I was scared that this would be a typical rant about how overrated Totoro is and pointing things that , at the end, do not tend to help building the argument on the video. I'm happy that it's not the case - yes I remember thinking that the pace was slow but I personally like the peacefullness that the movie gives. It soothes, that something so simple and beautiful exists.
honestly, the reason I like it is because it feels like a peaceful escape, I don't need to try and follow a plot or be on my seat during scenes, it's just peaceful, quiet, just like peaking into somebody's life
I actually at first "didn't get" the movie and thought it was just overhyped. I guess that after watching Spirited away, Princess Mononoke and Howl's moving castle, I was expecting much more fantasy elements and more action. But My neighbour Totoro isn't actually about fantasy elements, it's about two girls using their imagination to deal with their loneliness and sadness. And in the ending you can see them waving for the Catbus, cause they don't need him and Totoro anymore. In the ending credits Miyazaki wanted show the girls spending time without the creatures, which explains that the difficult period of the kids' life is over (the mother is not in the hospital anymore, so they don't have to worry if she's going to die). I still get that it's not for everyone, but watching it again in different mood actually worked. It's more about emotions, not a big epic fantasy trip.
@@esztervarga5431 Yes, but of course it depends on the viewer's interpretation. Miyazaki quite never explains things, in this case the meaning of the creatures, to the viewer. You have to interpret those things and then you notice that the movie has actually more deepness than it might seem from the surface.
I love to think that the Totoro and Catbus and everything still remained in their lives and were not just a way of dealing with their mother’s absence, but a deeper symbol for their connection with the world. We are often told that we need to face reality and be practical and efficient but actually perceiving everything in search of it’s magic (the beauty of each little thing) makes living so much better! I want to believe that Totoro did actually exist and that line of their father, when he said he believed Mei and that he had actually met this special creature, was an honest statement. Not endulging in his daughter’s fantasy, but admiring it and embracing it. We grow up and stop seeing the world as we did, as if it were new, but we could take children as an example for living. The father did just that in my view. For me, this is not a movie about childhood whimsy as a thing in itself, but about everyone who needs a Totoro but doesn’t go to him because of outside pressures. It carries a very meaningful and caring message :)
I totally agree with you, this is the ghibli movie that I enjoyed the less but I couldn't see why. The whole concept of ma is very interesting and it's nice to notice the differences between easter an western cinema and society
When I watched Totoro the first time, with just my older sister, I found it okay. I liked it, and certainly didn’t see it as scary like you did, but I wasn’t extremely impressed. When I watched it again, this time with my two younger siblings, I loved it. I now have Totoro stills on my wall. It was an entirely different experience; they connected to the protagonists on a level beyond me, and just being there with them and seeing it second-hand was enough to change my entire perspective on the movie. I don’t think this movie is just for children, or that cultural differences don’t play into why it doesn’t resonate for many. But I do believe that it succeeds very well in what it set out to do by capturing childhood magic.
My Neighbour Totoro is childhood wonder, distilled. I think your anxiety at the flying scene is illuminating. IIRC, you've got ADD, right? That combined with the Millennial (and younger generations) internalized toxic perfectionism/"I need to be as efficient as possible at all times or I'm failing" mentality your parents generation instilled and it makes perfect sense that Totoro is boring to you. To me, at least. I could be just a clueless old fart.🙂 Another well done video! Stay awesome!
Very true honestly. I actually took a step back from myself when I watched this film and really let myself enjoy it's charm for what it is. Wonderful little film
Feels to me like you just don't like the "slice of life" genre. Some modern, western films I love in that genre are "Paterson" and "Columbus." Check them out if curious.
Weirdly, Totoro was one of the first Ghibli films I saw and I was turned off by its seeming aimlessness. But returning to it after seeing many more Ghibli, anime, and just unconventional stories, I liked it much more! I think I came to expect something from stories with my western movies, and now I’m more used to less rigid three act structures. Strangely, a film that I feel similarly about was the classic comedy Animal House. When I first saw it, I got to the end and was like “is that it? What was the point?”
Totoro is mundane but very life-affirming for a specific audience. Satsuki and Mei are girls who are navigating the change of moving to a new place, while still carrying the stress of their ailing mother. It’s not overly complex, it’s not pretentious, it’s just a portrayal of the magic of childhood and the ups and downs that accompany such a formative time in your life. Honestly if you didn’t see it at a point in your life when you can see yourself in satsuki or mei or even the parents, then it’s totally understandable that you wouldn’t get it.
I found this analysis really interesting bc I have quite bad adhd and usually need more than one input stimulus at once, so I usually draw while watching movies until my brain has decided that I can focus on the movie without needing to do anything else. For this reason you'd think that movies like Totoro would be torturous for me but I actually love them. I hyperfocus on every little detail (it helps that I'm studying animation) and it really draws me into the world, as if I am living in it. Films like this really do make me feel like I am running through these forests and scenes with the characters, and I heavily empathise with their emotions. I also find it extremely comforting that there isn't a goal beyond the mundane chill happiness that the characters experience. I personally find the idea of one's life needing a "meaning" to be really toxic, and Totoro reminds me that there are tiny things every day that make you happy, and the network of bonds that people have with each other make me feel warm & strong on the inside.
Me and my mum love this film. We recently saw the stage play version of it for my 30th this year. They even expanded on the story a little by adding a scene at the older sisters school showing her staying behind to help tidy up while all the other kids went to play. Even though the teacher insisted she dint need to, the sister insisted that she dint mind. It made me think about how everyone said the girl was very grown up and how due to the circumstances she had to become the mother of her family.
I am a girl, with two older siblings - one also being a girl. When I watch Totoro, I see it as an exploration of family, and sisterly love. It makes me cry when they think their mother is dying and when Mei is lost, as I cannot fathom how it would feel to lose anyone in my family. I enjoy this movie, because I can relate. While it is sad that you guys do not enjoy it the way that some do, I understand...
Indeed. It brought me back to my childhood and to the innocence. There was real magic and danger in this film too. I don’t understand why it is boring and find this analysis oddly detached and scientific.
Don't worry... I agree with you, I don't like Totoro. I just watch the movie and... nothing... I found it boring and now I'm watching videos on Yt to understand why so much people loves Totoro. You are the first one who says Totoro is boring. Thanks, I don't feel alone anymore :))
I completely agree with the feeling of viewing one's life like a western 3 act structure. For me it usually manifests in my anxiety about things going too well- because something always goes wrong in stories
For me totoro is like drinking green tea. Its not a sugary drink that blasts your tastebuds. Its something you sip slowly and leaves an impression in your mouth through out the day.
it feels boring because it was made that way, it's not for either lazy people who don't want to think and analyze the world around them (who want everything explained) or for people who can't stop and take a rest, who constantly need external stimulus to feel something. That's why this film is so widely loved.
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!!!!!!! I thought I was the only one who finds MNT boring!!!!!! You put it into words so beautifully! I had the same problem. If I'm watching a movie, I want things to happen. I'm not as extreme as you are, but I do want some thingy to happen. I'd watched Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle before this, and in those two movie there was also a lot of ma and not a lot of action, which I loved!!!! But more happened!!!! People were involved in the magical world and there were a lot of action scenes. A lot of things happended!!!! But you still had that 'ma' thing and the Kishotenketsu type of storytelling. Now I'm thinking about. My main disliking came from the fact those movies mainly took place in the magical realm, and not the real world. This film was the opposite. It was the real world and a bit magical. I don't want that from Miyazaki!!! I want to traval to another strange world and not stay in a similar one.... ;)
I've always found myself attracted to miyazaki's movies but I was never able to put my finger on it but this idea of kishotenketsu solidified it for me. I've always loved movies that don't force a story structure or a positive "happily ever after" ending. Movies that have a free-flowing atmosphere that feels more authentic to real-life are the movies that I find myself rewatching and relating to the most. Great video essay!
*sees your title R.I.P to your mentions. Also, mad respect for using your dislike to fuel something informative and positively minded. And even madder respect for using that Die Hard clip where you did.
An excellently thoughtful analysis. I have the opposite reaction to Totoro simply because I spent my childhood exploring films from various cultures and learned to appreciate contemplative moments of ma and stories that follow more than just the three act structure. I suppose this is why I get so frustrated when other people don't "get" films and shows that I really enjoy. I just want them to see what I see.
I realize all video essays are in some way subjective, but wow, you made it subjectively introspective... if that makes sense lol. I appreciate the honesty, but it’s strange. Your breakdown of its structure made me appreciate it more somehow. I also love stuff like The Land Before Time too, as I grew up with it. But something about the small apocalypse of this family as Mei leaves to give corn to her ill mother and getting lost in the process. It’s real. It’s tragic. But Miyazaki finds the beauty and the wonder in it. Great video. Feel like I’m getting to know you through your contributions to the playlist(s). Good stuff!
i remember enjoying my neighbour totoro while watching with my boyfriend, plus i am a southeast asian person who is also exposed to a lot of western culture, so i cannot relate too well to you due to this blurred duality. and that makes it all the more intriguing watching you discuss cultural nuances and your way of media consumption. i genuinely feel like i learned something valuable from this video and the comments are gonna do the same! now i'm thinking about who i can possibly share this video with. i hope you know you're one of the best channels out there, for a good reason.
You see, the reasons you say it is boring is the same reason I like watching them. My mind goes at a mile a minute so it’s nice to be forced to slow down and just take it all in
it's a cute movie, but clearly made for children. It's not like adults can't like children's movies, but this is one that's very much "childish". The yelling especially got on my nerves REAL quick, the girls are always yelling from minute one!
