My Neighbor Totoro Review: Everybody, Try Laughing

From smooth animations to fun characters to amazing music, My Neighbor Totoro is a nice break from our chaotic world.

What Happens in My Neighbor Totoro?

My Neighbor Totoro follows two young girls and their day-to-day lives in their new home. Mei and Satsuki have moved into a new home with their father to be closer to their mother, who is in the hospital. They are also much closer to their grandmother, Nanny, who cares for them quite often.

Like any young children, the girls are fascinated by their new home and the surrounding forest. The magic doesn’t truly show its face until Mei follows a trail of acorns through a tunnel path at the base of the largest tree. The curious young child follows the trial until suddenly it ends and she falls onto the belly of a large being, Totoro! 

Who Are The Characters in My Neighbor Totoro?

My Neighbor Totoro follows two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, and Totoro, a creature made by Hayao Miyazaki. Satsuki is the older sister, who is caring and emotional. She becomes a motherly figure to her younger sister while their mother is in the hospital.

Mei is young and carefree. She spends a lot of time playing and exploring, and she is the first to see Totoro. Totoro, a made-up creature composed of an owl, cat, and raccoon dog, is a carefree spirit. He spends most of his time sleeping or dancing. He has a caring heart, as demonstrated by his actions towards the sisters.

My Neighbor Totoro Review

My Neighbor Totoro is one of my favourite Studio Ghibli movies. From the stunning animation to fun characters, to the feel-good atmosphere, to the wonderful music selections, My Neighbor Totoro almost has it all. It has a few minor flaws, but it is still a wonderful movie.

I’ll address the quick flaw right now before I talk about the good stuff. The beginning of the movie is a bit slow. This might turn some viewers away but sticking through it rewards the viewer with a magical experience. The only other flaw is the dubbing of the movie.

I watched this in Japanese, and it is definitely the way I recommend watching this movie. The dub isn’t bad, but there’s an authentic feel with the Japanese version. So, the downside for some viewers is that it requires some reading. Those who aren’t used to reading while watching might have some difficulties.

With that out of the way, let’s dive into this movie. First things first, being an older movie, the animation is still on par with some of the shows animated today. The screen is always filled with vibrant colours and the movements of the characters feel smooth. The other thing the animation benefits is that this isn’t an action show. This way, every scene gets essentially the same love.

The other great thing about My Neighbor Totoro is the characters. The protagonists are young girls, and they act their age. Their crazy antics are fun to watch, and their carefree spirit is something to enjoy. For Totoro, Miyazaki was able to create such a cute and lovable character. Every time Totoro is on the screen, it brings a smile to my face.

I think the best part of this movie is the musical tracks. Each song holds its own weight, and they all carry some magic and mystery in their tunes. It really adds a big part to the atmosphere.

Finally, the plot is solid. This movie is a feel-good movie. It’s a fun movie. In a world surrounded by chaos, it’s nice to find some peace in this movie. You get to enjoy Satsuki and Mei exploring their new home. You get in on Totoro’s antics. It has a nice feel-good vibe, and I couldn’t ask for more.

Overall, this is a very good movie. From smooth animations to fun characters to amazing music, this movie is a nice break from our chaotic world. For those into animation or have seen other works from Studio Ghibli, this is a must-watch, and one you should enjoy in its original language.