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MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO (Tonari no Totoro) Region 2 (UK) Edition - Reviewed by Andy Davidson Director: Hayao MiyazakiStarring the voices of: Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Pat Carroll
THE FILM Two young girls, Satusiki and Mae, are moving to a new home with their father. Their mother has been ill so, the family has decided to move to a new home in the country so that she can recuperate when she comes out of hospital. Compared to the cramped conditions of urban Tokyo, their new home is a bewildering spectacle and the girls head off to explore their new surroundings. On one such expedition, Satsuki spots a small white creature scurrying through the undergrowth. She gives chase and after a breathtaking pursuit emerges in a clearing where she discovers Totoro, an enormous woodland creature, resting under the camphor tree near their home. And so begins Miyazaki’s masterpiece. My Neighbour Totoro is, first and foremost, a children’s film. It explores a simple story – two girls discovering their new home and the creatures (human and otherwise) around it and awakening after a period of sadness and confusion. While their mother’s illness is not discussed at any length, the viewer gets the impression that she was very seriously ill and that Totoro and his lovable friends are a form of therapy. But that’s all too psychoanalytical for a film such as this. My Neighbour Totoro is about that magical time when children are filled with innocence and wonder. Where mysterious creatures lurk unseen and the unknown is not a threat but something to be explored with joyful abandon. My Neighbour Totoro manages to convey those feelings of innocence and wonder without ever becoming cheesy or misty-eyed. It’s a simple film which conveys its message without ever becoming preachy. It’s no mystery why Totoro himself has become the emblem of Studio Ghibli; the creature is the epitome of everything the studio stands for. THE DVD Like the majority
of Optimum’s Studio Ghibli collection, My Neighbour Totoro is
presented as a single disc release, along with a selection of extras taken
from the film’s various releases worldwide. Alternate Angle Storyboards The best extra on all of Optimum’s Studio Ghibli releases has been the
inclusion of the original storyboards for the film, viewable as an
alternative angle option. The beautifully simple artwork is a joy to watch
and gives a unique insight into the animation process behind these films. The three original Japanese trailers for My Neighbour Totoro are
included, along with English subtitles. Somewhat annoyingly, the subtitles
cannot be switched off. The picture quality of the trailers themselves is
variable, with the first of the three looking like it’s been compressed to
within an inch of its life. Optimum have included the opening and closing sequences for the film minus
credits. The opener is a nice little animation featuring dancing Totoros
but the closing sequence is of more value in that it continues the story
past the end of the film. So, if you want to know what happens to Mae and
Satsuki when the music starts, watch on.
Howl’s Moving Castle is released on DVD the same day as My
Neighbour Totoro. The US trailer for the film, complete with
implausibly gruff voice is included here. Once again, the trailer for the complete set of Ghibli releases planned by Optimum is included. The trailers appear to have been sourced from a lower quality medium so don’t quite look their best, but the contents are more than worth a viewing.
SUMMARY My Neighbour Totoro is not only one of the best Ghibli films, it’s one of the best films for children ever made. What this release lacks in technical quality it more than makes up for in the quality of the film itself. Essential viewing for families everywhere. Note: The disc's sleeve uses the Anglicised spelling of the film's title, My Neighbour Totoro. The menus and the print itself use the American version, My Neighbor Totoro. Related reviews: The Studio Ghibli Collection DVD reviewed: March 2006 |