It's like watching Winnie the Pooh or playing Animal Crossing: sometimes you don't need a conflict to enjoy a work of art. Sometimes something is precious because it goes along by submerging you in a welcoming environment where you go around, relax, interact and help your friends. My Neighbor Totoro is very much a "Slice of Life" movie: even without considering the magical element, it's basically a view on the joy of being a child who's exploring the world.
this was my first ghibli movie and I found it cute and interestint but definitely slow paced and a tad bit confusing. I really did enjoy the visuals, but I just couldn't seem to fall in love with it the way so many did. I'll probably rewatch it soon to see if my opinion has changed now as an adult lol
I’m glad that this video was able to explore differences of eastern and western cinema but I wished you would have mentioned that My Neighbor Totoro was released as a double feature with Isao Takahata’s Grave of The Fireflies. Both directors worked simultaneously on both films. One dealing with the loss of innocence while the other exploring childhood innocence and seeing a peaceful world view. When you look and dissect a piece of work it’s important to see why it was so popular upon release.
E - you’re missing the entire point of the film! It’s a simple film for kids with universal themes about connection, love, loss and the healing power of imagination - it’s not trying to be Akira 🤷♂️
Wonderful video. Very insightful. I learned a lot. Many things I already knew but by direct comparison of western and eastern culture some things you illuminated opened up new perspectives. I was in love from the very first moment when I watched Totoro for the very first time. Maybe because I grew up surrounded day and night with beautiful nature and I was full of wonder about everything in nature as a child. And nature is so rich, offers unending much moments, unforgettable moments and I never lost it this childish wonder. That's why I see myself in those children in this anime when they are full of wonder. I experienced a lot of peace in my childhood and loved to observe everything: insects, animals, plants, clouds, the weather, sunrays, raindrops, nature is so full of it. And because I grew up in total peace I connected to everything that nature has and could feel that in everything even a stone is the same soul that is in me. You just feel it and peace when you have it makes it possible that you feel it. It is as if you feel that there's no difference between the things in nature and you because you just feel everything. And everything breathes and lives and feels just like you and you can feel that. That is I guess what is at the core of japanese spirituality what I just described. And because of this peace that was always there as a child I had the feeling that somehow everything is my friend or could be my friend because I felt this friendliness and innocence in everything. With other words I saw as a child the world with loving eyes that love was the bond between anything and everything. I still do but not so naturally anymore as I did as a child. As an adult it became more a daily struggle to not loose this connection to my innocent inner child. In general this perception of love and peace in everything I would relate to YIN what this YIN YANG duality or apparent antagonism is concerned. Asia in general I would say is more inclined for YIN which is roughly the equivalent of female in nature. Family belongs to YIN and harmony, love, peace, tenderness, forgiveness, listening (instead of talking), feeling, patience, tolerance, fairness, consideration, respect, dignity, courtesy, just to be without having to fight, relaxation, sensuality. All these things. Western movies and art is much influenced by YANG. Europe is the centre of western culture and while I would relate Asia to YIN, to female nature and to feeling and to the human body, I would relate Europe to the mind. The mind is very much different in nature than the body. Because feeling is related to the body which is the domain of women whilst the mind is the domaine of men and is associated with YANG. European culture is characterised through endless wars. Every country fought the other one. These european countries conquered the world and expanded and built colonies around the globe. Because it is the nature of the mind that it wants to expand. This expansion is correlated with curiosity, wanting to know more, wanting to understand more. This is the nature of the human brain that can be more linked to men and to the mind and to YANG. The brain is a computer without own nerves and is the centre where all the informations from the nerves of the body arrive and get calculated but is not capable of feeling. That's why men like to talk about big things with little feeling, like fast cars or the speed of a rocket or how heavy is a tank or a crane. Men like to compete because they like to compare the content of their mind or brain. The YANG part of the brain wants to analyse everything and wants to understand things scientifically and is strongly correlated with men. Women by nature are inclined to feel because women are naturally connected to their body that is full of feelings. Therefore they perceive everything, the whole nature and the whole universe through feeling and perceive therefore the world with loving eyes. They feel generally not the need to analyse the world like men in order to understand it. They understand it naturally without analysing it. It's called intuition. Which a natural women is gifted with. So this male nature that is the main influence behind european culture that is the centre of western culture creates this difference to the eastern culture that is more female in nature. Naturally women are connected more to the YIN part of their brain, which is the right one whereas men are generally more connected to the left part of their brain that would be the YANG part. In european history up until the love and peace movement in the 60's where women started to fight for equal rights and started to emancipate themselves women were considered not much more than slaves to men. This was due to sunwhorship that originated in egypt and ancient babylon, that influenced the greek culture, that influenced the roman culture, and then consequently the christian roman culture. Each culture is just an equivalent of the other. Because in egypt the pharao has been whorshipped as being identical with the sun or its personification and always a human was whorshipped as a God. In greece the sungod turned into the father of all Gods called Zeus. The romans copied the greek culture and Zeus became Jupiter, the father of all Gods, then the roman emperors became the sungods, after christianity became the new roman religion the pope became the new sungod and Jesus has been turned into a sungod. Because from that time on it wasn't allowed anymore to claim that Jesus was a human like you and me. Everyone that didn't confess that Jesus and God was one and the same thing has been declared as heretic and they killed any heretic from the 13th century onwards, according to estimation more than 200 million poeple were killed during 500 years of inquisition. That is really the reason why in western culture always men were dominant and women more or less slaves to men because of the influence of the sunwhorship of the egyptian pharaos. Then there is a lot of evil associated with single men or groups of men that try to rule over the whole earth as was is previous times this still goes on. And signs to this are propaganda of hollywood movies. In hollywood movies native americans were mostly depicted as evil and white men as the servants of God. That it just the opposite of the truth. The native american indians were highly spiritual and had this spirituality that is close to this japanese spirituality where they felt the bond of everything in nature and everything in nature was holy to them ( like in the movie avatar) and they defended this holy american land against everyone that has less values and respect. These indians have been wiped of the map by white men. The indians generally had no chances because against canons and rifles and guns they had not much to put against. The whites or europeans were technically more advanced that's why they lost the wars. But it was white men that stole from them that were at home in their own country their land. In hollywood movies however they are just the evil ones. In fact the opposite is closer to the truth as we all know. The north american indians would also be more female in nature, where love, peace, harmony, tolerance, patience and all those qualities are predominant. These native americans loved peace and they only used agression when they needed it in order to survive. The europeans or whites however they used and still use agression from a whole lot of other reasons than just to survive. They used agression for expanding territory for subjugating other nations, for killing and extinguishing other nations. As we whites are doing to the present day. I could go on and on and on. But now I hope I could give you another perspective why the difference between western and eastern culture is huge.
My neighbour to toro makes me cry every time I watch it because my situation growing up was similar. The part that gets me every time is at the climax when the older girl started crying because she thinks her mum is gonna die. I love this film.
Yeah I agree. I found the movie to be boring honestly. I mean it's a cute movie but not really something I would watch often.. Maybe like once every 3 years.
Now youve said it, Bluth is the western Miyazake! I wonder if sadly Bluth's films weren't popular in the box office like Disney cartoons because of this filming style?
I just assume if i dont like something thats considered popular then its just something wrong with me. Quite often something feels off, but i cant put my finger on it so ill politely focus on the positives and wait for someone smarter to break it down. Totaro is meh, but i enjoyed it by not taking it seriously. A film that doesnt fit the normal ques of a western film. Which means anything can happen. A death a happy ending anything. Which totara ultimately ended with nothing happening but thats ok. Because it managed to surprise me either way. If i dissected it as a normal film, i would have been pissed.
Its because youre supposed to watch it along with grave of the fireflies. Thats how they had it in the cinemas when it came out, it was a double bill. Its only an hour long, or something. Only kids get to skip grave of the fireflies. Its a very sad watch about soon to be orphaned rural peasant kids slowly starving to death during ww2 (i think), i mean both films, if you watch it like that. I think the idea is that totoro was the memories of when times were good, or perhaps the hallucinations of starving kids or something (probably just their imagination). Its supposed to be one half of a bigger experience anyway. Thats how i always understood it. Totoro is the miyazaki half and fireflies is the suzuki half and that established that whole dynamic moving forward of alternating films from the two directors.
Very well thought out and presented. Just wondering if the difference between eastern and western cultures, especially in the world of anime, can also be seen in the colours which eastern/western artists tend to favour.
I have a giant Totoro besides my bed... and I agree with your argument. I always thought it was ironic the way that Totoro and 'Grave of the Fireflies' both basically came out alongside each other. I respect the imaginative worlds that Miyazaki builds, but his stories never carried anywhere near the emotional depth and nuance as Isao Takahata's films.
Utterly disagree but to be fair I'm older than you, not American- though from a Western country- and thinking of it, I had to spend months in an hospital and one of the only things I could do was thinking and observing, and it may have change the pace of my life and the way I see things. I appreciated the video and its structure but I found your conclusion almost scary, almost deterministic. Your psychology seems so alien to me. Interesting anyway.
I feel it is more an English thing than a Western thing - the few French / German / Italian / Spanish films I have seen were mostly slower paced than English ones. I actually found some English (particularly animated) films to be uncomfortably fast and also a bit overbearing and preachy.
@@josemathew9067 I was born in a country with a heavy focus on Anime/ comics/ Manga/ bande-dessinée name it what you want to be fair, but I guess you nailed it. I don't know much about British animation apart from "Wallace and Gromit" to be frank, my world is more about Moebius, "the king and the mocking bird" or "Ulysse 31" to name a few. Contemplation, references and imagination playing such a key role there. I cannot understand her perspective and it makes me sad 'cause she seems a fine person. cheers dude!
