Featured Audience Ratings

• danny d

  
  definitely one of miyazaki's best films, and one of my favorite animated films of all time. the story is so simple, yet so profound in terms of the underlying nuances of family life and what it means to be a child. totoro is a great character, and the imagery of many scenes… More
  definitely one of miyazaki's best films, and one of my favorite animated films of all time. the story is so simple, yet so profound in terms of the underlying nuances of family life and what it means to be a child. totoro is a great character, and the imagery of many scenes such as the bus stop or the cat bus are ingrained into my mind. very effective animation.

• Reid V

  
  Just when I thought I was turning into a grizzled old man, My Neighbor Totoro helped me enjoy a joyful regression. Much like Satsuke and Mei, the heroines of this story, I couldn't be more thrilled to shout that "I saw Totoro!" Miyazaki's exploration of the magical… More
  Just when I thought I was turning into a grizzled old man, My Neighbor Totoro helped me enjoy a joyful regression. Much like Satsuke and Mei, the heroines of this story, I couldn't be more thrilled to shout that "I saw Totoro!" Miyazaki's exploration of the magical nature of children is incredibly sweet without be saccharine. It doesn't try to preach the importance of such a puerile mind, but just serves as a remembrance of its beauty. And in circumstances such as the sickness of loved ones, how hard it is to hold on to that innocence. The animation is stunning for being released in the late 80s. After seeing Pixar push the limits of animation with every new release, this film reminded me that any film can be groundbreaking if it is treated with care. The characters are earnestly thought out and I forgot at times that I was watching animated characters. Which is an impressive feat for me, a man who hasn't always been in love with the medium. Mei's inability to understand time and seeing her ask whether it is lunch time just minutes after her breakfast is consumed are small touches that really got me immersed in her world. That childhood belief that no time is more important than your own time is just one of the many things that Miyazaki captures beautifully. I have been putting off my Miyazaki marathon for years now for fear that I would be a wet blanket. Souring people's love of one of the most highly regarded animators of all time. After my viewing of My Neighbor Totoro, I am getting the feeling that there isn't much one man can do to sour such magical experiences.

• Mark W

  
  Anyone familiar with the animated works of Hayao Miyazaki will be aware that he takes you into a fantasy world full of imagination and delight. I've managed to work my way through a lot of his film's but this one had always eluded me. Maybe it was my anticipation for this… More
  Anyone familiar with the animated works of Hayao Miyazaki will be aware that he takes you into a fantasy world full of imagination and delight. I've managed to work my way through a lot of his film's but this one had always eluded me. Maybe it was my anticipation for this that left me feeling slightly underwhelmed than I normally am with his films though. Satsuki (Dakota Fanning) and Mei Kusakabe (Elle Fanning) are two young sisters who move to a rural house in Japan to be closer to their ailing mother in hospital. Upon their arrival, they begin to explore their new surroundings and find that there are strange little creatures who inhabit the old building and further exploration into the forest brings them closer to a giant furry sprite named Totoro, who they go magical adventures with. Miyazaki's film takes it's time to get going. It starts off positively and there is an early introduction to his fantastical nature but he never fully explores it. It was more of a human drama than it was a fantasy adventure. However, no-one does it quite like Miyazaki and his film's always possess a refreshing vitality. This still delivers on that front but isn't as accomplished as "Spirited Away" for example. I think the main problem rests in the pace of the film; it too lethargic for children and a little too heavy on the drama. The fantasy element is wonderful when it gets going but it's not explored as in-depth as I would have liked, leaving my concentration to wander. The fact that this is included in the IMDb top 250 is high praise indeed but it shouldn't be held any higher than "Howl's Moving Castle". I also found the English language version a little off-putting. I mean, how hard can it be to add dubbing over hand drawn animation? It's not as if there should be a problem with lip-syncing but for some reason, this didn't seem natural. Speaking of the animation though, it is quite exquisitely crafted and proof that Miyazaki has been at the forefront of hand drawn material for quite some time now. Not as entertaining as I would expect from Miyazaki but still a wonderfully endearing and affectionate tale from the hand-drawn Sensei.

• Christopher H

  
  Hayao Miyazaki's best film. The film's story beautifully combines slice-of-life with magical elements in a way that is seamless and delightfully original. Miyazaki manages to make the life and times of Satsuke and Mei(the two main characters) fascinating and joyful without… More
  Hayao Miyazaki's best film. The film's story beautifully combines slice-of-life with magical elements in a way that is seamless and delightfully original. Miyazaki manages to make the life and times of Satsuke and Mei(the two main characters) fascinating and joyful without relying on villains or conflicts. My favorite scene in the film is the introduction of a cat-bus. The cat-bus is so crazy that it's just awesome. Like in most Miyazaki film's, this movie has an ecological theme, but it is done in a way that is both subtle and powerful without talking down to the audience. With beautifully crisp animation and an innocent story, "My Neighbor Totoro" is a great effort from Studio Ghibli that offers something for everyone.

