Totoro: Kiersten's favourite animated film [ write off ]

I am, by all accounts, a pretty casual person. I get along with most kids because, in spite of being a grown up with all of the responsibilities therein, I'm always able to act like a kid. I've been known to blow off work to stay home and watch cartoons. I've ruined more than one pair of pants playing in the mud when it looked like fun. I cuddle with kittens and chase dogs around the back yard.

So it's not surprising that I get along with my ten year old daughter generally. Where we tend to part company, however, is in the wide world of media. If you've read more than a few of my reviews here, you'll see that I listen to weird music. Kiersten like Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys.

I like Dune. She likes Little House in the Big Woods. I'm into Dragonball Z, she's more of a Rocket Power kind of cartoon fan. I loved Army of Darkness, she thinks The Princess Diaries was wonderful. You get the picture.

However, our paths have often crossed in big name animation. We've got the full set of Disney VHS tapes and are gradually replacing them with DVDs. I even managed to stay awake during the three Pokemon and one Digimon movie (the last highly underrated, I might add.)

And we both agree that our favourite animated movie is Totoro, a magical animated adventure.


Japanese Animation

Totoro is a classic movie in the field of Japanese Animation, or Anime. While most Anime tends to be over the top, as offensive as offensive gets, violent and sexual, this film has none of that, while maintaining what makes Anime so special -- depth, detail and an attitude that's been missing from American animation for an awful long time.

There aren't many children's Anime films that are available in the US -- Catnapped is another great one that has general distribution here. However, with the exception of that one, all of the children's Anime that I've found here involved one man, Hayao Miyazaki, considered by many to be the "Walt Disney of Japan" for his influence on the direction and output of modern Japanese family oriented animation.

Of all of Miyazaki's films that Kiersten and I have seen, Totoro is the finest. A classic story, gorgeous settings and animation, and characters that are endearing and memorable. Add in a story that is both magical and moral and you have a combination that encourages repeated viewings, with each subsequent watch revealing more and more to the attentive fan.


The Story (minor spoilers)

The Kusakabi family has moved to the country and is settling in a new house. Yasuko, the mother, has taken ill (possibly with tuberculosis, it's never made clear) and the hope is that once she's allowed to leave the hospital, coming home to the country will help her recovery.

In the meantime, Tatsuo (the father,) Satsuki (daughter, about eight) and Mei (daughter, about five) set up house, meet the neighbors, and the girls have a series of adventures in and around their forest home.

A crisis ensues when the mother takes a turn for the worse and Mei goes missing, possibly on a trip to visit her mother. With the help of magical forest creatures, Satsuki sets out to find her sister.


Movie Analysis (major spoilers)

The focus of this movie is on the natural environment of Japan. Although the time isn't given, it would appear to be in the years shortly following World War Two. The family moves to an older house in the country near farm fields and a forest.

As they are moving in, Mei and Satsuki discover "dust bunnies," small sentient clouds of dust which flee the house in the wake of the chaos of the move in. The next morning, while Satsuki is at school, Mei encounters three "monsters", Totoros, a mispronunciation of "Tororu," Japanese for Troll.

The Totoros, however, are not the typical trolls -- visually they're something of a cross between cats and owls, and the three vary in size from about the size of Mei, to one that's bigger than a house. They're fuzzy and endearing, not ugly and repulsive. The largest Totoro is the main one, although the other two are generally nearby.

Tatsuo explains to his daughters that the large Totoro may be the "spirit of the forest," a reference to Shinto (the religion of Japan) which might seem a little odd over here, where nature worship isn't well known. Mei and Satsuki have several more encounters with the Totoros and a "catbus" (must be seen to be appreciated -- picture the head of a cat, and the body of a bus, with a dozen legs) before the movie winds down. The Totoro is represented as a creature who watches over and protects people, again a reference to Shintoism.

When the ending credits begin, do not shut it off -- the movie actually concludes with the still pictures shown during the closing credits and you'll miss the end if you hit "rewind" too soon.


Age Appropriateness

The largest of the Totoros is somewhat frightening at times, bellowing loudly. I suppose that might be frightening to small children. The catbus howls kind of loud as well. In addition, the whole issue with the mother who may or may not be dying could also concern some sensitive children.

Otherwise, I think that any child could see and enjoy this film.


Conclusion

As I said in the beginning, both Kiersten and I consider this to be the best animated film of recent memory. It is appropriate and enjoyable for all ages, sends an excellent message, and shows what animation can truly be when the effort is made.

From a ten year old, and her 38 year old childish father: Highly recommended


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This was written as part of the "Kids Favourite" Write Off, hosted by marytara. Be sure to check out the excellent offerings of the other writers, who are:

ali78 * bearysweet * blackcat2 * bops_mom * clpurser * cripper * dearladyb* deaser26 *debbie26*  destinys-child * *dgturtle2* donnie013 * eplovejoy * fallyn96 * jo.com * kcfemme * khahn86351 *kimzstuffz* KMINER * kurt_g * ledomaine * lisaw1215 * lorinsilver *marytara * melissasrn * mellkinwa * micheich * mkmama42 * mommykim * mtbat * Photogirl814 * quasar * shantel575 * sloving * social14 * staceys1 * Tammyinmiami * westerbear * willeftk * 77chelle