Let's talk about Tonari no Totoro/My Neighbor Totoro
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Synopsis
In 1950s Japan, Tatsuo Kusakabe relocates himself and his two daughters, Satsuki and Mei, to the countryside to be closer to their mother, who is hospitalized due to long-term illness. As the girls grow acquainted with rural life, Mei encounters a small, bunny-like creature in the yard one day. Chasing it into the forest, she finds "Totoro"—a giant, mystical forest spirit whom she soon befriends. Before long, Satsuki too meets Totoro, and the two girls suddenly find their lives filled with magical adventures in nature and fantastical creatures of the woods.
The movie itself was made in 1988, by Studio Ghibli, this was a huge movie at the time and won many awards. In 1988, Tonari no Totoro won the Best Film and Ofuji Noburo awards in the Mainichi Film Awards, the Special Award in the 31st Blue Ribbon Awards, the Grand Prix in the Animage Anime Awards, and the Best Film and Reader's Choice Award: Best Japanese Film awards in the Kinema Junpo Awards. The movie was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
THE CHARACTERS
Totoro
It is the main focus of the story. Basically, Totoro was the name given to the King of the Forest/Guardian Spirit by Mei after a troll in her storybook when she accidentally found him. He has supernatural powers as you would expect from a spirit and can do a lot of stuff like growing a 30 feet tree by dancing or booking a cat-bus literally. It's very funny to see him and I for one really liked this character because of the comedy and the innocence it has.
Mei KusaKabe
Mei is Satsuki's younger sister; she is 4 years old. She is the first character that meets and befriends Totoro. She is this young and energetic little girl as you would expect. At the start of the movie, she has been seen to be just copying Satsuki, as little children tend to do but her character is further explored like when we come to know about how courageous she is and how stubborn she is. I will be honest, I did find her annoying but then again she is a child, and according to a character point of view, that how children behave so... yeah. Overall she is a nice character and was a plus to the movie.
Satsuki KusaKabe
A 10-year-old girl. Satsuki is Mei's older sister. She is my favorite character from his movie. She is a very responsible child, too responsible according to me. She also cooks a 5-star meal, no kidding see this.
She is also a very courageous individual like her little sister. She is a total extrovert love to hang out with people and make friends, she takes care of her sister pretty nicely I must say, and is very patient with her. I will talk about her more as we go on.
I will wrap up other characters quite quickly as they don't play a huge role. This will help save your time and mine.
Tatsuo Kusakabe
A university professor and father to Satsuki and Mei Kusakabe. Nothing much is said about him so I will just say what I know.
He is a good person, does not make great food, takes care of his daughters nice, and has one disturbing scene which includes him taking a bath with both of his daughters....naked. Yes, you heard me correctly, though nothing is "shown" I found it a bit unsettling since I was watching it with some other people. Damn it Studio Ghibli.
Yasuko Kusakabe
Satsuki and Mei's mother. She is in the hospital for the whole movie and no she does not die. All I know about her is that she makes ponytails for her daughters and suffers from a really long cold?
Kanta's Grandmother
Kanta's grandmother, whose real name is never mentioned, was the caretaker of the house the Kusakabe family lives in. She later becomes good friends to the Kusakabes and has a special love for both Mei and Satsuki. Unlike other old women in Ghibli, she is actually nice and caring and overall is a very wholesome character to watch.
Kanta Oogaki
A preteen boy of the village, with a perhaps budding interest in Satsuki. This character resembles Miyazaki in his fondness for cartoons and airplanes. He was just a side character created for helping the main characters according to me like telling them about the ghost of the house and giving them an umbrella if they were stuck in a rain, I guess. He does his job pretty well.
So now we let's move onto the review...
Childhood is a blossoming period of learning and developing one's own idiosyncrasies. It has always been a sedate stage in which little youngsters define themselves through their senseless antics—ones that appear innocent but are of an elusive nature, and are merely an inadvertent expression of the capricious phase that is childhood. However, since kids are so full of youthful tendencies, very few directors have managed to portray the rascals sincerely and realistically. But among those select few is an irreplaceable Ghibli film which has become a sensation both within its native community and the western world—and that film is Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro.
My Neighbor Totoro is, simply put, a child's imagination brought to life; fanciful tales that become reality, replete with picturesque wonders that reveal the magical and mysterious. Hidden from adult eyes, the otherworldly rewards only those of pure heart. Spirits and mystic guardians of the forest, they embody the creativity and candidness of children—content to experience the simple joys of life and the beauty of nature. With down-to-earth characterization, Satsuki and Mei are splendid lenses into the film's world, their optimism and enthusiasm ensuring every little discovery resonate with the audience—a magical tale that is an adventure for kids, and an opportunity to revisit childhood for adults; a genuine moment of reflection.
