This is a classic anime movie from Japan that I knew of but never watched it until now. I discovered this movie years ago because it was from the same creators of Spirit Away, which is one of the most popular anime movies of all time. I have been eyeing My Neighbor Totoro for quite some time and it was yesterday when I finally watched it.
The story is quite simple, there is a normal family with 2 small sisters. The mother is currently sick in the hospital so the kids live with their father and they have just moved into a new house. Since the very first moment the kids entered the house, they began to perceive funny movements of tiny things they believe are small creatures. Only they can see these things, not adults.
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A conversation with an older woman who lives nearby confirms there are mysterious and magical beings living in this region and only kids can see them. One morning, the smaller girl was playing alone because the older one was in school. She sees 2 small magical creatures and follows them deep into the woods.
What she will discover then is a huge magical creature that despite its size is very friendly and peaceful. Sadly, it doesn't speak so there is never dialogues with this creature, only silent interactions. The movie is mostly for kids because the plot isn't deep and sometimes the viewer can even feel there is no plot whatsoever.
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Eventually, the girls received the help of these magical creatures but the situation that allows for this helpful interaction is not complex. Maybe the story tries to portray the sensations kids have when facing challenging situations that could be considered ordinary for older people.
In the end, I can say the film was enjoyable but I have certainly seen better anime movies from Japan, even from the same creators such as Spirited Away which was a masterpiece.
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The best
- The first 15 minutes can be boring but after discovering Totoro it gets much better.
- It is a happy movie despite the fact part of the context of the story is a bit sad.
The worst
- The plot was too simple.
More information: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/
Review: AAA
In numbers: 7/10