The movie takes place in the 50s, and their mother's illness is based on Miyazaki's real life experience when his mother suffered from tuberculosis when he was young.
It’s possible. I saw a documentary where the lady in the power wheelchair in ponyo was emulated slightly off of his mom. I’m paraphrasing but I think he said something like “she was harsh but she loved me” or something like that. I think it’s on Disney plus but I’m not sure
Totoro is probably one of the many of forgotten local deities - essentially nature sprites who were once revered and worshiped as gods; Totoro had a shrine dedicated to him. The reason he was thrilled at the request of finding Mae could be because it probably had been a century since someone last prayed for his aid.
The mother was in a Tuberculosis hospital. The film is set in the 50s, and tuberculosis was a real problem in Japan and other east asian countries back then.
The kid bath with parents thing is a very cultural specific thing, you’ll see it in a lot of ghibli movies or older anime too, it’s not really weird at all...
It's another way of saving water or save up the warmth. I seen and heard from previous cultures and histories about this, so I respect and never judge those that are different, but all an all, I agree with you
@@sugartoothYT same I still do once in awhile (I'm 15) it's very normal in my family and it also helps save water I'm not sure if it's a culture thing as we're native american but ye
I am a Mexican living in Japan and married to a Japanese. The whole bathing together is still normal. It starts to get segregated around 10-13 years old.
I saw other people also comment, but the bath scene is a cultural thing. It's not uncommon for Japanese families to bathe together like that, especially back in the day when bathes were still heated by wood and fire. It's a pretty normal sight to see parents bathe with their kids or same-sex siblings bathe together to save water or help wash each others backs. Heck, even some friends bathe together in some cultures and it's not seen as a weird thing. It's wise to keep an open mind and look up information when you come across something you aren't used to.
While Satsuki intended to lend dad's umbrella to Totoro, he thought it was a gift. Probably the reason he gave the bag of seeds to the girls was a thank you present for the umbrella, or he wanted to spread trees around to grow and nice kids tend to want to plant seeds they get.
The bath tub scene isn't weird nor should it be seen as weird. It's just a family sharing a bath together, it's common in Japan especially in that era. It was also common in my family, my dad would share the bath with me and my siblings when we were only toddlers - it was a way to save money.
This was set in the 50's and a lot of those older houses still have wood burning stoves and used open flames to heat up water. So it makes sense to save money and heat by sharing a bath when you can because your spending money on the wood every time you need to do something.
@@julia-1582 Exactly! These days, thanks in no small part to popular CULTure and 3rd wave feminism, all fathers are seen as potential pedos. That's the only reason that scene would be considered "weird" or "uncomfortable" to most Americans. I would never assume to judge Japanese culture by those standards, and I don't see dads as creepers, so the scene didn't bother men -- or anyone else with an ounce of mental maturity.
It was first released in 1988, and it's already been 33 years. I can see people who were children at that time getting married and becoming parents and watching Ghibli works with them or showing them to their children. In this way, Hayao Miyazaki's animated films continue to be watched.
1:11:23 fun fact, actually Satsuki and Mei english voice actor is also a sisters irl. It's 11 yo Dakota Fanning and her lil sister 7 yo Elle Fanning. And the japanese voice actor is a full grown woman, Mei VA is 31 yo Chika Matsumoto and 26 yo Noriko Hidaka as Satsuki.
All characters love each other, Hayao Miyazaki created a universe where there's no evil. It's remarkable. Oh, a message to Hollywood screenwriters: Satsuki is a "STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER". She's not fighting bullies, she's not competing with the most popular girl, or demoting all boys to stereotypical assholes. She is a good, smart girl, but not a miniature genius detective! She's sensitive and caring. If only american filmakers absorbed this concept and stopped being condescending to girl brats and hateful to boys, we would have a better society.
One of the things I love about studio Ghibli is how they portray the characters. Kids in films (whether cartoon or live action) most of the time exaggerates a child's character for it to stand out. Like being someone who's with too much wisdom, being too sassy or being too bratty. Studio Ghibli films show how a kid would usually behave, their pure excitement, their random tantrums but most importantly their innocence. I disagree with other commenters saying that this is just cute, nothing else. Other than Totoro being nature himself, the elders showing respect to the forest and every living thing or spirits around them, the importance of Family. It's the innocence of the kids, and what better way to teach respect and love than by showing it thru someone who's as pure as these kids. And that we can learn a thing or two from these kids. The closeness of Family was not also exaggerated. That's how it is in most part of Asia esp before the 2000's. My family is still big in superstitions. I live in the city, with barely any trees, but whenever we go to the country-side we make sure to pay respect to nature and asking permissions from whatever spirit there is when threading even the shallow parts of the forest. Some people might call it dumb, but what will you lose really by showing some respect? Anyway, that's a really LOOONG Comment! But I've enjoyed binged-watching your Studio Ghibli reactions :D Thank you!
