My Neighbor Totoro

We began renting Miyzaki films from Netflix after we saw Spirited Away in 2006. My Neighbor Totoro is the film that makes me wish I was a small child again. We watched it with our 3 1/2 year old daughter, who burst into tears when it ended because she wanted to see it again immediately! Two weeks later, she walks around the house singing "To-to-ro To-toro!" Bringing the works of Miyazaki (and other Studio Ghibli films) to an American audience is the best thing Disney has done in the last 10 years, bar none (yes, that includes the deal with Pixar, whose films, while charming in their own way, are often too slick by half for me).

My Neighbor Totoro appeals to the kid in all of us, and takes us back to a time before deadlines and the pressures of the world came calling.

My opinion only, but fans of animation must bow down to Hayao Miyazaki. In fact, fans of movies, in general, and of art must give Mr. Miyazaki his due propers. I've seen his recent stuff (Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle) and am left awestruck. The man is a genius in his purview, and he works hard. Simply remarkable, the craftsmanship and soul and depth fused into these pictures. Having fanned myself into an addiction for more of Mr. Miyazaki's works, I've started to backtrack and catch up on his older films. MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, released in 1988, was my intro to his more classic stuff. Not too surprisingly, I really enjoyed it.

Most folks consider MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (or TONARI NO TOTORO) to be a masterpiece, and who am I to argue? Set on a more intimate scale than Mr. Miyazaki's other, more grandiose efforts, it's one of the best family films around, particularly in terms of portraying the family interrelationships. The way in which the two young girls connect to each other is disarming and a sheer pleasure to watch. Too, I like that their father isn't an absent parent by default, or one who's too busy or prone to misunderstanding and distrusting his kids (like in most American family films). When the youngest girl, Mei, tells her father (and her older sister) that she'd just encountered a "totoro" he doesn't dismiss her out of hand. He listens and even ventures an explanation. And it doesn't come off as condescending. In fact, the same thing happens earlier in the film, when the family was just moving into their new home and the girls glimpse the soot sprites. Dude's a cool dad.

The plot, real quick: Two young girls (with their dad) move to rural Japan to be closer to their ailing mother, who temporarily resides in a nearby hospital. Along the way, the girls - the pre-teen Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei - meet Totoro, a large but benign forest spirit, whom only children can see. Totoro would become their friend and guardian.

This is a rare film in that it contains neither villains nor violence. Mr. Miyazaki renders his supernatural world so benevolent and wondrous that it elicits delighted smiles, and not shudders. The scary moments instead stem from the girls' overriding fear that their sickly mother might not get better, that she might even die, a truly frightening prospect for children. And, because of Mr. Miyazaki's attention to detail and development of his characters, this concern becomes valid to us. You ache for the girls. Real people, real concerns.

Visually, technically, emotionally, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is a beautiful film. No surprise then that Hayao Miyazaki writes, directs, and draws this thing. There's an enchanting simplicity here, with a leisurely pace and a narrative which isn't rushed. Again, respect to Mr. Miyazaki's attention to detail. We learn much of the Japanese culture; specifically, we gain an insight into Japan's agricultural way of life and the farmers' affinity with their environment. As usual, Mr. Miyazaki injects his cast with an appreciation and respect for nature. And nature reciprocates in the form of the forest spirit Totoro, whose simple pleasures are sights to behold, from his lazy enjoyment of an afternoon nap to his infectious glee at the raindrops pelting his umbrella.

There's a joy in the sisters' interactions with Totoro. There's something quite moving about this mysterious creature guiding the girls in a mystical rite to make their slow-growing acorns shoot up into mature oak trees. And there's something so right about Satsuki and Mei waking up later to realize that their planted seeds hadn't grown to full bloom after all, but that they did, however, finally begin to sprout. And, when, earlier, Totoro soared the night skies on his magical top, with the children and the little totoros crazily clinging to him, what a truly glorious and uplifting moment.

