My Neighbor Totoro

I'm 27 and I just saw this anime for the first time. In fact, it's the first anime I ever saw and I only watched it because a friend kept telling me how great it was. It had been sitting on my shelf for over two years and last night I figured: what the hell, let's try it.

This movie blew me away. It so perfectly captures the innocence and the exploratory nature of childhood. It enables you to view an ordinary day through the viewpoint of two ordinary young girls. It shows how boring we adults are, and how much fantasy, discovery, emotions and playfulness we have lost since we were kids. There's no macho behaviour, no bad guys, no evil to beat, just two kids growing up in a normal life, but extraordinarily presented.

A perfect coming-of-age movie and one of the most impressive movies I've ever seen. Already one of my all-time favourites. If the rest of Hayao Miyazaki's films are anything close to this, he will have a new lifelong fan.

This movie like so many others from Studio Ghibli shows that Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks Animation are not the only companies that can make top notch animation. My Neighbor Totoro is a wonderful story made by Studio Ghibli and the master Hayao Miyazaki. Some may know him from his other works like Spirited Away and Princess Mononoke, but this one should not be forgotten. Does Totoro and the buscat (i have no better word for it) with the many legs actually exist or were their part of the girls fantasy? I guess we'll never know....

>Everybody, try laughing. Then whatever scares you will go away!

I introduced my AAR* to the creative genius of Hayao Miyazaki's Ghibli Studio, today, by taking her to see MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO, which was her first Japanese Anime movie. Here is her review (warning, it has some mild spoilers, which I shall note):

I think this movie is a 10 because it is a great movie! I liked all the parts but my favourite part was [spoiler] when the older sister found her younger sister [/spoiler]. That was very happy. It had some scary and sad parts but [spoiler] it was all happy at the end [/spoiler]. I really liked the two girls, the main characters. I would recommend this movie because it is a very good movie and you would enjoy it very much.

She gives this film a 10 (very great) out of 10 and a thumbs up!

*AAR = Age Appropriate Reviewer - my friend Sophie is nine years old

A gorgeous, pitch-perfect example of Studio Ghibli's wonderful characteristic style. Bubbling over with awe, wonder, curiosity and optimism, it's downright impossible not to get sucked into viewing and enjoying this through the eyes of its two young protagonists, recognizing forgotten flashes of our own youth at several stops along the way.

The plot isn't particularly deep or elaborate, but in many ways I can see that as a positive - why force drama into a scenario that's working perfectly well as a quiet, leisurely stroll down imagination lane? I was actually relieved when it became clear they weren't even thinking of moving in that direction. Even the more reflective moments don't miss a beat, as Miyazaki and company lovingly flush the screen with life in dozens of cheery, unexpected ways.

Magnificent animation pairs with a breathtaking setting, a playful spirit, a lovable cast of characters, great timing and a moderate dash of real-life tangibility. Authentic and vivid and pleasant, with at least one foot planted firmly in our world... despite the constant presence of an eight-foot Furby.

I had planned to watch this movie for so long but never looked for it on the web in my language. And There it is on TV, IN ENGLISH! I could not not watch it lol. And I'm so happy I did, been hearing such positive comments from people around me.
It's truely a masterpiece, Studio Ghibli makes such good animated movies. And it got me crying of course!
Totoro IS SO CUTE !!! I noticed so many little things from the other movies, that's lovely. This is a movie you have in your library for your Ghibli moments 😛
(Now I need to find my language's version lol)

Part of the Japanuary 2021 challenge.

I've seen this one so many times already and I can't wait to show it to my niece. It's so carefree, so beautiful and Totoro is so damn cute. Hayao Miyazaki's work is LEGENDARY.

This movie is just pure delight, wonder, and joy all wrapped into beautiful animation. I love it all to bits.