An archaeologist father and his two daughters move to an idyllic village home in rural Japan to be near their ailing mother. The rickety house and the odd happenings in the house, convince the girls that their home is haunted. When the girls actually meet the mysterious Totoro and his companions, they are taken on a fantastic journey of magical adventures.
Language:
Japanese
Running Time:
86 mins
Rating:
G
Release date:
16 April 1988
Directed by:
Hayao Miyazaki
Produced by:
Toru Hara
Written by:
Hayao Miyazaki
Starring:
Chika Sakamoto
Noriko Hidaka
Hitoshi Takagi
Music by:
Joe Hisaishi
Shot by:
Hisao Shirai
Editing by:
Takeshi Seyama
Distributed by:
Toho

What’s Hot

  • Though this is a kid’s story, this is not only for kids. This warm story brings out the child even in adults and makes a great family watch. A magical journey in a realistic world.
  • The gestures and animations of all the characters are beautifully done. Satsuki and Mei in particular are wonderfully brought alive on screen by the hand drawn animations and the fabulous voice modulation. One can easily observe how the voice modulation of each of the characters takes the movie to another level.
  • An industry veteran held in great reverence by fellow animators from Pixar and Disney, the director, Hayao Miyazaki does not disappoint and brings out the beauty behind the lives of simple village people. Each and every sequence has his unique stamp. No character is outright black or white.
  • The lush green images of the village and the wind moving through the fields are beautifully crafted, and the animations of the girls and the magical trolls are a delight to watch.
  • The music by Joe Hisaishi, a long-time collaborator of the director, works perfectly in sync with setting of the movie by being rustic, poignant and heart-warming in equal measures.

What’s Not

  • For the current generation viewer whose eyes are trained more for 3-D animation, the 2-D animation might be a little difficult to get used to.

Badges

Verdict

Verdict Stamp

An enchanting fantasy for all ages from the stables of Hayao Miyazaki that is charming, touching and bound to stay with you for long.