English people really like to call all their characteristic western. It shows more the imperialism on their words sometimes. They call themselves americans, the name of the whole continent.
You aren't weird! And I admire the guts it took to title your video so boldly. Totoro is so beloved and nostalgic for a lot of people that naysayers tend to just stick to the wings. I spent my first watch of Totoro (I was an adult at the time because i never saw ghibli films as a child, so no nostalgia factor for me) anxiously waiting for the "other shoe to drop" only to realize that I was ruining my own experience haha. I had to watch other miyazaki films and more japanese media in general to learn how to enjoy a film with a slower, more slice of life plot. I still don't find Totoro as magical as other people do, maybe i owe it a rewatch. It's similar to how a piece of western music can elicit strong emotions from a western audience, but be really unemotional for someone who didnt grow up with western musical influences. Everyone grew up with the media and in the culture they grew up in, and everything we experience is filtered through all of that.
Watching my neighbor Totoro is like seeing a dawn or a sunset, some people love them and others think that it is boring at the end of the day I totally respect and understand both points of view.
I have seen only a couple of Miyazaki movies, and I am a huge fan of them. I can understand why you found Totoro boring, and it's super interesting to think about the "value dissonance" you mentioned. Good video! I'll be sure to check out some others on your channel. I see that you have a video on Barry. Yessss!
OK so I’m going to watch this video but before I do let me just say that my neighbor Totoro is not boring by any means! I love this movie and have loved it since I was a child! The voice over work by Dakota Fanning and her little sister absolutely ruin the movie but the original voice over work was absolutely perfect! It was a little slow for normal children but for me and my sister who were about the same age distance when we first saw this movie as Maye and her big sister they held a special place in our hearts. I’m very closely resembled the relationship that we had between ourselves and our parents. My sister was essentially a responsible adult, our father was they are for the majority of the time, and while her mother was not sick or in the hospital she was a nurse that worked quite often and was hardly home. I have a big imagination and would frequently run through the woods, dragging my big sister along for the adventures with me. Even as adults we have introduced the movie to our children I even have the original VHS copy that I had as a child. My son loves it and watches it frequently to this day ever since I introduced it to him as a two year old. It gives me this feeling of comfort and gives me a piece of my childhood back. It spoke volumes about the love that me and my sister share together.... The trauma that we had to face with her being the one that was responsible and taking care of me when she didn’t really want to but she had no choices. And the internal trauma that I had of the idea of being alone. I’m sorry to go so much into depth but the cold is classic boring to me personally it’s just wrong but I guess we’ll see how I feel about the video after I watch it. But I definitely clicked on it and I can say that much. Looking forward to watching the video.
Totoro was my third ever Ghibli film (following Mononoke in English and Castle in the sky in Japanese) and I found it incredibly cute, colorful, and imaginative. Thanks for teaching us about Ma and Kishotenketsu. It's nice to finally have context for this style of film / story. My wife and I have always regarded Totoro as a relaxed film grounded in reality with a splash of childhood whimsy. Totoro feels very much like an imaginary friend in many ways.
There's also this thing that Ghibli films don't tell you everything explicitly, and there is a lot of stuff going on in the background. Did you notice Setsuki smack Mei, the way that boy reacts to the two girls, and the rice growing? Another thing - there are a lot of Western films (e.g. Monty Python films) with non-traditional plots, negative space and no climax.
This video was amazing!! I always loved my neighbor Totoro but i do agree that the first time i watched it it was pretty underwhelming and it took time for me to appreciate the film for what it is. I think you nailed it with this analysis and it makes a lot of sense. Your videos are always so well done, more people need to see this ☺️
0:30 Watched it a year ago and I completely felt this way as well when I finished it. I had watched Castle in the Sky, Ponyo, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke (one of my favorite movies), and didn’t think it held a candle stick to any of these. Also doesn’t help if you think you’re in for another Ghibli thrill ride after that banger of an intro that Totoro has.
One of the things I've had a difficult time with as far as Anime goes, in general, is a lack of connection to reality. Obviously some stories are further skewed into fantasy than others, but the blurring of fantasy and reality can be difficult and leaves me with more questions than anything else by the end of the film. I think it's why I liked The Wind Rises so much. It's a biopic based 100% in reality, and it is very easy to know when dream sequences are taking place. Totoro is a fine film, but not the blowaway movie from Ghibli like many people say it is.
I recommend reading J.R.R. Tolkien's essay "On Fairy Stories" - it seems to me Miyazaki shows good use of fantasy according to Tolkien, and that's the kind that gives you a fresh look on reality, reconnecting you with it. He says many other things that can relate to these films... I also think that this movie specifically excels in portraying real people and a real landscape. You get to know characters that are different from the cliché ones you see in almost every movie, and that's something in itself. Since it's so realistic you can ask serious questions about the lifestyle of these people - I'm wondering, for example, about the way these two girls are raised: they have a wonderful father that respects them and trusts them, but his little girl gets lost twice... Like Geekritique said above, I'm also deeply moved by the little girl who stubbornly goes and gets lost while bringing corn to her sick mother, hoping it'll make her better. I occasionally find myself crying with joy when Totoro helps Satsuki after all the stress and hardship she's been through. She totally deserved that "magic". And knowing what's going to happen only makes it more poignant somehow... I think that questions at the end of a film can make it much more meaningful. Fully understanding the magic ruins it. Is Totoro real? Is he a force of nature (the wind)? Is he necessarily good? Who can see Totoro? How sick is their mother? All sorts of stuff... but I think that the core is very human and realistic and you can just accept what you see. By the way - Japanese take voiceover acting very seriously, and Miyazaki's films have excellent (and special) acting. This is never the case in the dubbed versions (even in the best case, which, I think, is Princess Mononoke, it misses stuff). I think it can do great harm to such accurate stuff, so it might've been a hindrance to many viewers, including the one I just heard here....
There is a difference between having a fantastic setting, and having characters behave in an unrealistic way. The second is jarring, but the first can often be fun.
@@OferZivony In Japan, its not uncommon for children to travel by themselves to school and such because there is a lower crime rate out there. Thats of the reasons why the father just lets them play and explore.
No, I find it boring and tedious too. And while it’s a nice watch, I usually do other things while I’m watching it. Honestly, it’s not even a story of two little girls who befriend forest spirits. It’s a story of two little girls who move to a new house, adjust to their new lives, visit their mom, and forest spirits just happen to cross paths with them a couple of times. The dust bunnies are gone by the half hour mark, Totoro only appears three times and one of those times he’s sound asleep, and the cat bus felt…I dunno, kinda questionable and a convenient McGuffin to solve the obligatory third act crisis when Satsuki and every other grownup in their lives fails to control her impulsive sister. The drama of their mother is actually softened to the movie’s detriment when it fails to reveal how sick she ACTUALLY is, suffering from tuberculosis, the same disease that killed Miyazaki’s mother. By refusing to state her true illness, and how dire it actually is that she’s in the hospital in an age when TB was still a major killer of everyone it touched, their mother felt more like a plot gimmick by just saying “she had a cold” and only ever implying something worse, as if the movie believes children can’t handle the idea of deadly illnesses when clearly, Satsuki at least can. I felt like Totoro was a victim of the cutting room floor because it had amazing ideas that never gelled well with one another, and as a result, the whole movie felt like a disconnected jumble. A quality disconnected jumble, but a jumble nonetheless. I also REALLY don’t like Mei’s character or design. She’s clearly smart, and clearly older than she appears, but she comes across as kind of…stupid. And her design looks like the Ghibli model for an old woman crashed into the design for a little girl, especially when she opens her mouth. Yikes.
I enjoy the eastern style of story telling, I enjoy simple actions of life that don't always have a specific conclusion and doesn't rely on action. I can play through hours of Shen mue where all I do is talk to people , pet and feed a cat, carry books from a room and place on a table and exercise. Not even reaching any fights. Yet something about Miyazaki movies doesn't interest me. My friend suggested it was the sense of humour of the characters. I enjoy a very specific sense range of humour and miyazaki characters tend to have very child like humour that is not found funny by adults. Not childish like fart jokes, we all enjoy those but something only a 6 year old would enjoy. The point is Miyazaki movies are mostly meant for children and only children. The iron giant has content for adults as well.
It's boring for movie standards because doesn't really have a plot, but that what makes it beautiful. We already have enough drama in real life, it's nice to have a warm blanket once in a while.
I thought I was the only one too, I even fell asleep watching the movie, and believe me, that isn't something that happens a lot. It's just so dull and boring. I felt a weird vibe with the dad in the bath.
I like how you throughly explain the concept behind the movie and your own preferences to get to why it’s boring to you, instead of getting into a 10 minute rant on how this movie sucks like Dough Walker from ‘Channel Awesome’ did.
My partner and are always flabbergasted by the amount of overwhelming praise this specific movie got. We are both huge Ghibli fans but couldn't quite get this one. I really appreciated this commentary on the contrasts between eastern and western cultures and how it translates into our art and media, it makes a lot of sense.
I had no idea there was anyone in the world who had bad enough taste not to think this is a masterpiece. This is the first time I've ever encountered this bizarre phenomenon.
