1988 was a pivotal year for anime: North American audiences were introduced to the hard-charging side of Japanese animation with Katsuhiro Ôtomo's Akira, a brutal dystopian fantasy that showed cartoons could be more violent and explicit than even the most R-rated Hollywood blockbuster.
While North American audiences thrilled to the ultra-violence, a quiet storm was brewing in anime: the upstart Studio Ghibli released a heartwarming fantasy from Hayao Miyazaki called My Neighbor Totoro (Tonari no Totoro in Japan), which followed two girls' friendship with a mysterious forest troll.
Initially ignored during its theatrical release, Totoro hit large when it premiered on Japanese television. The central character eventually became Japan's answer to Winnie the Pooh and was added to Studio Ghibli's corporate logo, like Pixar's Luxo Jr.
Its cultural impact has been honoured with references in far-flung places such as Samurai Jack, South Park's 'Imaginationland' trilogy, Neil Gaiman's Sandman graphic novels, and the upcoming Toy Story 3 (that film's producer, John Lasseter, is a fan and friend of Miyazaki).
Coinciding with the Blu-Ray release of Miyazaki's Ponyo, Disney has re-released My Neighbor Totoro on special edition DVD. Given an excellent transfer, and packed with special features, Miyazaki's love letter to the Japanese countryside is a gorgeous, heartwarming tale reminiscent of James Herriot's All Creatures Great and Small.
Dakota Fanning, Tim Daley, Elle Fanning, Voice Roles in My Neighbor Totoro English Dub
The year is 1958. Ten-year-old Satsuki and 4-year-old Mei (real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning) move out to the Japanese countryside with their university professor father (Tim Daly). Their mother is in a nearby hospital, recovering from a mysterious ailment (tuberculosis?). Once in their new home, Satsuki and Mei start seeing mysterious creatures: there are soot sprites in the attic and a nearby camphor tree houses a gigantic forest troll.
The two children eventually make friends with the troll, who they name Totoro. In turn, Totoro introduces the two girls to a world they've never seen before, where cats are buses and acorns become tall trees overnight.
Why is My Neighbor Totoro a classic? Take a single scene: Satsuki stands at a bus stop with her little sister, waiting for their father to come home. It's raining, night is falling, and Mei is sleepy. Satsuki hauls her little sister onto her back, using her red umbrella to shield them both from the rain. She waits, illuminated by a single streetlamp, and the rain pours down.
Satsuki senses a presence next to her. Peering out from underneath her umbrella, she sees a furry flank and a set of wickedly curved claws. The claws absently scratch the creature's side; the mysterious creature isn't going to hurt her. It's also waiting for a bus. However, the troll has only a leaf on its head to protect itself from the elements. Satsuki timidly offers Totoro her spare umbrella, then shows the troll how to hold it.
Once he realizes the umbrella's usefulness, Totoro bellows his approval. His roar shakes water from the nearby trees, spattering the umbrella. He likes this; he bellows even louder. More water splashes around them, making the giant troll grin.
It's a stunning scene, beautifully paced, that develops these characters with the simplest of brush strokes. The shifting emotions in Satsuki, from fear and concern to acceptance and friendship, are brilliantly evoked while Totoro's character is slowly revealed. What so many other films try to accomplish with a scream, My Neighbor Totoro does with a whisper.
This is possibly the best English voice cast Disney has ever assembled for a Miyazaki film. Dakota Fanning, who also did great work in 2009's Coraline, does another great job here. Elle Fanning, who has worked solidly in film and television without attaining her older sister's star status, holds her own as the impetuous little sister. Together, the two deliver unaffected performances that anchor the film; they inhabit their roles so well that it appears artless.
Tim Daly (Superman: The Complete Animated Series) does solid work as the caring father, and voice acting legend Frank Welker (Scooby-Doo) shines as the voice of Totoro.
My Neighbor Totoro DVD Extras
Just like in the Castle in the Sky and Ponyo DVD's, Hayao Miyazaki discusses the process of making My Neighbor Totoro, and there's an excerpt from a Japanese documentary discussing where Miyazaki found the inspiration for his films. The English voice cast (gotta love Dakota Fanning's missing front teeth!) discuss developing their roles.
The interactive 'Enter the Lands of Ghibli' featurette allows you figure out what character you are, while checking out the other films (unfortunately, only Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo and Castle in the Sky are represented).
My Neighbor Totoro: One of Hayao Miyazaki's Best
This film is a hit on all fronts: heartwarming without being cloying, insightful without preaching, funny without smirking. Imbued with Shinto spirituality, and taking its pleasures from the quiet moments, Hayao Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro is a must-have for any film fan. 5/5.
Dominic von Riedemann - Dominic is the Animated Film Feature Writer, and winner of 11 Suite 101 Editors' Choice Awards.
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