• Robert C

  
  The story is not as well developed as some of the other Myazaki films, but it is enchanting in it's own way. I always enjoy going on these little journeys that the folks at Studio Ghibli put together. Some are better then others, but they are always enjoyable.

• Emil K

  
  One of Miyazaki's finest films and one of the best children's films ever made that has also very much to offer for older audience. Miyazaki's genius here is the characters that feels really true and a story that instantly pulls you in. This film has that childlike… More
  One of Miyazaki's finest films and one of the best children's films ever made that has also very much to offer for older audience. Miyazaki's genius here is the characters that feels really true and a story that instantly pulls you in. This film has that childlike imagination and magic that succeds to amaze every time. Some of the scenes are just heartbreaking and the wonderful music by Joe Hisaishi stays with you. Oh, and i just love that cat-bus!

• Thomas B

  
  Baffling, joyful and beautiful. Aka, pure Miyazaki. Full review later.

• Dean M

  
  This is one of the lovelist children's film ever made. Poetic, charming and cute. Featuring stunning animation, endearing personable characters, and a heart-tugging storyline that's simple, enchanting, and even dramatic. In fact, director Hayako Miyazaki makes us loving… More
  This is one of the lovelist children's film ever made. Poetic, charming and cute. Featuring stunning animation, endearing personable characters, and a heart-tugging storyline that's simple, enchanting, and even dramatic. In fact, director Hayako Miyazaki makes us loving children. In the movie, the two girls run, shout all time, laugh, cry and so on that touches us deep in our heart. The Japanese animated film has great direction, beautiful backgrounds and a mystical, pleasant aura throughout. There is no compulsory villain, no moral lessons, no standard blue print story, and the characters will definitely not break out a song. Miraculously, Totoro doesn't talk, and yet you can still understand what the lovable furry creature is thinking with his endearing actions. And the six-legged CatBus is undeniably one of the most imaginative characters in animation history.

• Tim S

  
  Another Miyazaki animated masterpiece. While it isn't my favorite of his work, it's still quite beautiful and very enjoyable. Unfortunately, there are very great big gaps of nothing really happening, which tends to slow the thing down. The scenes with Totoro and the Catbus… More
  Another Miyazaki animated masterpiece. While it isn't my favorite of his work, it's still quite beautiful and very enjoyable. Unfortunately, there are very great big gaps of nothing really happening, which tends to slow the thing down. The scenes with Totoro and the Catbus seem to come straight out of Wonderland and are quite whimsical. I liked this one a lot and hope to see it again sometime. :)

• Stephen M

  
  An absolutely charming animation from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. A university professor and his two young daughters move into an old house in the country. Left to her own devices while her father is at work, her mother is recovering from an illness in hospital and her elder… More
  An absolutely charming animation from Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. A university professor and his two young daughters move into an old house in the country. Left to her own devices while her father is at work, her mother is recovering from an illness in hospital and her elder sister is at school, Mei, the younger girl, explores her new surroundings, stumbling upon (literally) the local forest spirit, whom she names 'Totoro'. Such is the loving care that Miyazaki takes to craft a realistic setting for his magical tale to unfold in, the background detail is frequently at least as compelling as the story itself. There are some fascinating glimpses into the Japanese rural way of life, such as the kids being let out of school to go and work in the rice fields. A virtuoso balancing act, <i>My Neighbor Totoro</i> is sweet but never sickly and manages to convey some powerful ideas about ecological and communal harmony without being the least bit preachy. I also love the way that, though he is most likely only humouring the girls and feeding their imaginations, the father's explanations of the phenomena his daughters are witnessing invariably turn out to be true. Beautiful.

• Jennifer X

  
  I think liking this movie is contingent on whether you find Totoro cute. And I don't.

• Jim C

  
  I really enjoyed this, great animation and story, but nothing lives up to Spirited Away.

• Dead A

  
  Another great animation from Ghibli. I've always wondered what's that first picture of a rabbit type animal with Studio Ghibli written on it. Now I know that it's Totoro! It's a great treat for your eyes. The story is simple and cute. Sometimes I feel Hayao… More
  Another great animation from Ghibli. I've always wondered what's that first picture of a rabbit type animal with Studio Ghibli written on it. Now I know that it's Totoro! It's a great treat for your eyes. The story is simple and cute. Sometimes I feel Hayao Miyazaki's movies are better than the Disney! p.s: I've seen mothers showering with their daughters by being naked, but this is the first time I'm seeing a father instead. This is weird as the elder one is 10yrs old. Old enough to understand certain things like this.