@@darklight6921 it's not that old. And there are plenty of bad old movies, certainly many, many bad movies as old as Totoro, so I really don't think you're right about that. No, this is a masterpiece and is widely agreed to be one amongst critics and those who work in animation. It's tempting to say everything H. Miyazaki makes is a masterpiece, but some are better than others. Totoro has a very strong claim to be his best. I like Ponyo but I'd say it is one of his second teir movies. Doing a version of the little mermaid is a cute idea, and it is well done, but it is mostly cute and doesn't have the same level of artistry as Totoro.
All about art, all about the peace it brings, nothing to say about it, it's perfect. But this movie is bad when it comes to the plot and characters, especially Mei. It's basically a fact. This is the worst one from Studio Ghibli for me, and i saw about 7 of them. Calling this a masterpiece...is overrated
@@hoxyte7741 what absolute nonsense. First off, Mei is one of the best depictions of a girl her age in cinema, I can't think of better. She plays and strops, is afraid and in awe in ways which perfectly match a girl her age. The same could be said of Satsuki and her father. The characters are rich and subtle, they all exist in a barely detectable state of fear and grief whilst they carry on their lives in peace. As for plot, I can only think that this might be thought weak because it is simple and, in many ways, a slice-of-life. But part of the genius of the plot is that it is not ONLY a slice-of-life, it mixes that great tradition (which was not such a long tradition at the time this was made) with a classic plot of being carried away by the faeries at the bottom of the garden. All of this is layered on a very real and poignant anchor of their mother's illness. It is, as anyone with any aesthetic sense at all can tell, a masterpiece. It has a very strong claim to being the finest film ever made (let alone the best of Miyazaki's films). I wonder what you think of E.T.? Another masterpiece which deals with similar themes in similar ways. What about the Labyrinth of the Faun? Again a true masterpiece which follows a similar model to Totoro.
@@stuffandnonsense8528 Alright, as I said in one of my comments down this video, everyone is different so they get what they get and for me this movie is bad, I won't change my mind about it. About the genre, I saw many slice of life but with an actual meaning. If you like this, no problem but it's an exaggeration calling it a masterpiece. It's way far from it, but again it depends on the standards one has for movies. About E.T., idk why you brought it here but yea pretty cute, it has a story and a meaning, I liked it especially when I was a kid. Going back to Totoro, maybe my expectations were high, but all of this simple thing, y'all call beautiful is not enough for me. I don't find this "Genius", I find it boring and overrated. Good for relaxing ok, but com'on. That's why back then it was shown with "grave of fireflies", with that it grabs some sort of meaning but watching it alone... meh. A good slice of life, instead, is Haibane Renmei or Kino no Tabi - 2003, with actual good characters. (I bet you never heard of those because it's easier to search only the surface and call this one the best of its style) Mei... Yes good representation of a young girl but for me annoying. But what I found even more annoying was how long the movie was. A whole hour and 27 mins around it is exaggerated. This could've be done in 30 mins, being a cute mini-movie and that's it, more cured in details and being like that even more appreciated, also by us, "ignorant people" who can't see the beauty and "close-minded" because we share an uncommon or nonsense opinion ^^.
just watched it for the first time and I gotta say... I love Miyuzaki movies but... this had VERY little to do with Totoro and in fact the movie could have been done completely without him. Why don't we get to see all of this spirit world? That would have been more entertaining than a family drama that we don't get much info to.
As a Japanese, I never thought Westerners would take to My Neighbor Totoro. The fact that many of them do was a surprise to me. The story goes in a rather odd direction and most of the time, you're enjoying mostly the artwork rather than the plot. It's not in my top 5 of Ghibli films, but it does have its charm.
typo, it's spelled Toronto. And yes, the big T.O. is boring at times, especially the night life. But it is beautiful and fun, if you don't mind the mundane frustrating Canadian stillness.
While I don't agree with you, Miss Ariana Alexis, I do respect that actually took the time to watch the movie, and formulate an opinion. Most people will write it off, and never even watch it.
If you dont like this really cute thing, that might not be the typical USA "THINGS ARE HAPPENING!" movie but more for the adventure and animation showcase. What would you thinknof howls moving castle?
Well done Ariana!! I think your conclusions are basically correct about why your perceptions differ from those of some others...however, you don't have enough opinions to make a complete judgement about your perspective as being unique in itself. Western culture is rapidly speeding towards instant gratification & self actualization....especially your generation . The Pillars of Eastern culture are really about the "silence" between space/time & the greater societal good...which is intrinsic to the great generation ( my grandparents). You have to take the best of both worlds....my generation.. 😀😀💛💛 but seriously ....with age and experience (i.e time)....you realize " patience is a virtue" & "listening is better than talking"..." meditation/ walking feels better than sprinting"...meaning where you are at this stage in your life versus 30 years from today might be the true answer to your question. The "passage of time" can change what you see in the rearview mirror and alter your perceptions. "Why Totoro is Soo Inspirational" might be your next sequel on your 50th Birthday.
Story wise, yeah it's boring. But visually, sound-wise... it's so beautiful. I feel like movies should have more plot like American movies, but also have moments to breathe like in these Japanese films... of course if you have too much breathing it's boring, if there's too much action it's overwhelming.
On paper miyazaki films should be entertaining. And they are at times but something about the execution ends up flopping. I love moments pf quiet, I love the style of story telling in his movies. But I don't think he does this very well.
Deferring to a Michael Haneke quote on his own films, which I think fits here - “My films are intended as polemical statements against the American 'barrel down' cinema and its dis-empowerment of the spectator. They are an appeal for a cinema of insistent questions instead of false (because too quick) answers, for clarifying distance in place of violating closeness, for provocation and dialogue instead of consumption and consensus.” I do love American films, too, but not every story needs to be all plot all the time. Sometimes you want Takis, sometimes you want miso soup. 🤷♂️
I never heard of Kishótenketsu before, but it fits in to what I learn from one of my professors. She specialised in South East Asia, but was konwledgable in other far eastern cultures too. It's been years so my memory might be spotty, but on the topic of cultural differences, she brought up that Europeans and Asians saw time very differently. We had angry impatient gods before Christianity, and a horrifying psychotic eldritch monstrosity during christianity, who had, in the followers minds, very detailed plans of ending the world. Which means whatever your culture, your society wants to achieve, you better damn get to it before Ch-tulhu-rist decides to tear you several new assholes. In contrast, asian civilizations had less of this. Sure they had some malevolent deities but for them, time was cyclical. So their way of thinking was "Why try to so desperately achieve perfection? If we don't manage to now, we'll just do it in the next cycle. Come sit and ponder the best way in relaxation." Basically, the very core of our psychologies are different. Westerners are driven by existential dread to achieve as much as possible, as fast as possible, while asians have a sense of time that allows a slower, much more contemplative approach.
i couldnt agree more. this is exactly what i felt like it's so overhyped. yes,it's comfortable to watch but the characters and the story have no depth and it didnt capture my attention.
I had the same reaction as you at the start of the movie but going forward and reaching the end i understand why people thought it is good movie even tho i thought many times that totoro is going to eat them in the end the totoro song just blew everything off build filled me with wholesome
i absolutely adore this film but when i showed it to my parents they were also very bored by it, they said i only liked it because it's Japanese, i came here looking for answers and believe i have found them thank you for your insight.
I agree with the movie being a bit boring (watching videos about it, don't remember if I seen it in my childhood), but I think really cute at the same time. But this review is aslo a bit boring, made it to 10 minutes. :-)
I was scared that this would be a typical rant about how overrated Totoro is and pointing things that , at the end, do not tend to help building the argument on the video. I'm happy that it's not the case - yes I remember thinking that the pace was slow but I personally like the peacefullness that the movie gives. It soothes, that something so simple and beautiful exists.
True
honestly, the reason I like it is because it feels like a peaceful escape, I don't need to try and follow a plot or be on my seat during scenes, it's just peaceful, quiet, just like peaking into somebody's life
I actually at first "didn't get" the movie and thought it was just overhyped. I guess that after watching Spirited away, Princess Mononoke and Howl's moving castle, I was expecting much more fantasy elements and more action. But My neighbour Totoro isn't actually about fantasy elements, it's about two girls using their imagination to deal with their loneliness and sadness. And in the ending you can see them waving for the Catbus, cause they don't need him and Totoro anymore. In the ending credits Miyazaki wanted show the girls spending time without the creatures, which explains that the difficult period of the kids' life is over (the mother is not in the hospital anymore, so they don't have to worry if she's going to die).
I still get that it's not for everyone, but watching it again in different mood actually worked. It's more about emotions, not a big epic fantasy trip.
so, are you saying Totoro and the catbus are not real in the movie but the girls's imagination?
@@esztervarga5431 Yes, but of course it depends on the viewer's interpretation. Miyazaki quite never explains things, in this case the meaning of the creatures, to the viewer. You have to interpret those things and then you notice that the movie has actually more deepness than it might seem from the surface.
I love to think that the Totoro and Catbus and everything still remained in their lives and were not just a way of dealing with their mother’s absence, but a deeper symbol for their connection with the world. We are often told that we need to face reality and be practical and efficient but actually perceiving everything in search of it’s magic (the beauty of each little thing) makes living so much better! I want to believe that Totoro did actually exist and that line of their father, when he said he believed Mei and that he had actually met this special creature, was an honest statement. Not endulging in his daughter’s fantasy, but admiring it and embracing it. We grow up and stop seeing the world as we did, as if it were new, but we could take children as an example for living. The father did just that in my view.
