Perhaps the best film ever about childhood curiosity and exploring

Rating: 8/10 (23 March 2020)

"My Neighbor Totoro" is one of Studio Ghibli's most pure, heartwarming films, a feel good movie in its essence. The two sisters Satsuki and Mei move to the Japanese countryside with their father, where they befriend the large, loving wood spirit Totoro. As always with Studio Ghibli, the animation is flawless, with the fantasy forest setting being a cavalcade of cozy, leafy dream landscapes. Totoro and his friends are simply drawn, but just perfectly so, and the cat bus (or whatever it is called) is a highlight, being a psychedelic scene stealer whenever he emerges out of the bushes. The plot of "My Neighbor Totoro" doesn't use any surprising twists to reach its end and moral. Instead, Hayao Miyazaki brings a story of innocence, sister love, and childish curiosity in the cleanest, no-fuzz way possible. From start to finish, you will find yourself 100% consumed by the film and your inner child are about to come out as the lovely sisters are so relatable. "My Neighbor Totoro" wouldn't suffer from showcasing its wood critter, and now cult icon, star a bit more often. Neither would I complain if we got to see a bit more of the fantasy forest he calls his home. And while children might not be as caught up with the realistic pacing - I refuse to call it slow - as the rest of us, even the most cold hearted people must relate to this brilliant take in childhood adventures. At least I want to think so.