My Neighbor Totoro |
 | Summary:Delightful anime fantasy follows the events of two youngster's encounter with magical forest creatures. Miyazaki's timeless anime classic is a must see for fans of non-violent, highly entertaining family dramas. Excellent animation. |
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| Company/Distributors: | 50th Street Films;Studio Ghibli;Tokuma Shoten |
| Year: | 1988 |
| Length: | 87 Minutes |
| Rating: |  |
| Genres: | Family, Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Classic |
| Format: | Feature Film |
| MPAA Rating: | G |
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Review:
I thought that this quote was a good way to start this review, because let me tell you; every single word of it is true. "My Neighbor Totoro" is truly one of those extremely rare timeless classics of animation (Or any movie for that matter) that absolutely should not be missed. I feel that Hayao Miyazaki is a master of storytelling, and that aspect really shines in his many great animated works. From "Nausicaa" to "Princess Mononoke", in every single film he has given us such fanatasic stories, unforgettable characters, and amazing animation; some of a quality rarely seen in animated films. My Neighbor Totoro truly stands out as one of the award-winning animatior's finest films. Both story, art, and charactrers are typical of a "Studio Ghibli" production. All are flawless in nearly every single aspect. The mood of this film is extremely pure and wholesome, one which is very suitable for family viewing; and is in fact very enjoyable to watch. Although it's pace may be too slow for many young viewers who enjoy constant motion/action when they watch a cartoon, it's plot is an extremely engaging and pleasant one. One that parents can feel safe watching with their kids. You will NOT find any sex or violence in this production, as you have often seen in nearly every single anime to date. A nice change of pace for those used to mainstream anime viewing. "My Neighbor Totoro's" plot is actually a very simple one, but nontheless is brilliantly made. It's story centers around two young girls who are moving to a house in the country with their father. The country is a very large and beautiful place, full of friendly people, and adventures just waiting to happen to these two characters. One day Mei discovers a magical and peculiar creature roaming around in her backyard. She follows it to where a gigantic "kampar" tree lies deep within the forest. The home of the many enchanting creatures known as "Totoros", who lurk in and around the trees. Only Mei and her older sister "Satsuki" are able to see these amazing creatures, and they experience many fun-filled escapades. All I will say next is that there is a slight (almost) tragety which occurs in the middle of the film, which the Totoros help out with; but I don't want to give away this movie's entire story. I feel it will ruin it for some, and I encourage those who are reading this to see it and judge for yourself. But one thing is for certain, this is truly a fantastic movie. As I have pointed out before, the art and animation are excellent; and are truly amazing at that. It still holds up very well to this day, and featured some of the finest animation of it's time. Both subtitled and dubbed versions are very well done, hardly any of the original script was lost in the translation from the original. Probably one of the best dubbed versions of any anime film I've seen. The film's score truly captures every mood of the story, and is done rather marvelously. When it was over, I could hardly believe it, and the tune was stuck in my head long afterwards. "My Neighbor Totoro" is a fine example of a timeless anime classic. One which would be a great addition to any animation collection. The story is brilliant, the direction perfect and the characters unforgettable. I STRONGLY recommend this title to any anime fan. Hayao Miyazaki is an apsolute genius. Bravo... |
