My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

If you're looking for fun family fare, Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro fits the bill.  You can probably find it in any video store, since it has been dubbed and released by Fox Lorber.  I was disappointed that I couldn't find an import copy at my local anime specialty shop, but the dub is fine, if not a bit too giggly.   However, I wouldn't be surprised if the original was just as giggly, and a comparison with the script I had printed out beforehand shows that the dub is a near literal translation of the original Japanese dialogue- minus some obscure cultural references.

Satsuki and Mei are sisters who have just moved into a new home in the countryside with their father, a university professor, while their mother remains ill in the hospital.  As they play and explore, they encounter the spirits of the forest surrounding their home- cute and fuzzy rabbity things that look like a cross between the Cheshire cat and an owl, called Totoros by Mei (Totoro is a mispronunciation of Tororo, or "troll").  There's a little white Totoro, a medium blue Totoro, and one freaking huuuge brown Totoro.  Following the Totoros down a hole a-la Alice in Wonderland, Mei finds their home and earns their trust and protection.

Normally, I can't stand kiddie movies, but I couldn't help but enjoy this film.   Why?  Maybe it's because it doesn't play down to little kids like Disney movies, but instead portrays little kids as they are.  Little Mei is appropriately bratty and endearing at the same time- there are moments when Mei is scared or sad, and the animation is so lifelike when she grasps at the legs of her big sister that it just tugs at your heartstrings.  And you want cute?  How could you not love the Totoros?  The bus stop scene where the big Totoro becomes fascinated by the raindrops falling on his umbrella is unforgettable.  Maybe I'm just a sentimental sucker, but suddenly I have the urge to put little Totoro pictures all over my website.  I'll bet that Totoro merchandise sells like hotcakes in Japan (and they do!)...

Err, where was I?  Some sites will try to summarize the story by describing how Mei tries to go to the hospital by herself and gets lost, and Satsuki calls upon the big Totoro to help find her.  Well, that does happen, but only in the last ten minutes of this film.  There is no plot- it's pure entertainment as you watch the characters live.  There are the fantastical Totoros and the CatBus (don't ask- see the film!), scenes of playing in the beautiful watercolor-rendered countryside, and an exhilarating flight amongst the treetops in the moonlight.  For some, this film is a nostalgic portrayal of the past.  It certainly had my father reminiscing about living in the countryside of Taiwan.

There is a real difference between this film and a recent Disney film.  A Disney movie will try to appeal to a wider audience with different parts of the movie- think obnoxious sidekicks and cutesy pals for the kids, and movie references and in-jokes for the adults dragged along.  In My Neighbor Totoro, however, none of that is necessary.  Credit acclaimed director Hayao Miyazaki for bringing true-to-life characters in both a real and fantastical setting that appeals to all ages at once.  Even if you don't like kids films, you have to see this one at least once, if not just to laugh at the Totoros.  And if you do like kiddie films, this one is guaranteed to serve up a large helping of that warm fuzzy feeling.

Posted: 8-11-1998

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