My Neighbour Totoro

My Neighbour Totoro Review

I tried my best not to instantly fall in love with this film just because it was a Ghibli. I failed. Studio Ghibli failed to disappoint, yet again. This is a classic.

Mei and Satsuki are two sisters who have moved to the countryside with their father. Their mother is ill in the hospital. They are bubbly and energetic young girls who are always laughing and having fun. They discover some strange creatures that they think are ghosts but soon find there may be much more magic and mystery to them than meets the eye.

Firstly, I just want to bring attention to the backgrounds which are so often only glimpsed for a second, absolutely breathtaking. This film, like every Studio Ghibli, has phenomenal animation with each frame hand drawn. The great thing about hand drawing is that every frame is an artwork. Unlike CG which can quickly become surpassed by ever-changing technology this style of animation is timeless and remains beautiful even to me watching it over 25 years after its first release. The characters each have a distinct personality and it is clear that they are living things and not just tools used to tell a story or to impress the audience with the spectacle of their existence. I do not see Totoro and think “Ooh a furry spirit. Cool!” Well I do. But I also think: “Hey, that dudes just trying to get some sleep!” Real characters and real emotion. The story is simple, lovely and heart-warming. Not in the way that it is some easy-pleasey feel-good movie. The story is a beautifully fun adventure that I wish I could go on. They call it a movie for kids. Well then I think we are all kids. Watch this with your family, your friends, your grandparents and you might as well call your neighbours over too! Sorry I’ve gotta go catch my Cat Bus. Jā ne ̄ !