Film Review - My Neighbour Totoro (1989)

When you look at the history and worldwide reputation Studio Ghibli has had over the years, it’s hard to believe one of its films opened so badly in its native Japan. Hayao Miyazaki‘s My Neighbour Totoro did suffer that poor opening, but like a certain famous high street chain store says, “This is no ordinary animation; this is a Studio Ghibli animation.” Like all good things, it matures as it gets older. “Totoro” is that fine wine you will enjoy the second time around—if, of course, you didn’t enjoy it the first time, as it has a kind of magic very few filmmakers can achieve.

My Neighbour Totoro is a charming tale about 10-year-old Satsuki and her inquisitive younger sister Mei (voiced by real-life actress sisters Elle Fanning), who move with their father to a new home in the country to be closer to their mother, who is in a nearby hospital. Far from the hustle and bustle of the big city, the sisters discover a mysterious place filled with spirits, magic, and the friendship of the big fluffy woodland creature Totoro. This is a family suffused with the joys of country living and an elegy to two fading miracles: the fairytale world of childhood and the disappearing countryside.

My Neighbour Totoro is a beautifully constructed film. Unlike many other Studio Ghibli films, Totoro is not set in wartime or in conflict-ridden countries, nor does it feature villains bent on destroying the environment or the natural beauty of the location. The film is grounded in the real world, with a story told from a child’s point of view, encouraging children to be imaginative and creative and to truly enjoy their childhood. The simplicity of the story helps the film flow naturally, allowing the children to be characteristically childlike, even though they are animated. This is something Disney has forgotten recently, as they often surround their characters with unnatural fantasy settings.

The film does have one typical Ghibli trait: fantasy and a giant mythical spirit, Totoro, who is like the (giant) imaginary friend children sometimes have. This is why the girls do not fear him; to them, he’s like that first cuddly toy a child gets. Totoro isn’t actually on screen too much, but he appears enough to become the face of the studio, much like Mickey Mouse is for Disney. Every Studio Ghibli film features his logo at the start, and no matter where you are in the world, when you see Totoro, you know what you’re getting. He has become so recognizable that he even made a cameo in the last Toy Story film!

The girls’ parents, nor many adults, actually have much screen time either, but this doesn’t mean they are not well-developed characters. We do see the girls’ mother (voiced by Lea Salonga) a few times, but thanks to letters written by Satsuki, we cover some of the background, although not the reason why she’s in the hospital, as this isn’t important from a child’s perspective. They know their mother is ill, but understanding what is wrong would be too confusing for them. Their father (voiced by Tim Daly) is so busy working, even at home, to make ends meet. This also serves as a reminder of how tranquil and safe the countryside was in the 1950s (the era in which the film is set) and the trust they had in neighbours like Nanny (voiced by Pat Carroll), who was like a surrogate parent to the girls.

When you talk about films whether live-action or animated—that are categorized as classic, legendary, or even cult, My Neighbour Totoro fits all three categories. The quality of Totoro (and Studio Ghibli) is nothing short of sublime, and it could easily be regarded as one of, if not the studio’s finest film. To highlight the sheer brilliance of the film, it was one of the very few animated films to make the recent BFI poll of the 250 greatest films ever made, a testament to how highly regarded it is by fans and critics. Miyazaki actually has the privilege of two films on the list, as Spirited Away is also included. Scorsese, Kubrick, Hitchcock, Tarkovsky, and Miyazaki all have one thing in common: they are master storytellers. My Neighbour Totoro is a perfect example of why animation is not just for kids but for lovers of film in all its beautiful forms.