For me, this is not a movie about childhood whimsy as a thing in itself, but about everyone who needs a Totoro but doesn’t go to him because of outside pressures. It carries a very meaningful and caring message :)
Even if its about emotions, it cant be so fkin boring
I totally agree with you, this is the ghibli movie that I enjoyed the less but I couldn't see why. The whole concept of ma is very interesting and it's nice to notice the differences between easter an western cinema and society
When I watched Totoro the first time, with just my older sister, I found it okay. I liked it, and certainly didn’t see it as scary like you did, but I wasn’t extremely impressed. When I watched it again, this time with my two younger siblings, I loved it. I now have Totoro stills on my wall. It was an entirely different experience; they connected to the protagonists on a level beyond me, and just being there with them and seeing it second-hand was enough to change my entire perspective on the movie.
I don’t think this movie is just for children, or that cultural differences don’t play into why it doesn’t resonate for many. But I do believe that it succeeds very well in what it set out to do by capturing childhood magic.
Every time I watch a movie, my perspective changes. As you grow you evolve and your vision changes.
Exactly. I watched as a kid, loved it. Watched it again as an adult, absolutely connected with what the movie is really about. It's a masterpiece.
The excitement of people around you can affect your level of enjoyment.
question: why isnt this my thing :/
conclusion: it just isnt my thing :)
My Neighbour Totoro is childhood wonder, distilled.
I think your anxiety at the flying scene is illuminating. IIRC, you've got ADD, right? That combined with the Millennial (and younger generations) internalized toxic perfectionism/"I need to be as efficient as possible at all times or I'm failing" mentality your parents generation instilled and it makes perfect sense that Totoro is boring to you.
To me, at least. I could be just a clueless old fart.🙂
Another well done video! Stay awesome!
Very true honestly. I actually took a step back from myself when I watched this film and really let myself enjoy it's charm for what it is. Wonderful little film
Feels to me like you just don't like the "slice of life" genre. Some modern, western films I love in that genre are "Paterson" and "Columbus." Check them out if curious.
Weirdly, Totoro was one of the first Ghibli films I saw and I was turned off by its seeming aimlessness. But returning to it after seeing many more Ghibli, anime, and just unconventional stories, I liked it much more! I think I came to expect something from stories with my western movies, and now I’m more used to less rigid three act structures. Strangely, a film that I feel similarly about was the classic comedy Animal House. When I first saw it, I got to the end and was like “is that it? What was the point?”
Totoro is mundane but very life-affirming for a specific audience. Satsuki and Mei are girls who are navigating the change of moving to a new place, while still carrying the stress of their ailing mother. It’s not overly complex, it’s not pretentious, it’s just a portrayal of the magic of childhood and the ups and downs that accompany such a formative time in your life. Honestly if you didn’t see it at a point in your life when you can see yourself in satsuki or mei or even the parents, then it’s totally understandable that you wouldn’t get it.
I found this analysis really interesting bc I have quite bad adhd and usually need more than one input stimulus at once, so I usually draw while watching movies until my brain has decided that I can focus on the movie without needing to do anything else. For this reason you'd think that movies like Totoro would be torturous for me but I actually love them. I hyperfocus on every little detail (it helps that I'm studying animation) and it really draws me into the world, as if I am living in it. Films like this really do make me feel like I am running through these forests and scenes with the characters, and I heavily empathise with their emotions.
I also find it extremely comforting that there isn't a goal beyond the mundane chill happiness that the characters experience. I personally find the idea of one's life needing a "meaning" to be really toxic, and Totoro reminds me that there are tiny things every day that make you happy, and the network of bonds that people have with each other make me feel warm & strong on the inside.
Me and my mum love this film. We recently saw the stage play version of it for my 30th this year. They even expanded on the story a little by adding a scene at the older sisters school showing her staying behind to help tidy up while all the other kids went to play. Even though the teacher insisted she dint need to, the sister insisted that she dint mind. It made me think about how everyone said the girl was very grown up and how due to the circumstances she had to become the mother of her family.
I am a girl, with two older siblings - one also being a girl. When I watch Totoro, I see it as an exploration of family, and sisterly love. It makes me cry when they think their mother is dying and when Mei is lost, as I cannot fathom how it would feel to lose anyone in my family.
I enjoy this movie, because I can relate. While it is sad that you guys do not enjoy it the way that some do, I understand...
Indeed. It brought me back to my childhood and to the innocence. There was real magic and danger in this film too. I don’t understand why it is boring and find this analysis oddly detached and scientific.
Don't worry... I agree with you, I don't like Totoro. I just watch the movie and... nothing... I found it boring and now I'm watching videos on Yt to understand why so much people loves Totoro. You are the first one who says Totoro is boring. Thanks, I don't feel alone anymore :))
I completely agree with the feeling of viewing one's life like a western 3 act structure. For me it usually manifests in my anxiety about things going too well- because something always goes wrong in stories
For me totoro is like drinking green tea. Its not a sugary drink that blasts your tastebuds. Its something you sip slowly and leaves an impression in your mouth through out the day.
it feels boring because it was made that way, it's not for either lazy people who don't want to think and analyze the world around them (who want everything explained) or for people who can't stop and take a rest, who constantly need external stimulus to feel something. That's why this film is so widely loved.
The dust balls with eye are the best - they appear in spirited away as well
I thought i was the only one who got extremely bored by Totoro...
Don't get me wrong, it's a cute and lovable movie,but, it's just not for me.
Well....... it is for me
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE!!!!!!!!!
I thought I was the only one who finds MNT boring!!!!!!
You put it into words so beautifully! I had the same problem.
If I'm watching a movie, I want things to happen. I'm not as extreme as you are, but I do want some thingy to happen.
I'd watched Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle before this, and in those two movie there was also a lot of ma and not a lot of action, which I loved!!!! But more happened!!!! People were involved in the magical world and there were a lot of action scenes. A lot of things happended!!!! But you still had that 'ma' thing and the Kishotenketsu type of storytelling.
Now I'm thinking about. My main disliking came from the fact those movies mainly took place in the magical realm, and not the real world. This film was the opposite. It was the real world and a bit magical. I don't want that from Miyazaki!!! I want to traval to another strange world and not stay in a similar one.... ;)
I've always found myself attracted to miyazaki's movies but I was never able to put my finger on it but this idea of kishotenketsu solidified it for me. I've always loved movies that don't force a story structure or a positive "happily ever after" ending. Movies that have a free-flowing atmosphere that feels more authentic to real-life are the movies that I find myself rewatching and relating to the most. Great video essay!
*sees your title
R.I.P to your mentions.
Also, mad respect for using your dislike to fuel something informative and positively minded. And even madder respect for using that Die Hard clip where you did.
YES
I felt like the only person on the planet who didn't like my neighbor totoro. Almost every point on why you don't like it I totally agree with.
That makes 3 of us.
Make it 4
An excellently thoughtful analysis. I have the opposite reaction to Totoro simply because I spent my childhood exploring films from various cultures and learned to appreciate contemplative moments of ma and stories that follow more than just the three act structure. I suppose this is why I get so frustrated when other people don't "get" films and shows that I really enjoy. I just want them to see what I see.
I realize all video essays are in some way subjective, but wow, you made it subjectively introspective... if that makes sense lol.
I appreciate the honesty, but it’s strange. Your breakdown of its structure made me appreciate it more somehow. I also love stuff like The Land Before Time too, as I grew up with it. But something about the small apocalypse of this family as Mei leaves to give corn to her ill mother and getting lost in the process. It’s real. It’s tragic. But Miyazaki finds the beauty and the wonder in it.
Great video. Feel like I’m getting to know you through your contributions to the playlist(s). Good stuff!
i remember enjoying my neighbour totoro while watching with my boyfriend, plus i am a southeast asian person who is also exposed to a lot of western culture, so i cannot relate too well to you due to this blurred duality. and that makes it all the more intriguing watching you discuss cultural nuances and your way of media consumption. i genuinely feel like i learned something valuable from this video and the comments are gonna do the same! now i'm thinking about who i can possibly share this video with. i hope you know you're one of the best channels out there, for a good reason.
I agree!
You see, the reasons you say it is boring is the same reason I like watching them. My mind goes at a mile a minute so it’s nice to be forced to slow down and just take it all in
It's not always about Sensory Pleasures sometimes it's about Spiritual Psychological Feeling and I think u still have to live some life to get it
it's a cute movie, but clearly made for children. It's not like adults can't like children's movies, but this is one that's very much "childish". The yelling especially got on my nerves REAL quick, the girls are always yelling from minute one!
Yeah well I still love the movie
lol yep
yeah well we still think it’s just okay
The problem is you are SUPPOSED TO LOVE MIYAZAKI movies. All the positive opinions are just the same old mindless tune.
You spelled 'Toronto' wrong. This is the video about Hamilton, right?
It's like watching Winnie the Pooh or playing Animal Crossing: sometimes you don't need a conflict to enjoy a work of art. Sometimes something is precious because it goes along by submerging you in a welcoming environment where you go around, relax, interact and help your friends. My Neighbor Totoro is very much a "Slice of Life" movie: even without considering the magical element, it's basically a view on the joy of being a child who's exploring the world.
this was my first ghibli movie and I found it cute and interestint but definitely slow paced and a tad bit confusing. I really did enjoy the visuals, but I just couldn't seem to fall in love with it the way so many did. I'll probably rewatch it soon to see if my opinion has changed now as an adult lol
Very insightful!! You are not alone and thanks for bringing this self-discovery, not only to yourself but to me as well!!
