nice lack of violence and swearing, for those with small children). My only complaint is that there should have been more bonus features, like a making-of and maybe some interviews with people who actually made the film. However, this is a fault of the dvd release, not the film itself.

Overall, this is an excellent whimsical fantasy tale as well as a good coming of age tale. I highly recommend it both for children and adults.

P.S. I can't stop humming that catchy ending song. "Totoro, Totoro..."

Almost everyone I knew into animation told me I'd love this movie after I got into Studio Gibli's work a few years back. I guess after seeing Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away anything would have a hard time stacking up. It's a good movie, but I don't think they used the magical elements and creatures enough.

Don't tell anyone, but there is animist Japanese religion all over this perfect animated movie. Does that make it animated animism or animist animation? I don't know and does it matter - NO! This movie is sweet and beautiful with a marvelous soundtrack. It is gentle without putting you to sleep. How come the only good Disney movies come from other studios these days? Because there were never any good Disney movies. (Oops, tipped my cards). Bottom line: buy this for your kids and it won't be long before Porco Rosso makes a crash landing at your sty.

There's lots of reviews about what a great family movie Totoro is. I'm in the middle of a divorce right now and watch it with my 3 year old almost every night. The fact that the two girls are living with just their dad and the mom lives some place else is a great opportunity for us to talk about things and help him understand that what's going on in his life isn't unique.