THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS OF THE DISCUSSED FILM. READERS DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Studio Ghibli has been looked as the be all end all of studios for making outstanding films done in the style of anime, Japanese animation. As the studio took notice in the mid 80s, there is one that showed they were here to stay.
PLOT
1988's My Neighbor Totoro takes place in 1958 Japan and follows two sisters, Mei and Satsuki. They move into an older house with their father Tatsuo, in order to be closer to their ill mother Yasuko who's residing in a hospital. Despite that the house appears to be falling apart, the girls find comfort after kicking out a herd of black balls named 'susuwatari'. Their new neighbor simply nicknamed Granny that they always leave whenever humans move in. The next morning, Mei roams around the forest and follows two figures that resemble rabbits. One has white fur and another has blue fur, carrying a bag of acorns. As she follows them, she falls into a hole beneath the roots of a tree. There, she discovers a larger figure that she would name and befriend 'Totoro'. She tries to share this to her family, but they're nowhere to be seen. Tatsuo explains that the things she's encountered are likely spirits who disappear and reappear whenever they want to be seen. One day at school, Mei insists on visiting Satsuki, despite that Granny is supposed to babysit her. However, the school teacher allows her to sit in throughout the day. After school, it begins to rain and at a bus stop, the sisters are offered an umbrella by Kanta, grandson of Granny. Although they were offered by Granny to stay in their house until their father arrives, they choose to meet him at the next bus stop. As they wait, they encounter Totoro who travels by a 'Catbus'. Shortly after that, Tatsuo arrives and they go home together. Days later, they plant seeds outside their home and at night, Totoro does a ceremonial dance that helps them grow. Days apart from that, the girls are devastated that their mother is unable to see the house due to a set back on her treatment. Mei gets so angry that she chooses to go to the hospital herself and get her some corn, hoping to make her feel better. However, the young sister goes missing, which frightens the neighborhood. Satsuki goes to Totoro for help and he offers such by summoning the Catbus to search for her. She is able to find her only to be alone on the side of the road. This happened because she got lost after getting the corn. Once she gets picked up, they ride to the hospital and discover Yasuko to be fine after recovering from a minor cold. Without being noticed, they leave the corn by the window, along with a note that wishes her to get better. The film ends with the sisters reuniting with Granny and Kanta, relieved that Mei is okay. As the credits roll, there are images implying that Yasuko eventually recovered and moves in with her family, as Totoro observes from afar.
THOUGHTS
I have been hearing about this years, due to the fact that many people enjoy anime more than I do. As I slowly invest into this genre, it comes without surprise that I enjoyed this film very much. This is a standout because Hayao Miyazaki is able to create this atmosphere where you are at piece and no matter what the situation, things will always get better. Aside from the animation that is aging so beautifully, the film remains relevant due to the array of characters that we admire during such a journey. While Totoro is deservingly iconic, it is the sisters of Mei and Satsuki that define this movie. They are great characters in their own way because of how they always do their best to be cheerful in a time where some would have difficulty embracing. Despite having that in common, their age makes them as different as expected. Satsuki can be a bright soul because of her maturity as an older sister, along with being an open minded person. As for Mei, she can be looked at as adorable because of how she is single minded and quickwitted. Granny is lovable because of how she chooses to please the sisters and give them all the love in the world, rather than anything else. She may not be their actual grandmother, but that doesn't mean she won't love them like so. Kanta is memorable due to how he comes off shy and naive, based on the crush he develops for Satsuki. He may not say it out loud, but the way he acts towards her make it obvious. At first it appears rude but when understanding where he's coming from, it becomes a relatable situation. So when he is part of the search for Mei, you can't help but respect him for it. Last but not least, this movie just doesn't work at all without the titular lead. Totoro has carried such a strong presence in cinema because within a minimum amount of screen time, he is a gentle giant that lives up to the title of spirit. He is able to teach the girls that expressing emotions is healthy and can be shown as a sign of courage in a world that often suppresses that which it fears. When they broke down over their mother, that made them stronger rather than weak. While he isn't a talkative figure, it is clear that they would've not learned this without him. And that is why we all love Totoro. This movie will forever remain entertaining but having said that, there were some moments that I can't help but scratch my head about. First off, how did Tatsuo not react to the girls screaming over the susuwatari? I know the kids get hyped up over anything, but it felt weird that he never thought twice about it. It is cute when Satsuki meets Totoro at night, but I prefer that it'd be safer for them to be at Granny's. This movie may be technically meant for a family viewing, but it didn't look comfortable seeing the girls alone at the bus stop, until Totoro appeared. And lastly, how is Satsuki's entire class excited to see her sister? Mei hadn't even mentioned Totoro yet and somehow, they were acting like they've never seen a sister before. However, ignore these problems and you'll enjoy this piece of art for what it is. In short, My Neighbor Totoro will remain to be a great film because it is one that makes you feel good inside. If you're getting into anime, make this your kick starter.
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