I’m glad that this video was able to explore differences of eastern and western cinema but I wished you would have mentioned that My Neighbor Totoro was released as a double feature with Isao Takahata’s Grave of The Fireflies. Both directors worked simultaneously on both films. One dealing with the loss of innocence while the other exploring childhood innocence and seeing a peaceful world view. When you look and dissect a piece of work it’s important to see why it was so popular upon release.
oh god, i'm not the only one who doesn't understand the totoro hype... i was thinking i was insane XD
E - you’re missing the entire point of the film! It’s a simple film for kids with universal themes about connection, love, loss and the healing power of imagination - it’s not trying to be Akira 🤷♂️
Wonderful video. Very insightful. I learned a lot. Many things I already knew but by direct comparison of western and eastern culture some things you illuminated opened up new perspectives. I was in love from the very first moment when I watched Totoro for the very first time. Maybe because I grew up surrounded day and night with beautiful nature and I was full of wonder about everything in nature as a child. And nature is so rich, offers unending much moments, unforgettable moments and I never lost it this childish wonder. That's why I see myself in those children in this anime when they are full of wonder. I experienced a lot of peace in my childhood and loved to observe everything: insects, animals, plants, clouds, the weather, sunrays, raindrops, nature is so full of it. And because I grew up in total peace I connected to everything that nature has and could feel that in everything even a stone is the same soul that is in me. You just feel it and peace when you have it makes it possible that you feel it. It is as if you feel that there's no difference between the things in nature and you because you just feel everything. And everything breathes and lives and feels just like you and you can feel that. That is I guess what is at the core of japanese spirituality what I just described. And because of this peace that was always there as a child I had the feeling that somehow everything is my friend or could be my friend because I felt this friendliness and innocence in everything. With other words I saw as a child the world with loving eyes that love was the bond between anything and everything. I still do but not so naturally anymore as I did as a child. As an adult it became more a daily struggle to not loose this connection to my innocent inner child. In general this perception of love and peace in everything I would relate to YIN what this YIN YANG duality or apparent antagonism is concerned. Asia in general I would say is more inclined for YIN which is roughly the equivalent of female in nature. Family belongs to YIN and harmony, love, peace, tenderness, forgiveness, listening (instead of talking), feeling, patience, tolerance, fairness, consideration, respect, dignity, courtesy, just to be without having to fight, relaxation, sensuality. All these things. Western movies and art is much influenced by YANG. Europe is the centre of western culture and while I would relate Asia to YIN, to female nature and to feeling and to the human body, I would relate Europe to the mind. The mind is very much different in nature than the body. Because feeling is related to the body which is the domain of women whilst the mind is the domaine of men and is associated with YANG. European culture is characterised through endless wars. Every country fought the other one. These european countries conquered the world and expanded and built colonies around the globe. Because it is the nature of the mind that it wants to expand. This expansion is correlated with curiosity, wanting to know more, wanting to understand more. This is the nature of the human brain that can be more linked to men and to the mind and to YANG. The brain is a computer without own nerves and is the centre where all the informations from the nerves of the body arrive and get calculated but is not capable of feeling. That's why men like to talk about big things with little feeling, like fast cars or the speed of a rocket or how heavy is a tank or a crane. Men like to compete because they like to compare the content of their mind or brain. The YANG part of the brain wants to analyse everything and wants to understand things scientifically and is strongly correlated with men. Women by nature are inclined to feel because women are naturally connected to their body that is full of feelings. Therefore they perceive everything, the whole nature and the whole universe through feeling and perceive therefore the world with loving eyes. They feel generally not the need to analyse the world like men in order to understand it. They understand it naturally without analysing it. It's called intuition. Which a natural women is gifted with. So this male nature that is the main influence behind european culture that is the centre of western culture creates this difference to the eastern culture that is more female in nature. Naturally women are connected more to the YIN part of their brain, which is the right one whereas men are generally more connected to the left part of their brain that would be the YANG part. In european history up until the love and peace movement in the 60's where women started to fight for equal rights and started to emancipate themselves women were considered not much more than slaves to men. This was due to sunwhorship that originated in egypt and ancient babylon, that influenced the greek culture, that influenced the roman culture, and then consequently the christian roman culture. Each culture is just an equivalent of the other. Because in egypt the pharao has been whorshipped as being identical with the sun or its personification and always a human was whorshipped as a God. In greece the sungod turned into the father of all Gods called Zeus. The romans copied the greek culture and Zeus became Jupiter, the father of all Gods, then the roman emperors became the sungods, after christianity became the new roman religion the pope became the new sungod and Jesus has been turned into a sungod. Because from that time on it wasn't allowed anymore to claim that Jesus was a human like you and me. Everyone that didn't confess that Jesus and God was one and the same thing has been declared as heretic and they killed any heretic from the 13th century onwards, according to estimation more than 200 million poeple were killed during 500 years of inquisition. That is really the reason why in western culture always men were dominant and women more or less slaves to men because of the influence of the sunwhorship of the egyptian pharaos. Then there is a lot of evil associated with single men or groups of men that try to rule over the whole earth as was is previous times this still goes on. And signs to this are propaganda of hollywood movies. In hollywood movies native americans were mostly depicted as evil and white men as the servants of God. That it just the opposite of the truth. The native american indians were highly spiritual and had this spirituality that is close to this japanese spirituality where they felt the bond of everything in nature and everything in nature was holy to them ( like in the movie avatar) and they defended this holy american land against everyone that has less values and respect. These indians have been wiped of the map by white men. The indians generally had no chances because against canons and rifles and guns they had not much to put against. The whites or europeans were technically more advanced that's why they lost the wars. But it was white men that stole from them that were at home in their own country their land. In hollywood movies however they are just the evil ones. In fact the opposite is closer to the truth as we all know. The north american indians would also be more female in nature, where love, peace, harmony, tolerance, patience and all those qualities are predominant. These native americans loved peace and they only used agression when they needed it in order to survive. The europeans or whites however they used and still use agression from a whole lot of other reasons than just to survive. They used agression for expanding territory for subjugating other nations, for killing and extinguishing other nations. As we whites are doing to the present day. I could go on and on and on. But now I hope I could give you another perspective why the difference between western and eastern culture is huge.
My neighbour to toro makes me cry every time I watch it because my situation growing up was similar. The part that gets me every time is at the climax when the older girl started crying because she thinks her mum is gonna die. I love this film.
Yeah I agree. I found the movie to be boring honestly. I mean it's a cute movie but not really something I would watch often..
Maybe like once every 3 years.
Now youve said it, Bluth is the western Miyazake! I wonder if sadly Bluth's films weren't popular in the box office like Disney cartoons because of this filming style?
Love this video and exploration of the concept of Ma - and great self reflection as well.
I just assume if i dont like something thats considered popular then its just something wrong with me. Quite often something feels off, but i cant put my finger on it so ill politely focus on the positives and wait for someone smarter to break it down. Totaro is meh, but i enjoyed it by not taking it seriously. A film that doesnt fit the normal ques of a western film. Which means anything can happen. A death a happy ending anything. Which totara ultimately ended with nothing happening but thats ok. Because it managed to surprise me either way. If i dissected it as a normal film, i would have been pissed.
Everyone have different taste. There is nothing wrong about it. I like this movie really much tho.
Its because youre supposed to watch it along with grave of the fireflies. Thats how they had it in the cinemas when it came out, it was a double bill. Its only an hour long, or something. Only kids get to skip grave of the fireflies. Its a very sad watch about soon to be orphaned rural peasant kids slowly starving to death during ww2 (i think), i mean both films, if you watch it like that. I think the idea is that totoro was the memories of when times were good, or perhaps the hallucinations of starving kids or something (probably just their imagination). Its supposed to be one half of a bigger experience anyway. Thats how i always understood it. Totoro is the miyazaki half and fireflies is the suzuki half and that established that whole dynamic moving forward of alternating films from the two directors.
The description of your feeling of watching this film is pretty much how I experience ADHD
I love anime. And I love My neighour Totoro. I respect your opinion but Tortoro is amazing,
not boring at all.
Very well thought out and presented. Just wondering if the difference between eastern and western cultures, especially in the world of anime, can also be seen in the colours which eastern/western artists tend to favour.
Good question. Ariana. looking forward to the video.
I also found Totoro to be a bit boring.
There are dozens of us! Dozens!
At least 3 or 4 dozens!!!
I saw the movie for the first time recently, I thought it was very tranquil and cute, and the music was wonderful, Totoro is MAH BOI!!!
I have a giant Totoro besides my bed... and I agree with your argument. I always thought it was ironic the way that Totoro and 'Grave of the Fireflies' both basically came out alongside each other. I respect the imaginative worlds that Miyazaki builds, but his stories never carried anywhere near the emotional depth and nuance as Isao Takahata's films.
Utterly disagree but to be fair I'm older than you, not American- though from a Western country- and thinking of it, I had to spend months in an hospital and one of the only things I could do was thinking and observing, and it may have change the pace of my life and the way I see things.
I appreciated the video and its structure but I found your conclusion almost scary, almost deterministic. Your psychology seems so alien to me. Interesting anyway.
I feel it is more an English thing than a Western thing - the few French / German / Italian / Spanish films I have seen were mostly slower paced than English ones.
I actually found some English (particularly animated) films to be uncomfortably fast and also a bit overbearing and preachy.
@@josemathew9067 I was born in a country with a heavy focus on Anime/ comics/ Manga/ bande-dessinée name it what you want to be fair, but I guess you nailed it. I don't know much about British animation apart from "Wallace and Gromit" to be frank, my world is more about Moebius, "the king and the mocking bird" or "Ulysse 31" to name a few. Contemplation, references and imagination playing such a key role there. I cannot understand her perspective and it makes me sad 'cause she seems a fine person. cheers dude!
