"My Neighbor Totoro" Review: What is the appeal of Studio Ghibli's classic anime?

My Neighbor Totoro - Timeless fantasy and family ties

■ Public Media

theater

■ Original Media

Anime Original

■ Release date

April 16, 1988 - January 1, 0000

■Distribution company

Toho

■ Eirin Number

112482

■Frequencies

86th minute

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■Original Story

Hayao Miyazaki

■ Director

Hayao Miyazaki

■ Production

Studio Ghibli

■Works

© 1988 Studio Ghibli

■ Story

Two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, move to a suburban area surrounded by abundant greenery with their father. One day, they meet a mysterious creature called Totoro. Through their encounter with Totoro, they have a mysterious experience. When Mei gets lost on her way to the hospital to deliver some corn to her hospitalized mother, Satsuki, in distress, calls out to Totoro for help. A giant 12-legged Cat Bus with a body like a bonnet bus appears. Its shining eyes are like headlights, and it runs like the wind to Mei no matter where she is, including through power lines and the forest.

■Explanation

This fantasy film is set in the suburbs of Tokyo in the 1950s. The character Totoro, which was born from this work, has also become the symbol of Studio Ghibli. Director Hayao Miyazaki's unique worldview and the beauty of life in harmony with nature make this film beloved by a wide range of generations, from children to adults. In particular, the respect for nature that Totoro symbolizes and the deep bond between family members deeply move viewers. The film also depicts the scenery and lifestyle of the Showa era in great detail, evoking a sense of nostalgia, while the film's universal themes allow it to resonate with viewers across generations.

■Cast

・Satsuki/Noriko Hidaka・Mei/Chinatsu Sakamoto・Kanta/Toshiyuki Amagasa・Tatsuo Kusakabe/Shigesato Itoi・Yasuko Kusakabe/Sumi Shimamoto・Kanta's Grandmother/Yayoi Kitabayashi・Totoro/Hitoshi Takagi

■ Main staff

Scriptwriter: Hayao Miyazaki, Animation: Yoshiharu Sato, Art director: Kazuo Oga, Finishing touches: Michiyo Yasuda, Cinematography: Hisao Shirai, Assistant director: Tetsuya Endo

■ Main Characters

Satsuki is a lively sixth grade girl who looks after the house in place of her mother. Her growth and sense of responsibility are key elements of the story.
・Mei Satsuki's younger sister, a 4-year-old girl full of curiosity. Her purity and innocence enhance her encounter with Totoro.
Kanta: A boy who lives next door to Satsuki. He seems to like Satsuki. He shows the pure emotions of a child.
・Tatsuo Kusakabe is an archaeologist and father. His kindness and knowledge in supporting his family add depth to the story.
・Kusakabe Yasuko A beautiful mother who is hospitalized due to illness. Her presence strengthens the bond between the family.
Kanta's grandmother. She takes care of Satsuki and Mei. She is a symbol of the warmth of the community.
・Totoro A ghost that has lived in Japan longer than humans. Depicted as a being that coexists with nature, he is the central character of the story.

■ Theme songs and music

Opening theme song: Sanpo (Stroll) Lyrics: Rieko Nakagawa Music: Joe Hisaishi Arrangement: Joe Hisaishi Singer: Azumi Inoue

・Ending theme song・My Neighbor Totoro・Lyrics by Hayao Miyazaki・Music by Joe Hisaishi・Arrangement by Joe Hisaishi・Singer by Azumi Inoue

■Detailed evaluation

"My Neighbor Totoro" is a fascinating work created by director Hayao Miyazaki, with a worldview that blurs the boundaries between fantasy and reality. The story begins when two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, move to the countryside with their father. There, they meet a mysterious creature called Totoro, and grow up through living in harmony with nature. In particular, the appearance of the Catbus in the scene where Mei gets lost is very impressive both visually and narratively, and symbolizes the adventurous spirit and purity of children.

The greatest appeal of this film is that it depicts the coexistence of humans and nature. Totoro is nature itself, and teaches us the importance of humans living in harmony with nature. The scene in which Satsuki and Mei learn to respect and be grateful for nature through their encounter with Totoro deeply moves the viewer. Furthermore, the film maintains an exquisite balance between fantasy and reality by depicting the strength of family ties against the backdrop of a realistic problem: the mother is ill and hospitalized.

The portrayal of the characters is also very realistic, especially Satsuki's growth and sense of responsibility, and Mei's purity and innocence, which enrich the story. Satsuki grows up by doing household chores to make up for her mother's absence and by taking care of her younger sister. Meanwhile, Mei experiences the mystery and beauty of nature through her encounter with Totoro. Their growth and the bond between family members are the central themes of the story.

The music is also an important element that enhances the appeal of this work. Joe Hisaishi's beautiful melodies deeply express the emotions of the story and move the hearts of the viewers. In particular, the opening song "Stroll" and the ending song "My Neighbor Totoro" perfectly capture the atmosphere of the story and can be enjoyed both visually and aurally.

Set in the suburbs of Tokyo in the 1950s, the film is both nostalgic and universal. It depicts the scenery and lifestyle of the Showa era in detail, evoking nostalgia for the generation that remembers Japan at that time, while its themes of family ties and respect for nature resonate with people of all ages. This is one of the reasons why "My Neighbor Totoro" has been loved for so many years.

■Recommendation details

"My Neighbor Totoro" is a film that can be recommended to a wide range of generations, from children to adults. Watching it with the family in particular can help you reaffirm the importance of family ties. This film, which depicts the beauty of a life that coexists with nature, will provide healing to those who are tired of city life. Furthermore, this film, which depicts the scenery and lifestyle of the Showa era, is also recommended for those who are interested in history and culture.

When watching this film, please pay attention to the following points:

• Satsuki and Mei's growth and family ties
• Coexistence of Totoro and nature
• Scenery and lifestyle of the 1950s
• The beautiful music of Joe Hisaishi

"My Neighbor Totoro" is a timeless fantasy work that depicts director Hayao Miyazaki's unique worldview and the beauty of life in harmony with nature. This work provides deep emotion and healing to the viewer, making it a masterpiece that everyone should see at least once.