• Ariuza k

  
  I loved this movie when I was young and I still love it today I thinks its amazing I cant really tell if this is my favorite movie by Miyazaki. I just think everything about is it fantastic from its story right down to the smallest things that no one sees. I love Totoro he is the… More
  I loved this movie when I was young and I still love it today I thinks its amazing I cant really tell if this is my favorite movie by Miyazaki. I just think everything about is it fantastic from its story right down to the smallest things that no one sees. I love Totoro he is the mascot for Studio Ghibli its impossible not to love him. I think out of all the Studio Ghibli Characters Totoro is my favorite. In 1956 Two young girls, Satsuke and her younger sister Mei, move into a house in the country with their father to be closer to their hospitalized mother. Satsuke and Mei discover that the nearby forest is inhabited by magical creatures called Totoro and his little followers. They soon become friends with the creature. I am not sure what I love more the story? The characters? Or just really everything. I have said it before and I will say it again Miyazaki has a massive imagination that just gives us some of the best movies ever made, how he can make such movies is beyond me. I think the characters Satsuke and Mei are extremely likeable I think my favourite character is Totoro is course but besides him maybe Mei. Really the other characters are great too. The quality is just amazing how they do it for the time is beyond me. The music and desinds of really everything is nothing short of epic. I also really liked that short Mei and the kitten bus same just epic. I come to a close it is really impossible to hate this movie.

• Bentley L

  
  Welcome to my 200th review! I'm going to put "Christmas Movie Review Mania" for a small pause right now to write my 200th review. For some reason, I want to do it on a non-Christmas film. My 200th review will be on a Hayao Miyazaki anime masterpiece, "My… More
  Welcome to my 200th review! I'm going to put "Christmas Movie Review Mania" for a small pause right now to write my 200th review. For some reason, I want to do it on a non-Christmas film. My 200th review will be on a Hayao Miyazaki anime masterpiece, "My Neighbor Totoro". Gosh, I love this movie! In "Totoro", two sisters known as Satsuki and Mei move to the Japanese countryside with their father. They like their new house and all but strange things occur around it. They see weird black, dusty creatures and small, gray furry creature that can disappear when frightened. They also encouter a big, furry, gray creature who they call "Totoro". The two girls then begin to do amazing, and sometimes bizarre things, with the cretures they meet. Like a lot of anime films, the animation is dazzling, brilliant, and very detailed. The design of the setting and characters is a wonder. Lets move on to the characters. Satsuki and Mei are wonderful protagonists. They are realistic and fun. Two of the best female protaginists in the history of cinema. Their father, despite having a small role, is funny. The girls' mother, who has a very small role, is sweet and realisitc. Totoro and the other creatures are magnificentely designed and concieved. The creatures are so wonderful. The way Miyazaki pictures them makes you wish that they were real and that they were your friends. The story is very good. You can see that Miyazaki took some influence from some other works but adds a lot of his own good flair. The musis is well composed and catchy. You'll be humming the score for weeks! Lastly, the voice acting is great. The Fanning sisters, Dakota and Elle, add some great voicework into Satsuki and Mei. Frank Welker was great as Totoro too! "My Neighbor Totoro" is a amazing and heartwarming anime film. A classic! Any age group will enjoy it! "Trees and people used to be good friends."

• A.D. V

  
  Along with Spirited Away this is Miyazaki's best work and a shining, perfect example of old school animation. I have watched this more times than some of my favorite horror movies.

• Saskia D

  
  I loved it. Definitely one of the better Ghibli movies. You have to watch it in the original Japanese version of course!! <div style="width:900px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/my-neighbor-totoro-film_31-11424785"><img… More
  I loved it. Definitely one of the better Ghibli movies. You have to watch it in the original Japanese version of course!! <div style="width:900px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/my-neighbor-totoro-film_31-11424785"><img src="http://content7.flixster.com/photo/11/42/47/11424785_gal.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com">

• Jennifer D

  
  Cutest movie!! Sweet, innocent and simply lovely.

• Anthony L

  
  Every Ghibli film I see turns into my favourite but I think it's safe to say that this is the winner, it's flawless, it's beautiful.

• Tsubaki S

  
  This is how you make a family/kids movie without having to kill everyone's brains in the process.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings