With each of Miyazaki’s films there’s a distinguishable mood and tone that’s presented; My Neighbor Totoro may very well be one of the most peaceful.
The film begins with two girls moving to the countryside, with their father, while their mother is recovering from an illness at a nearby hospital. Along the way they begin to encounter spirits in the form of benevolent creatures who take them on different adventures.
Unlike Miyazaki’s other films, My Neighbor Totoro is centered on a loving world filled with likeable characters, even down to the creature that reminds me of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, that doubles as the school bus.
The animation is amazing, for example, the first night that they spend at their new home there’s a storm. The way the wind is portrayed as moving through the trees, the spraying mist, the way in which the wind moves through the grass like an ocean wave and the house creaking under the wind looked very realistic, even though its an animated film.
The English version via Disney features the voice talents of Dakota and Elle Fanning, as well as Tim Daly as the father and Lea Salonga as the mom.
My Neighbor Totoro is available to buy on Amazon and watch it on Netflix.
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