As a guy on Letterboxd said: "No plot. No central character. No antagonist. No defined purpose for side characters. No threat. No three acts. No jokes. No punchlines. No explanations. No internal references. No catchphrases. No political polemical voice. No melodrama. No lessons. No beginning. No end. One of the best films ever made."
Traditionally, familial communal bathing is a Japanese thing. Same as what Satsuki is doing, washing herself before she gets into the bath. In the pre-war era this movie takes place in, that was what it was like - you always washed on the bathmat first, then got in the bath. Washing was a chore, the bath was more for pleasure, like a spa pool.
Mei is pronounced the same as the month 'May'. Satsuki can be written in Japanese kanji as 'fifth month'. I like that the folks at Ghibli added that detail.
Honestly I always felt so sad for Satsuki. It is so hard being the older sibling but still a child yourself but you have to grow up faster when hard time hit a family. The dad is doing the best he can while trying to balance work, 2 young children and a sick wife. Still poor Satsuki is still a kid but you can see it when she brakes down that she has more awareness of the real possibilities of what can happen to her mom but is just as upset as Mea and still a younger kid herself but feels she has to be the "grown up", "mature" one vs Mea who is too young and only understands mom isn't coming home right when she wants her too. I do NOT think Satsuki is being perantified but you see her take on more responsibilities cooking, laundry, doing Mea's hair, watching her sister. The few times she could have to herself like school, taking the umbrella to her dad, Mea throws a normal 4 year old tantrum and Satskie has to take care of her. I know poor Mea is only 4 or 5 and hurting too about their mom too but Satskit has it really hard.
Aparently the mother had Tuberculosis. Thats why they moved to the country: she was in for a long recovery and it was thought that the fresh air would help
The film, “My Neighbor Totoro” was released in the late 1980s. However, the story takes place much earlier. The story occurs in 1950s Japan. But, it’s an ‘alternate universe’ 1950s, in which World War II never happened. (Therefore, huge chunks of Japan were not destroyed or firebombed, The Japanese people didn’t have to rebuild their infrastructure from scratch, and there was enough wealth as to be conceivable that a teacher/professor (which is what the father is) could afford to buy a house outside Japanese cities, in the midst of farmland that would be ‘pre-suburbs.’ ) It’s the sort of Japanese history that the people of Japan wished they could have had. If the story was indeed taking place during the late 1980s, then the radio being hauled in by the movers would’ve been the size of a Walkman (and so, you wouldn’t need two people to move it). Also, the truck driven by the dad wouldn’t have looked like that, and you would’ve been way less likely to see Japanese citizens as a family working in rice paddies. Just as the 1980s are seen as a simpler, healthier time, relative to today (pre-Internet in the home, pre-Social Media, pre-cell phones and Smart Phones, among other things) so, too, were the 1950s viewed the same way, from the viewpoint of 1980s audiences. For example, the family interacts with the outdoor world a lot; No one has a TV; there’s an absence of almost all power appliances (no dishwasher, washing machine, power tools…) and while there are electric lights, I have a sense that they’re not ubiquitous, and also that those lights haven’t been in place for THAT long… •••• I think I recall reading that the little boy neighbor, Kanta, is modeled after how Miyazaki remembered himself being, when he was a kid: no sisters, and didn’t know how to relate to girls at that age. •••• I think the mom was supposed to be sick with tuberculosis. •••• Miyazaki films are noted for several things. One of them is: disproportionately, they’re a welcome contrast to contemporary tropes in mainstream American media. For example: both TOTORO and KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE portray a father who is a competent, loving, compassionate protector. In TOTORO in particular, the father never belittles the girls over their wild tales of seeing invisible forest creatures; he’s not concerned, even a little, with the possibility that the girls could be lying to him. He genuinely entertains (or seem to) the possibility that the forest spirits exist, and that they have the power of ‘selective invisibility.’ …We also note that Satsuki’s and Mei’s family is not fighting against the values of a corrupt community or a corrupt nation or ‘media culture.’ In fact, in MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, the story has no ‘bad guys’ (and works wonderfully anyway).
You know, you could stop looking for symbolism and see the world through a child's eyes. A world full of wonders and miracles. I admit that it is not easy, but sometimes that is all there is to it and all you need. What do you need to know about Totoro? He is a good neighbour like the other neighbours. He helps like the other neighbours. What is he? A neighbour. Does he have to be more? I mean you said that's how kids should be, so be like them yourself. Don't overthink something simple.
