I just watched My Neighbor Totoro for the first time. That’s ridiculous, for a number of reasons: I’ve seen, and loved, other movies by Hayao Miyazaki; this is one of a number of Totoroesque posts here, although the previous ones refer to the Totoro Forest Project.
I watched it with my kids: Maddie, who is 4 (and three quarters) and Max, who is 2. They were entranced, although Maddie was also upset. The mother of the two little girls in the movie is in hospital. Maddie’s mother was at work, in the Longwood medical center. But when you’re 4, and watching a movie in which a 4-yo gets lost on the way to the hospital where her mother is… Next time we watch Totoro, we should do so all together.
Anyway, come with me to a rainy bus stop, where two girls waiting for their father are joined by Big Totoro, see the bus that Totoro catches, and stay until the end of the clip for a little context.
By the way, even in this 6-minute scene, I notice differences between the subtitles in this version, and the soundtrack of the DVD. The DVD in question is the 2006 Disney version; there’s some debate (e.g., among the reviewers at Amazon) about the (de)merits of the different DVD editions.
OMG!!! OMG!!! You just saw Totoro?!?!? I am so shocked I am writing like a 13 yo on a cell phone. For me the two greatest Miyazakes are this and Spirited Away and that makes them among the greatest movies ever. I cannot tell you how often I have watched this movie. When I describe it to others I say simply that it is a movie about good. It entrances 6 year olds and 12 year olds equally — no small feat. We have both versions of Totoro and the Disney is much better as it gives you a much better picture. I am at home sick today and may go watch it again, just to feel better.
OMG indeed. I must watch it again and again, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better movie than Totoro – even Spirited Away.
Totoro’s seamless combination of the everyday – e.g., big sister making the lunchboxes – and the fantastic – e.g, the trees growing – is incredible.
BTW, that’s why I’m glad that the Youtube clip I posted continues after the catbus. Dad getting off the regular bus, and explaining that his train was late, shows how kids live in both everyday and fantastic worlds.
Constantine, you should watch Totoro – unless you’ve got some really trippy meds to take, in which case Spirited Away might fit better.
Either way, get well soon.