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All the doubts I had of Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki were washed away after watching this master-of-a-classic My Neighbour Totoro. Such a loving, warm and friendly cartoon this is. The music is tantalizing and the animation is simply gorgeous. Breathtaking. Riveting. Absolutely brilliant from the start to the finish. This film has no life or death scenes or crying moments, although some may want you to reach for a Kleenex. But remember, this is not a weepy movie neither its an action one. It's all about life and what comes with it. I absolutely, positively LOVED this film and I'm keeping an eye out for more Mr. Miyazaki's works as now I'm fully confident I will enjoy the others as much as I did this one.
The reason why I instantly clicked with the main two characters, Satsuki and her little sister Mei, is because they reflect / mirror my two little sisters, ages 13 & 8. I positively loved their characteristics and the loving chemistry both shared with each other. Had this been an American film, the elder might have slapped the younger. Had this been Indian, vice versa. I'm still looking for cartoons who portray siblings, especially girls, in a more positive and likable light. Out of the two, I really liked Mei because of her determination, stubbornness and, to some extend, heroism + I liked her original Japanese V.O (Chika Sakamoto) and her English V.O (Elle Fanning) wasn't bad at all. The way she constantly follows her elder sister around, often doing what she's doing, and often falling while running reflects, like I said, my youngest sister who does 10/10 the same.
Then we have two of the most lovable, huggable critters in cartoon history: Totoro and the Catbus. Both are simple in imagination & design, yet rich in what they deliver. With their surreal smile and dominating screen presence, there is no wonder why they are one of the greatest. However, the character of Catbus might be a little misleading to some minors and what exactly I mean by that, even I have no idea but I just got a feeling, that's all.
All in all, My Neighbour Totoro is undoubtedly one of the most lovable film ever made with a surprisingly simple plot and a host of likable characters. Also, the emotions seen in this film is rare compared to others. The realism is so high that you won't be able to believe you're watching a cartoon. A positively brilliant cartoon, suitable for all ages and size, and deserves to be watched!!
10/10
