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A Movie review

My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ, Tonari no Totoro)

Directed and written by    Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by                     Toru Hara
Distributed by                   Toho (Japan)
Troma Films (USA)
Disney (USA)
Released in                      1988 (Japan)
Fox Dub: 1993 (USA)
Disney Dub: 2006 (USA)
Running time                    86 min.
Language                         Japanese
My Neighbor Totoro is considered as one of the world’s greatest anime films in history. In Japan the character Totoro is as famous among children as Winnie the Pooh is in Britain. The film is written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, who has also created the animas Kiki’s Delivery service and Princess Mononoke.

My Neighbor Totoro takes place in 1958 at some beautiful countryside in Japan. The sisters Satsuki and Mei have moved to an idyllic village near the hospital where their mother is recovering from an illness that has been on for quite some time. With their father they move into an old house by the help of a couple of farmers from the village. Frankly the house looks like a ruin but by the help of an old woman they set up the place. They basically live in a forest and the house is big and filled with strange bugs.

The settings are perfect for Satsuki and Mei to explore. When Satsuki begins at her new school Mei is left alone and has to play by herself. One day she finds two small rabbit looking magical creatures in the garden and follows them through the bushes and down to a narrow and dark opening in a tree. She falls into the gap and finds herself in some kind of underworld. Here she finds a huge, furry and magical creature she befriends and calls Totoro. Mei tells Satsuki about the new creatures she has found but she doesn’t believe her at first. One rainy day while waiting on their father at the bus stop, Totoro reveals itself for Satsuki. She befriends Totoro as well and together they go on new adventures. One day when the father has to work late Satsuki gets a telegram from the hospital where her mother is recovering. She receives the message that the mother’s condition is getting worse, meanwhile Mei disappears. Everything seems chaotic for Satsuki but somehow Totoro arrives and helps her out from all the problems.

My Neighbor Totoro is a beautiful film about human relationships, innocence and the almighty nature. Through the whole story one is told about the forces of nature and magic. The anime depicts the act of children, their colorful conscience and how they choose to solve problems. It contains amazing pictures and is perfect if you are looking for a way to relax and clear your head from duties and issues. Frankly I would not recommend the film to people with sensitive hearing. As well as astonishing pictures the film also contains a massive amount of high-note screaming! Otherwise… Enjoy!