He's your friendly neighbourhood forest spirit!
Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
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Character
Earnest, classical in form, contemplative and effortless.
- earnestironic
- classical in formformally daring
- contemplativerelentless
- effortlessdemanding
- intimateepic
Who loves it, who doesn't
37 profiled raters. Loved most by The Ironists; disliked most by The Sinceres.
Where do you stand?
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“Is this Hayao Miyazaki's best work?”
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“Is Mei Kusakabe the real protagonist?”
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“Is it really for children?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Tastebuds's numbers.
- CinemaSerfon TMDB · Aug 20247/10
Though maybe the story here is a bit on the thin side, this is still glorious mix of family and fantasy from the hand-drawn animation of the gifted Hayao Miyazaki. It's all about two sisters - "Mei" and "Satsuki" who travel with their father to a new, rather rustic, home. It's all a grand adventure for the girls though and they are barely through the door before realising that the house has some extra special occupants. Things is - are they benign or not! Luckily, an old lady from the house nearby sets their mind at rest and soon "Granny" is looking after them from time to time in between school and visits to their ailing mother in a nearby hospital. As they explore the grounds, they discover that the place is alive with creatures both natural and supernatural - and it's the eponymous beast - a sort of hybrid between a cat and a panda - that soon becomes an integral part of their adventures as they eagerly anticipate their mother coming home. It's its simplicity that really worked well for me, here. A close-knit family with some bubbling trauma provides for a setting for their situation, but it doesn't dominate the children at play. They know sadness, sure, but they also know joy a
Read the whole review on TMDB - sykobananaon TMDB · May 20209/10
**"Childhood" in a movie.** This is just perfection - a perfect way to while away time and reconnect with your youth. Everything is outstanding in this film, but especially the way it can emote your sense of wonder and imagination. I wish I could have watched this as a child, I would have wanted to find Totoro and the Catbus, roar like Totoro, or sleep on his belly. Oh well...I will just have to imagine it. Its interesting to note this was released with Grave of the Fireflies, another Ghibli masterpiece, which I have summed up as being about innocence lost. **This movie is innocence maintained.**
Read the whole review on TMDB - r96skon TMDB · Jan 20248/10
Aggressively cute. <em>'My Neighbor Totoro'</em> holds an extremely hearty story, one told via impeccably beautiful animation. Noriko Hidaka and Chika Sakamoto standout as Satsuki and Mei, the relationship between those two characters is so sweet. They do get a bit shouty in parts which ever so slightly irritates, but that's definitely one to file under 'nit-picking'. A simple movie, one which displays the imagination of children perfectly. Big fan of the Catbus. 🐱
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Cast
- Noriko HidakaSatsuki Kusakabe (voice)
- Chika SakamotoMei Kusakabe (voice)
- Hitoshi TakagiTotoro (voice)
- Shigesato ItoiTatsuo Kusakabe (voice)
- Sumi ShimamotoYasuko Kusakabe (voice)
- Tanie KitabayashiGranny (voice)
- Toshiyuki AmagasaKanta Ogaki (voice)
- Yuko MaruyamaKanta's Mother (voice)
- Masashi HiroseKanta's Father (voice)
- Reiko SuzukiKanta's Aunt (voice)
Crew
- Hayao MiyazakiDirector
- Hayao MiyazakiScreenplay
- Hisao ShiraiDirector of Photography
- Joe HisaishiOriginal Music Composer
- Takeshi SeyamaEditor
- Tooru HaraProducer
- Toshio SuzukiProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Tastebuds Other media included when they land close.
Arrietty 201077% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, intimate.
The Postman 199473% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, contemplative.
Kiki's Delivery Service 198972% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, effortless.
Wolfwalkers 202072% alikeBoth earnest, meticulous.
The Secret of Roan Inish 199472% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, contemplative.
Whisper of the Heart 199572% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form, warm.
Both earnest, classical in form, warm.
News of the World 202071% alikeBoth earnest, classical in form.
She and the Light Bearer 201973% alikeGame · Both earnest, classical in form, contemplative.
Unravel 201672% alikeGame · Both earnest, contemplative.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Tastebuds
