My Neighbor Totoro: One of the Best Family Films of All Time
by Jennifer Chait, 07/01/10
“My Neighbor Totoro” (Totoro for short) is hands down, the most beloved animated family movie of all time at my house. My son Cedar has watched it dozens of times over the years and loves it just as much at age nine as he did when he was younger.
Totoro, created by Hayao Miyazaki, focuses on the simple wonder of being a child. I think Chicago Sun-Times film critic, Roger Ebert, puts it best saying, “Here is a children’s film made for the world we should live in, rather than the one we currently occupy.” Ebert, who notes that Totoro is one of his, “Great movies” is right on target. Totoro is a sharp contrast to what children grow up with in America these days. American kids’ animation films are typically stressful instead of peaceful; villains and fight scenes rule, kids and adults have major conflicts with each other and in general, the plot arch usually revolves around conflict rather than peaceful growth and development.
The film Totoro reminds viewers that all children really need for fun and growth is nature, family, some “magical” seeds and a healthy dose of imagination.