Although the setting lacks depth, My Neighbor Totoro alleviates this by deftly weaving together fantasy and realism. Very little is explained and detailed, but its integration of the imaginary is both natural and unobtrusive. A big house nestled amidst greenery, uninhabited for decades, a likely home to the mysterious. Satsuki and Mei, true to their age, are explorers of the unknown—their interactions with the rich environment are not only a delight to observe but also a reflection of the curiosity inherent within every child.
Unveiled with mystique, uncanny soot creatures emerge from the house's floor and scamper into the shadows as the heroines enthusiastically tour the dark rooms of their new abode. Even if slightly scared at first, Satsuki and Mei's fear quickly gives way to curiosity, then excitement, and finally delight. The two adventurous sisters stumble upon a new world, and like any child would wholeheartedly embrace its magic. This very sense of wonder is what leads them to the mythical spirit Totoro, protector, and guardian of the forest. Intimidating in size, but gentle in nature, the fuzzy giant embraces the two of them with otherworldly tenderness. In an ever-so-subtle way, he becomes a link between the characters and the forest itself, introducing them to many of its magic wonders.
In essence, My Neighbor Totoro is more about inspiring one's imagination—an honest message about the importance of childhood and a connection with nature—than creating a fantasy backdrop. Complexity is absent, but the presentation is delivered with finesse and flair. Much of this is due to the laid-back pace and the amiable guidance of the protagonists, slowly hinting at the mysteries that may be hidden in the nooks and crannies of dark rooms and lush forests. All the viewer needs to do is to sit down, relax, and enjoy the magic unfold.
Allowing their daughters the liberty to go and explore the surroundings of their new home, Satsuki and Mei's parents are often absent physically, but present in spirit. As caring guardians, the parents concern themselves with their troublesome daredevils earnestly and honestly. These carefree dynamics connect the otherwise distant adult world with the children, instilling a sense of trust and intimacy among the family. In this sense, Miyazaki makes a conscious effort of displaying human relationships in a sincere and natural style.
True to Ghibli's reputation, My Neighbor Totoro's visuals are masterfully crafted with great attention to even the most minute details. Rich with body language and facial expressions, the screenplay succeeds in the art of showing and not just telling, breathing nuance and realism into the cast's actions and interactions. These subtleties add striking believability to the characters, as adults and children alike look and behave according to their ages. The physical environments, too, are vividly detailed, setting the stage for the integration of the cast and fantasy—be it the cluttered rooms of a house recently moved into, or the green vastness and richness of the countryside. Though it was a film made in 1988, according to the animation quality there is no way in hell or heaven anyone can say that it was made in 1988 according to the animation style alone.
Likewise, the film's sound department is remarkably well-polished. Joe Hisaishi's compositions harmoniously blend with the mood of the scenes—the tempo is upbeat in situations of excitement and discovery, while smooth when tension is low. The timing is delicate, but more than anything, the tracks themselves are what stand out most. Charming and varied, the melodic tunes make extraordinary scenes even more memorable. The careful management not only soothes body and mind but also permits the soundtrack to lace key scenes with vivid and meaningful tonality. Interesting to note, though, is that for most of the movie, there is no background music. Instead, the focus is placed on environmental sounds, allowing the countryside setting to weave its own atmosphere. In concordance with the naturalistic tone of the story, this adds a more organic touch to the presentation—one focused on painting nature in its purest form.
A tale intended for kids, yet a journey fit for audiences of all ages, My Neighbor Totoro is a splendid story that encapsulates the beauty of childhood. The film's wonderful portrayal of Satsuki and Mei's imagination conveys a true sense of jollity present in most children. Beyond its realism, the film delivers a dazzlingly magical experience by way of its supernatural encounters with the manifestations of nature. But this occurs ever so gently, that one could consider it a dream-like tale that both begins and ends in blissful serenity. A true classic, My Neighbor Totoro will remain in the hearts of many as a heartwarming experience of one of the purest and most beautiful memories: a frolicsome childhood, never to be forgotten.
FINAL THOUGHTS
ANIMATION: 10/10
MUSIC: 10/10
CHARACTERS:7.5/10
STORY:7.5/10
DEPTH: 6.5/10
OVERALL: 7.75/10
RECOMMENDATION LEVEL: MUST-WATCH
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