Audience Rating: G (General Audience) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786303118246 Format: Animated, Closed-captioned, Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC ISBN: 6303118240 Label: 20th Century Fox Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: 20th Century Fox Release Date: March 05, 1996 Running Time: 87 minutes Studio: 20th Century Fox Theatrical Release Date: 1994 Sales Rank: 4135
Amazon.com essential video: My Neighbor Totoro is that rare delight, a family film that appeals to children and adults alike. While their mother is in the hospital, 10-year-old Satsuki and 4-year-old Mei move into an old-fashioned house in the country with their professor father. At the foot of an enormous camphor tree, Mei discovers the nest of King Totoro, a giant forest spirit who resembles an enormous bunny rabbit. Mei and Satsuki learn that Totoro makes the trees grow, and when he flies over the countryside or roars in his thunderous voice, the winds blow. Totoro becomes the protector of the two sisters, watching over them when they wait for their father, and carrying them over the forests on an enchanted journey. When the children worry about their mother, Totoro sends them to visit her via a Catbus, a magical, multilegged creature with a grin the Cheshire Cat might envy.
Unlike many cartoon children, Satsuki and Mei are neither smart-alecky nor cloyingly saccharine. They are credible kids: bright, energetic, silly, helpful, and occasionally impatient. Filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki makes the viewer believe the two sisters love each other in a way no American feature has ever achieved. My Neighbor Totoro is enormously popular in Japan, and some of the character merchandise has begun to appear in America. The film has also inspired a Japanese environmental group to buy a Totoro Forest preserve in the Saitama Prefecture, where Miyazaki's film is set. --Charles Solomon
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Good, but not great like the others.
Almost everyone I knew into animation told me I'd love this movie after I got into Studio Gibli's work a few years back. I guess after seeing Princess Mononoke, Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away anything ... Read More
Rating: - Shinto for the Kindergarten Set
Don't tell anyone, but there is animist Japanese religion all over this perfect animated movie. Does that make it animated animism or animist animation? I don't know and does it matter - NO! This movie is sweet ... Read More
Rating: - Great movie for kids going through divorce
There's lots of reviews about what a great family movie Totoro is. I'm in the middle of a divorce right now and watch it with my 3 year old almost every night. The fact that the two girls are living with just their ... Read More
Rating: - Superior to Disney Re-Release in Spite of Shortcomings
For all of its well-documented shortcomings, this version of the movie is far SUPERIOR to the more recent re-release for one compelling reason: the English dub version actors are flat out better than the big names hired ... Read More
Rating: - A fantastic animated film that none should miss-make sure to get the right version.
Beautiful art, easy to interpret but meaningful story, likable characters, and a certain magic and love to it, yup this is a Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli film. The soundtrack tot he movie is also fantastic. The only problems ... Read More
- Good, but not great like the others.
- Shinto for the Kindergarten Set
- A fantastic animated film that none should miss-make sure to get the right version.