My Neighbor Totoro: The Movie Behind the Logo

Totoro Ghibli logo

Ever seen that cute, chubby, grey, cat-like dude pictured to the right?  That’s Totoro.  So many have seen this iconic character, not knowing who or what he is.  Well, Totoro comes from yet another memorable Ghibli classic and has effectively become the logo for everything Ghibli. The film he comes from is, you guessed it, My Neighbor Totoro, which I’ll review below.

My Neighbor Totoro is a fairly well-known classic that has touched countless hearts and triggered several “Aw, how cute!” reflexes.  The film is about a small family, the Kusakabes, who move to a remote town in Japan to be closer to their hospitalized mother.  At the beginning of the film, the two children, sisters named Mei and Satsuki, are a little frightened by the rural setting and they find some interesting creatures called “soot sprites,” who are terribly cute. As the film progresses, the girls find out what life is like in the country and discover a giant forest spirit named “Totoro.”  He can only be seen from time to time, but is always helpful to Mei and Satsuki. 

I left a lot out of the summary because you really have to experience the story for yourself to really get everything, but I think that about covers the major points.

So, my opinion about this film is that it is indeed a work of art.  The landscapes are gorgeous, the human characters are drawn well, and the non-human characters are drawn amazingly.  10/10 for visuals for sure.

The character development was also great, 10/10, because the kids are portrayed almost perfectly (Miyazaki is really good at creating child characters).  The dad is characterized well too; you get to know him as a good, playful father who can parent well, despite the challenges he faces with his wife always being away at the hospital.  The family also faces real-life challenges, which automatically makes them more relatable and likable.

The storyline was cute, but I wouldn’t give it more than 7/10.  It just didn’t reach the Ghibli bar for storylines because, really, not much happens over the course of the film.  I mean, the story goes:

Family moves to a new town—>They meet Totoro there—>Mei gets in trouble—>She is saved by Totoro and friends.  

Like I said, cute but a little simplistic.  However, it is a kid’s film, which is why I gave it no less than a 7.

The music at first seemed the same as the storyline—cute but simple.  But it ended up turning into an iconic soundtrack when the movie really got going (after the intro).  With that, the music is also super catchy.  In fact, I once showed it to a roomful of kids in a class I was teaching and they all started humming along at one point.  It was really cute and made me appreciate the soundtrack of the movie even more.  9/10 total score because it is amazing, but not necessarily perfect the whole movie through.

Overall, I give this adorable, iconic classic a 9/10.  It is nearly perfect in some ways and could be a little better in some others.  This is one of the best anime films of all time and I think it really deserves a watch.  I know I’ll be seeing it again sometime soon.  :)

Well, that’s all for the moment.  I hope you consider watching Totoro if you haven’t seen it already.  

Corey Cherrington

Grave *sniff* of the Fireflies *sniff*

You know what I love? Ghibli movies. I just adore them! There's such endless imagination, symbolism, intelligence, and happiness to enjoy. However, if you are looking for that sort of entertainment, you will find a rude awakening with the Ghibli film, Grave of the Fireflies.  This, unlike other Ghibli films, will not necessarily leave the viewer feeling "good," but instead quite depressed...  And I mean really depressed, like Empire Magazine's top 10 saddest movies of all time depressed.

A.k.a. Eeyore style depressed.

Studio Ghibli has given us a lot of interesting content that largely involves supernatural elements and fantastical worlds. In Grave of the Fireflies, there are no such things, as this film is harshly realistic and profoundly heartbreaking. To give you a clue about Grave's degree of heartbreaking powers, I'll give you the review I often give to people I talk with about it: Grave is my favorite movie that I will never watch again. (That in and of itself is actually a lie... I'd say it's a good one to watch every five years or so.)

To give a bit of background, Grave of the Fireflies shows Japan toward the end of World War II when it was plagued with nonstop bombings, widespread supply shortages, and suffering. The main characters are children that in the first scene, we discover, die as a result of the choices they make. We can only go up from here right? Right?

Japan WWII

It may honestly be the most emotionally moving film Studio Ghibli has ever released and, as such, should be viewed by all types of people--young and old alike. Its message is timeless and powerful and deserves all the attention it can. The animation is quite realistic with great attention to detail when it comes to the anatomy and movement of the characters. As opposed to many other Ghibli films where there are various shots and angles that the simulated "camera" takes, this movie tends to frame its shots in a pretty still and basic manner. Also, the line work in the animation is brown as opposed to the traditional black to create a softer effect and allows the characters to look more tied together with the beautiful watercolor backgrounds.

<<This review was removed due to a wrongful copyright claim violating laws for fair use in criticism, parody, and like forms of commentary. >>

The best way to describe this film is "hauntingly beautiful." Grave of the Fireflies does not shy away from showing the harshness of World War II or the effects violence has on individuals and society (with special attention to its effects on children). Although, at the same time, its realism makes it problematic for extremely young viewers; so, parents should watch ahead of time to determine if their children can handle it. Either way, this film is remarkably educational and beautiful. It is a must see and deserves a place on everyone's shelf.

Pragmus Alpha
CEO

*Edited by Pragmus Sigma