A bit now on the dvd special features (from the Disney presentation). Disc 1 not only has the movie but also the following: "Behind the Microphone" - a segment featuring the English voiceover actors (Dakota and Elle Fanning are a delight); the Opening & Ending Title Sequence Art; and the original trailer. Meanwhile, Disc 2, if you have it, offers the original Japanese storyboards for the entire film.

If there's one truly melancholy note here, it's in the thought that there'll come a day when Satsuki and Mei won't be able to see Totoro anymore. But, at least, in 2002, Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli came out with MEI AND THE KITTENBUS, a 13-minute-long follow up to MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO which demonstrates that at least Mei hasn't been deprived of hanging out with otherworldy company. Now if only Studio Ghibli will let us see the damn thing.

As ever, Mr. Miyazaki's humanity and perceptiveness shine thru. And this I can't emphasize enough: The film has appealing magical creatures, yes. And the film presents several stunning magical sequences, sure. But the true magic lies in the sisters and how they relate to each other, and sometimes get annoyed with each other, yet continually care for each other. Satsuki and Mei are simply irresistible, wonderfully realized characters. The self-sufficiency and warmth of Satsuki. The cute stubbornness of Mei (maybe an ear of corn CAN cure maladies). Gentle and whimsical and enchanting, MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO is recommended for the young and the young-at-heart and even the cranky-at-heart. So get on board for this one. I'm certain that crazy, big-grinning Cat Bus has tons of room.

Next on my to-watch list: Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, and Castle in the Sky.

This movie is so entertaining for my pre-schooler, and I enjoy it, too. Beautiful animation, magical setting, and nice story.

This movie is adorable, entertaining, good for any ages! The languages that it comes with are French, Japanese, and English. You will love this movie!

Miyazaki's films always amaze me with the grasp on scenery, detail and the depiction of human nature. Everything is just so well orchestrated in this film, right down to the catchy music that plays white the Totoro is flying.

I have to admit something however. For years I hated most anime and foreign animation in general. It was just in the last few years that I've opened up to more of it. This was mostly out of my desire to appriciate all forms of animation (myself an aspiring cartoonist). I discovered in this time that the reason I wouldn't give any of it a chance was not the fault of the cartoons or their animators, but rather of the fanboys. Not fanboys in general, but the ones that hate all other forms of animation other than anime simply because other animation isn't anime. I'm sure if you went to high school in a heavily populated area, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

Please, don't let annoying people keep you from enjoying the animation of other cultures. Almost every area of the world has great animated features that get overlooked (Triplets of Belleville is good for example). You will be amazed at how much more enjoyable a great cartoon is once you have seen the different ways it is utilized for storytelling. It's very inspiring.

And inspiring is the word that I think best suits how I feel about My Neighbor Totoro, This was the second full length anime movie I ever sat down and watched (Spirited Away was first). Immediately I was blown away at the attention to color, atmospheric sounds, just everything. The film really conveys the feeling of the world it depicts. What really impressed me was the depiction of people. They aren't vicious or melodramatic or stupid for the sake of comedy. The little girls are portrayed as two happy, laughing kids enjoying life. The kinds of kids you might yell "settle down" to. The problems they face in the film affect them in ways that they might affect normal kids.

Then there's the Totoro's. I swear, the animators this an amazing job of making the main Totoro look lovable and warm and fluffy, yet intelligent somehow. You don't really get too much background on the Totoro or the wonderfully designed catbus, but the characters all fit very well in their respective scenes.

The story itself is kind of different. It follows the standard hero arc in a sense, but in a much more subtle way. This movie follows a few days in the lives of two girls, in which they experience a kind of growth (as symbolized by the growing of plants, etc. in the movie). There is no physical villain or epic battle to speak of. Just a sweet and good hearted story. If you don't really get it while you're watching it, don't worry, it will grow on you in the days to come.

All of this said, while this film is definately a really good one, it's not Miyazaki's best. But it's a great start if you're looking for an introduction to his style or even just a good movie you can watch with the kids or by yourself or whatever.

Five out of five in any case.

-Matt