Honestly, it's pretty boring; still, the visuals and general vibe provide some genuine charm.

Rating: 4/10 (23 July 2018)

To put it simply, this beloved animation is fairly boring. 'My Neighbour Totoro (1988)' is unable to make up for its lack of story - or, at least, proper plot - and characters even with its generally beautiful and inventive aesthetic, the inclusion of which is really its only saving grace and provides its limited - but somehow still genuine - charm. The only shot that amused me was one of a water drop hitting a frog on the head, a simple but effective moment that's totally inconsequential and completely detached from the narrative, but there is somehow an overall pleasurable vibe to the piece. This is created by the innocence of its characters and the innocuous craziness of some visuals. It feels quite palpable, despite the experience also being pretty dull, and prevents the piece from slipping into totally terrible territory. 4/10