English people really like to call all their characteristic western. It shows more the imperialism on their words sometimes. They call themselves americans, the name of the whole continent.
You aren't weird! And I admire the guts it took to title your video so boldly. Totoro is so beloved and nostalgic for a lot of people that naysayers tend to just stick to the wings. I spent my first watch of Totoro (I was an adult at the time because i never saw ghibli films as a child, so no nostalgia factor for me) anxiously waiting for the "other shoe to drop" only to realize that I was ruining my own experience haha. I had to watch other miyazaki films and more japanese media in general to learn how to enjoy a film with a slower, more slice of life plot. I still don't find Totoro as magical as other people do, maybe i owe it a rewatch.
It's similar to how a piece of western music can elicit strong emotions from a western audience, but be really unemotional for someone who didnt grow up with western musical influences. Everyone grew up with the media and in the culture they grew up in, and everything we experience is filtered through all of that.
Watching my neighbor Totoro is like seeing a dawn or a sunset, some people love them and others think that it is boring at the end of the day I totally respect and understand both points of view.
I have seen only a couple of Miyazaki movies, and I am a huge fan of them. I can understand why you found Totoro boring, and it's super interesting to think about the "value dissonance" you mentioned. Good video! I'll be sure to check out some others on your channel. I see that you have a video on Barry. Yessss!
Or my AA favourite, where she ties Legacy to her grandmother's Alzheimers to Pixar's Coco. It's a good watch!
I also found the movie boring even when I rewatched it now 😓😓😓
yep!
Nice to hear that you acknowledge you are not wrong for feeling bored. A movie that is boring for me is Indiana Jones, get the hype, not for me.
I loved Indiana Jones, finally shared it with my son when I thought he was old enuf to appreciate, and he was bored.
@@maxwelljoseph2717 It happens. He might change his mind when older, though.
@@gildardorodriguez4356 I hope so.
OK so I’m going to watch this video but before I do let me just say that my neighbor Totoro is not boring by any means! I love this movie and have loved it since I was a child! The voice over work by Dakota Fanning and her little sister absolutely ruin the movie but the original voice over work was absolutely perfect! It was a little slow for normal children but for me and my sister who were about the same age distance when we first saw this movie as Maye and her big sister they held a special place in our hearts. I’m very closely resembled the relationship that we had between ourselves and our parents. My sister was essentially a responsible adult, our father was they are for the majority of the time, and while her mother was not sick or in the hospital she was a nurse that worked quite often and was hardly home. I have a big imagination and would frequently run through the woods, dragging my big sister along for the adventures with me. Even as adults we have introduced the movie to our children I even have the original VHS copy that I had as a child. My son loves it and watches it frequently to this day ever since I introduced it to him as a two year old. It gives me this feeling of comfort and gives me a piece of my childhood back. It spoke volumes about the love that me and my sister share together.... The trauma that we had to face with her being the one that was responsible and taking care of me when she didn’t really want to but she had no choices. And the internal trauma that I had of the idea of being alone. I’m sorry to go so much into depth but the cold is classic boring to me personally it’s just wrong but I guess we’ll see how I feel about the video after I watch it. But I definitely clicked on it and I can say that much. Looking forward to watching the video.
Totoro was my third ever Ghibli film (following Mononoke in English and Castle in the sky in Japanese) and I found it incredibly cute, colorful, and imaginative.
Thanks for teaching us about Ma and Kishotenketsu. It's nice to finally have context for this style of film / story. My wife and I have always regarded Totoro as a relaxed film grounded in reality with a splash of childhood whimsy. Totoro feels very much like an imaginary friend in many ways.
There's also this thing that Ghibli films don't tell you everything explicitly, and there is a lot of stuff going on in the background. Did you notice Setsuki smack Mei, the way that boy reacts to the two girls, and the rice growing?
Another thing - there are a lot of Western films (e.g. Monty Python films) with non-traditional plots, negative space and no climax.
This video was amazing!! I always loved my neighbor Totoro but i do agree that the first time i watched it it was pretty underwhelming and it took time for me to appreciate the film for what it is. I think you nailed it with this analysis and it makes a lot of sense. Your videos are always so well done, more people need to see this ☺️
Bruh it’s Littarly a movie abt a flipping Forrest spirit ofc there gonna have a shit ton of shots appreciating nature and the world
0:30 Watched it a year ago and I completely felt this way as well when I finished it. I had watched Castle in the Sky, Ponyo, Spirited Away, and Princess Mononoke (one of my favorite movies), and didn’t think it held a candle stick to any of these. Also doesn’t help if you think you’re in for another Ghibli thrill ride after that banger of an intro that Totoro has.
Great video too👍
One of the things I've had a difficult time with as far as Anime goes, in general, is a lack of connection to reality. Obviously some stories are further skewed into fantasy than others, but the blurring of fantasy and reality can be difficult and leaves me with more questions than anything else by the end of the film. I think it's why I liked The Wind Rises so much. It's a biopic based 100% in reality, and it is very easy to know when dream sequences are taking place. Totoro is a fine film, but not the blowaway movie from Ghibli like many people say it is.
I recommend reading J.R.R. Tolkien's essay "On Fairy Stories" - it seems to me Miyazaki shows good use of fantasy according to Tolkien, and that's the kind that gives you a fresh look on reality, reconnecting you with it. He says many other things that can relate to these films...
I also think that this movie specifically excels in portraying real people and a real landscape. You get to know characters that are different from the cliché ones you see in almost every movie, and that's something in itself. Since it's so realistic you can ask serious questions about the lifestyle of these people - I'm wondering, for example, about the way these two girls are raised: they have a wonderful father that respects them and trusts them, but his little girl gets lost twice...
Like Geekritique said above, I'm also deeply moved by the little girl who stubbornly goes and gets lost while bringing corn to her sick mother, hoping it'll make her better. I occasionally find myself crying with joy when Totoro helps Satsuki after all the stress and hardship she's been through. She totally deserved that "magic". And knowing what's going to happen only makes it more poignant somehow...
I think that questions at the end of a film can make it much more meaningful. Fully understanding the magic ruins it. Is Totoro real? Is he a force of nature (the wind)? Is he necessarily good? Who can see Totoro? How sick is their mother? All sorts of stuff... but I think that the core is very human and realistic and you can just accept what you see.
By the way - Japanese take voiceover acting very seriously, and Miyazaki's films have excellent (and special) acting. This is never the case in the dubbed versions (even in the best case, which, I think, is Princess Mononoke, it misses stuff). I think it can do great harm to such accurate stuff, so it might've been a hindrance to many viewers, including the one I just heard here....
There is a difference between having a fantastic setting, and having characters behave in an unrealistic way. The second is jarring, but the first can often be fun.
@@OferZivony In Japan, its not uncommon for children to travel by themselves to school and such because there is a lower crime rate out there. Thats of the reasons why the father just lets them play and explore.
I personally think this movie is much better when viewed as a "Mei and Satsuki" film rather than a "Totoro" film.
I just watched it for the first time yesterday and i felt like i watched the middle of a movie without an end
No, I find it boring and tedious too. And while it’s a nice watch, I usually do other things while I’m watching it. Honestly, it’s not even a story of two little girls who befriend forest spirits. It’s a story of two little girls who move to a new house, adjust to their new lives, visit their mom, and forest spirits just happen to cross paths with them a couple of times. The dust bunnies are gone by the half hour mark, Totoro only appears three times and one of those times he’s sound asleep, and the cat bus felt…I dunno, kinda questionable and a convenient McGuffin to solve the obligatory third act crisis when Satsuki and every other grownup in their lives fails to control her impulsive sister. The drama of their mother is actually softened to the movie’s detriment when it fails to reveal how sick she ACTUALLY is, suffering from tuberculosis, the same disease that killed Miyazaki’s mother. By refusing to state her true illness, and how dire it actually is that she’s in the hospital in an age when TB was still a major killer of everyone it touched, their mother felt more like a plot gimmick by just saying “she had a cold” and only ever implying something worse, as if the movie believes children can’t handle the idea of deadly illnesses when clearly, Satsuki at least can. I felt like Totoro was a victim of the cutting room floor because it had amazing ideas that never gelled well with one another, and as a result, the whole movie felt like a disconnected jumble. A quality disconnected jumble, but a jumble nonetheless.
I also REALLY don’t like Mei’s character or design. She’s clearly smart, and clearly older than she appears, but she comes across as kind of…stupid. And her design looks like the Ghibli model for an old woman crashed into the design for a little girl, especially when she opens her mouth. Yikes.
I enjoy the eastern style of story telling, I enjoy simple actions of life that don't always have a specific conclusion and doesn't rely on action. I can play through hours of Shen mue where all I do is talk to people , pet and feed a cat, carry books from a room and place on a table and exercise. Not even reaching any fights.
Yet something about Miyazaki movies doesn't interest me. My friend suggested it was the sense of humour of the characters. I enjoy a very specific sense range of humour and miyazaki characters tend to have very child like humour that is not found funny by adults. Not childish like fart jokes, we all enjoy those but something only a 6 year old would enjoy. The point is Miyazaki movies are mostly meant for children and only children. The iron giant has content for adults as well.
It's boring for movie standards because doesn't really have a plot, but that what makes it beautiful. We already have enough drama in real life, it's nice to have a warm blanket once in a while.
I thought I was the only one too, I even fell asleep watching the movie, and believe me, that isn't something that happens a lot. It's just so dull and boring. I felt a weird vibe with the dad in the bath.
I like how you throughly explain the concept behind the movie and your own preferences to get to why it’s boring to you, instead of getting into a 10 minute rant on how this movie sucks like Dough Walker from ‘Channel Awesome’ did.
