The 2D Japanese animated film My Neighbor Totoro (1988), made by the company Studio Ghibli, is a G-rated movie that is a fun watch for the whole family. It was directed by Hayao Miyazaki, which he is known for creating such beautiful movies along with Studio Ghibli such as Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and other pieces. It takes place when a small family, the Kusakabes, move into an old house in order to stay close to the hospital that the mother, Yasuko, is recovering in. The father, Tatsuo, cares for his two daughters, Satsuke and Mei, and is a university professor as well. Little did they know that the town they moved in at was a magic, spiritual place.
Mei, the youngest, explores around the house and finds these weird, tiny black creatures call house spirits and lurk in dark places. Continuing to see spirits only on her own, she ventures off and finds two different spirits that eventually lead her to a gigantic tree. She then meets Totoro, a large protecting spirit that resembles a mouse-like troll and becomes friends with him. Satsuke and their father find out Mei saw these spirits and come to find out the Satsuke eventually finds Totoro as well while waiting for Tatsuo at the bus stop. The plot continues slowly with the family getting used to the house, meeting new people and checking up on the mother.
At one point in the movie, the hospital informs Satsuke that her mom isn’t doing well, though it was a lie, but her and Mei didn’t know that. Wanting to help, Mei finds some corn and runs away to go deliver it to the mom but ends up getting lost. Satsuke, an old lady friend with her grandson and the other people around the town search for her for a while, and Mei is eventually found by the help of Totoro and a strange cat spirit in the shape of a bus. The movie ends with the family together again in the hospital, and the mom is recovering. I watched this movie about a year or two ago, and I found it comforting and fun. The characters are fun, the plot is slow but not boring, and the animation is absolutely stunning. Personally, I’d rate this movie an 8/10. Not my favorite movie, but definitely on the list.
