I found this in the yard sale, and ever since watching Kiki's delivery service I wanted to give this a view, because it was made by the same person Hayo Myazaki. So what the heck is a Totoro.

A Totoro is a Jappense spirit, speaking of spirits there are 3 kinds of sprits that Satsuke and Mei encounter.

Soot sprites-dust bunny's that slowly turn a vacant house to dust. When the kid's move into the house they discover these black fuzzy sprits. However they move out the following day.

Cat-Bus.
Satsuke and Mei encounter this bus while they’re waiting for there father's bus with Totoro. The cat bus is a tabby cat looking bus with several legs. It also has a grin that makes it look like the long lost brother of the Cheshire cat. Later in the move Satsuke uses the bus to find the lost bus, it is also the only spirit that can talk.

Totoro.
Then of course there is Totoro's. Totoro's are a part bunny, part cat, part bear looking creatures. And while the movie is named after them, and they have an important part, the movie does not revolve around them (in fact they only have about 15 minutes of screen time), instead it revolves around Mei and Satsuke life in there new house.

Story.
Mei and Satsuke have moved into a new house in a rural Japanese area. They did this to be close to there mother who is sick in the hospital. They soon discover that their house and farm is haunted by friendly spirits. While they both chase out the soot sprites from the house, it isn’t till Satsuke away at School, does Mai fall down a hole at the bottom of a big tree to discover Totoro. Satsuke later discovers the Totoro while waiting for there Father at the bus stop. I won’t go anymore because I don’t want to ruin the movie.

This movie like Kiki’s delivery service is different then your average Disney movie to has there is no formula attached, so even though it’s a kid’s film it’s hard to guess what happens next. Also like Kiki’s delivery service there is no villain’s (well there is the boy next door but he isn’t what I call a villain), just problems that the two kid’s face in life.

Another thing to mention even though the back of the box brings up the plot element that only the kid’s can see the totoros, however, the adult’s think I belong into the institution because they can’t see them part isn’t brought up. In fact it isn’t till the last 5 minutes of the film that it’s discover that only the kid’s can see them.

Animation.
Compared to modern day Disney film’s, this one is easily squashed. The characters don’t move very well and there is a lot of choppyness to the animation. Luckily there is a lot of detail to back this up, and there is no wasted shot’s to. Every shot is used to help you become more aware of the settings, and like in Kiki’s Delivery Service there are a lot of shot’s just showing off the scenery.

Voices.
Unlike Kiki’s Delivery Service this wasn’t dubbed by Disney, this mean’s the voices aren’t has good (of course this is the only good thing Disney does with these films), but there not bad. Every voice fit’s there character and none of them sound’s to cartoonish, of course Mei’s voice sound’s a bit to high pitch and it sound’s annoying.

Final recommendation.
While not has good has Kiki’s Delivery service, this still is a good non-violent kid’s movie.



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up to Age 4