My partner and are always flabbergasted by the amount of overwhelming praise this specific movie got. We are both huge Ghibli fans but couldn't quite get this one. I really appreciated this commentary on the contrasts between eastern and western cultures and how it translates into our art and media, it makes a lot of sense.
I just watched this, respectfully to everyone who likes it, but it is one of the most boring movies I have ever seen.
I had no idea there was anyone in the world who had bad enough taste not to think this is a masterpiece. This is the first time I've ever encountered this bizarre phenomenon.
everyone likes to label old movies masterpieces. i preferred ponyo.
@@darklight6921 it's not that old. And there are plenty of bad old movies, certainly many, many bad movies as old as Totoro, so I really don't think you're right about that.
No, this is a masterpiece and is widely agreed to be one amongst critics and those who work in animation.
It's tempting to say everything H. Miyazaki makes is a masterpiece, but some are better than others. Totoro has a very strong claim to be his best. I like Ponyo but I'd say it is one of his second teir movies. Doing a version of the little mermaid is a cute idea, and it is well done, but it is mostly cute and doesn't have the same level of artistry as Totoro.
All about art, all about the peace it brings, nothing to say about it, it's perfect. But this movie is bad when it comes to the plot and characters, especially Mei. It's basically a fact. This is the worst one from Studio Ghibli for me, and i saw about 7 of them. Calling this a masterpiece...is overrated
@@hoxyte7741 what absolute nonsense. First off, Mei is one of the best depictions of a girl her age in cinema, I can't think of better. She plays and strops, is afraid and in awe in ways which perfectly match a girl her age. The same could be said of Satsuki and her father. The characters are rich and subtle, they all exist in a barely detectable state of fear and grief whilst they carry on their lives in peace. As for plot, I can only think that this might be thought weak because it is simple and, in many ways, a slice-of-life. But part of the genius of the plot is that it is not ONLY a slice-of-life, it mixes that great tradition (which was not such a long tradition at the time this was made) with a classic plot of being carried away by the faeries at the bottom of the garden. All of this is layered on a very real and poignant anchor of their mother's illness. It is, as anyone with any aesthetic sense at all can tell, a masterpiece. It has a very strong claim to being the finest film ever made (let alone the best of Miyazaki's films).
I wonder what you think of E.T.? Another masterpiece which deals with similar themes in similar ways. What about the Labyrinth of the Faun? Again a true masterpiece which follows a similar model to Totoro.
@@stuffandnonsense8528 Alright, as I said in one of my comments down this video, everyone is different so they get what they get and for me this movie is bad, I won't change my mind about it. About the genre, I saw many slice of life but with an actual meaning. If you like this, no problem but it's an exaggeration calling it a masterpiece. It's way far from it, but again it depends on the standards one has for movies. About E.T., idk why you brought it here but yea pretty cute, it has a story and a meaning, I liked it especially when I was a kid.
Going back to Totoro, maybe my expectations were high, but all of this simple thing, y'all call beautiful is not enough for me. I don't find this "Genius", I find it boring and overrated. Good for relaxing ok, but com'on. That's why back then it was shown with "grave of fireflies", with that it grabs some sort of meaning but watching it alone... meh.
A good slice of life, instead, is Haibane Renmei or Kino no Tabi - 2003, with actual good characters. (I bet you never heard of those because it's easier to search only the surface and call this one the best of its style)
Mei... Yes good representation of a young girl but for me annoying.
But what I found even more annoying was how long the movie was. A whole hour and 27 mins around it is exaggerated. This could've be done in 30 mins, being a cute mini-movie and that's it, more cured in details and being like that even more appreciated, also by us, "ignorant people" who can't see the beauty and "close-minded" because we share an uncommon or nonsense opinion ^^.
just watched it for the first time and I gotta say... I love Miyuzaki movies but... this had VERY little to do with Totoro and in fact the movie could have been done completely without him. Why don't we get to see all of this spirit world? That would have been more entertaining than a family drama that we don't get much info to.
As a Japanese, I never thought Westerners would take to My Neighbor Totoro. The fact that many of them do was a surprise to me. The story goes in a rather odd direction and most of the time, you're enjoying mostly the artwork rather than the plot. It's not in my top 5 of Ghibli films, but it does have its charm.
I can see why it’s boring but I can’t imagine anyone fully hating it and disliking it heavily
What a great essay. Loved every minute of it. Keep on going!
Btw, im not agreeing at all, i love this movie, your points are just that good.
@@joeljs9778 You can disagree with someone and still appreciate they have a thoughtful meaningful argument.
Found Totoro to be a bit boring this time watching it... but it is like the 4th time... or 5th..
If pause to much with not enough of a payoff. You also become numb.
Great video. And you're not alone. I also found Totoro to be boring at times. Beautiful and with fun moments, but a lot of frustrating stillness.
typo, it's spelled Toronto. And yes, the big T.O. is boring at times, especially the night life. But it is beautiful and fun, if you don't mind the mundane frustrating Canadian stillness.
While I don't agree with you, Miss Ariana Alexis, I do respect that actually took the time to watch the movie, and formulate an opinion. Most people will write it off, and never even watch it.
If you dont like this really cute thing, that might not be the typical USA "THINGS ARE HAPPENING!" movie but more for the adventure and animation showcase. What would you thinknof howls moving castle?
Well done Ariana!! I think your conclusions are basically correct about why your perceptions differ from those of some others...however, you don't have enough opinions to make a complete judgement about your perspective as being unique in itself. Western culture is rapidly speeding towards instant gratification & self actualization....especially your generation . The Pillars of Eastern culture are really about the "silence" between space/time & the greater societal good...which is intrinsic to the great generation ( my grandparents). You have to take the best of both worlds....my generation.. 😀😀💛💛 but seriously ....with age and experience (i.e time)....you realize " patience is a virtue" & "listening is better than talking"..." meditation/ walking feels better than sprinting"...meaning where you are at this stage in your life versus 30 years from today might be the true answer to your question. The "passage of time" can change what you see in the rearview mirror and alter your perceptions. "Why Totoro is Soo Inspirational" might be your next sequel on your 50th Birthday.
I heard it said, you learn more from listening than talking. The more tired I get the more I tend to listen.
I don't hear as well as I used to, but than again, I'm getting old and tired. Sorry, did you say something?
5 hours ago, so 3AM.
I love how you and I might have exactly opposite tastes, but I still really enjoy hearing your take on things😋✌
Yk that Ghibli is a peaceful studio. They dont make the story go fast, they make everything feel like home.
Story wise, yeah it's boring. But visually, sound-wise... it's so beautiful. I feel like movies should have more plot like American movies, but also have moments to breathe like in these Japanese films... of course if you have too much breathing it's boring, if there's too much action it's overwhelming.
On paper miyazaki films should be entertaining. And they are at times but something about the execution ends up flopping. I love moments pf quiet, I love the style of story telling in his movies. But I don't think he does this very well.
I was never the type for exciting films. My Neighbour Totoro was a breath of fresh air for me
It's Ha-ya-o with 3 distinct syllable. I have no idea where you're getting "Haw-yoh" from.
i liked it but i wouldnt watch it again because it is genuinly boring, still nice
Deferring to a Michael Haneke quote on his own films, which I think fits here - “My films are intended as polemical statements against the American 'barrel down' cinema and its dis-empowerment of the spectator. They are an appeal for a cinema of insistent questions instead of false (because too quick) answers, for clarifying distance in place of violating closeness, for provocation and dialogue instead of consumption and consensus.”
I do love American films, too, but not every story needs to be all plot all the time. Sometimes you want Takis, sometimes you want miso soup. 🤷♂️
I never heard of Kishótenketsu before, but it fits in to what I learn from one of my professors. She specialised in South East Asia, but was konwledgable in other far eastern cultures too. It's been years so my memory might be spotty, but on the topic of cultural differences, she brought up that Europeans and Asians saw time very differently. We had angry impatient gods before Christianity, and a horrifying psychotic eldritch monstrosity during christianity, who had, in the followers minds, very detailed plans of ending the world. Which means whatever your culture, your society wants to achieve, you better damn get to it before Ch-tulhu-rist decides to tear you several new assholes. In contrast, asian civilizations had less of this. Sure they had some malevolent deities but for them, time was cyclical. So their way of thinking was "Why try to so desperately achieve perfection? If we don't manage to now, we'll just do it in the next cycle. Come sit and ponder the best way in relaxation."
Basically, the very core of our psychologies are different. Westerners are driven by existential dread to achieve as much as possible, as fast as possible, while asians have a sense of time that allows a slower, much more contemplative approach.
Thanks for sharing! Fascinating listen.
Excellent stuff, Ariana!!
i couldnt agree more. this is exactly what i felt like it's so overhyped. yes,it's comfortable to watch but the characters and the story have no depth and it didnt capture my attention.
I had the same reaction as you at the start of the movie but going forward and reaching the end i understand why people thought it is good movie even tho i thought many times that totoro is going to eat them in the end the totoro song just blew everything off build filled me with wholesome
i think totoro is that kinda of movie that u watch on a tired day, u don't need to think more, u just need to chill and rest
i absolutely adore this film but when i showed it to my parents they were also very bored by it, they said i only liked it because it's Japanese, i came here looking for answers and believe i have found them thank you for your insight.
I agree with the movie being a bit boring (watching videos about it, don't remember if I seen it in my childhood), but I think really cute at the same time. But this review is aslo a bit boring, made it to 10 minutes. :-)