I just turned 50 and I know that it is difficult. I also learned how important it can be to reclaim the abiliy to see things as a child. At least sometimes. That's where movies like this can help us adults. :-)
I wouldn't even say it's exclusive to kids. Seeing wonder and all that. I'm a huge fantasy fan so when I see magic in stories or movies I just accept it as it is. No need for symbolism. Sometimes magic is just magic.
This anime shows the good old days of Japan and the original Japanese people. It is an animation of the Japanese people who cherish Shiboku and the conscience and kindness of the Japanese people.
I remember watching this as a kid back when I lived in Puerto Rico at my grandparents house without even knowing where it was from or what they were saying and still loving it…this brought back so many memories!
I love the tadpole scene! When I was little I lived up on a hill and our PE teacher at school took us out on "adventures" and my friends and I would catch tadpoles and swing on tree branches. This movie is so reminiscent of my childhood, even though I live far away from Japan and was born in the 2000s. BTW I used to bathe with my brother and occasionally my parents, idk why you'd find that weird, we did it until we were too big to share the tub (I was around 7 maybe?).
16:23 that is how underpressure pumps work. Air is compressible, so if its filled with air and you try to pump it the air is just extended and then compressed again, without moving the water. water is in comparison basically incompressible, so if you apply lower the pressure, you actually move the water and can therefor pump it. Man i love this movie so much. And yes i believe the way it depicts parenthood is very wholesome. If i'm ever to be a father i hope to be one as good as this - lifegoals. 34:52 saying you will never chop a tree down....while having a christmas tree in the background feels a bit....you know.....
So glad you guys watched this, it's truly one of my favorites. I hope you keep up the Ghibli streak, Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind is my other favorite and it's spectacular.
Totoro was a made up nature spirit which fitted comfortably in the Japanese religion of Shinto, which recognizes a pantheon of gods from the grand, to the mundane. Shinto believes that even everyday, mundane objects can have kami(gods) inside them. You will just have to read more about it than just my comment. The voice actresses for the girls were sisters, Dakota and Elle Fanning who at the time, almost perfectly mirrored the ages of Satsuki and Mei. Both are now successful actresses as adults.
This movie was a huge part of my childhood, and now that I’m learning Japanese, I’m trying to understand it from a more cultural perspective of the movie, because there are so many different things about it from what my life is like, so it really feels like a whole new movie from a different perspective.
The way I've always seen this movie is regular life, but seen through the eyes of a child. Dealing with huge, unfamiliar things like moving to a new town, a parent in the hospital, meeting new people, etc. are easier for us to imagine with crazy fantastical elements like soot sprites and Totoro.
The story is basically about exploring the world from a child's point of view. No one is bad. Everything is innocent. The world is vast and fascinating. Even the lack of discussion of the mom's illness. It's just going to be "she's sick" at their age.
Trivia (25) The film is partially autobiographical. When Hayao Miyazaki and his brothers were children, his mother suffered from spinal tuberculosis for nine years, and spent much of her time hospitalized. It is implied, yet never revealed in the film, that Satsuki and Mei's mother also suffers from tuberculosis.
When you look at the girls vs boys confrontation in the credits, Kanta keeps himself out of it as he is great friends with Satsuki and Mei (maybe Satsuki's boyfriend even). It's also cute that Mei makes friends with the baby/toddler and he is almost everywhere with her.
If there's any symbolism, I don't think it's anything weird like Totoro being the mom or stuff. I saw somewhere that Totoro is supposed to be symbolism for being positive in dark times, think, everytime they were scared or had no hope in this movie, that's when Totoro appeared. I honestly that's beautiful symbolism if that's the case.
The name Totoro is said to be derived from the fact that a girl acquainted with director Hayao Miyazaki pronounced the place name "Tokorozawa" as "Totorozawa".
Ghibli mixes Dao, Buddhist & (esp) Shinto mythology. In Shinto, everything in the Natural World has Kami, spirit.Totoro is one of the spirits of the forest. Trees, rocks, wind all have living spirits,.
About their mother, I though it might be Tuberculosis. It was a common reason for people at that time to be sent to hospitals just like that built in rural areas (where the air is not polluted). If you read novels written in or focused on old ages from Meiji to Showa, you will definitely find a lot of examples. Miyazaki's "Wind Rises" is one of them.
Plus, although it is not a good story to tell, mental hospitals in Japan were more like prisons until somewhere around mid 20th century that can differ from region to region, facilities to facilities.
12:49 The Soot Sprites, or Susuwatari as they're called in Japanese, are little sentient balls of soot. They're harmless and usually prefer dark, quiet places to hide and they're very shy. Studio Ghibli doesn't reuse characters, BUT these are an exception bc they put them in 2 movies: My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away.
My neighbor Totoro is so different compared to western animation movies, but I love it so much totoro and the white and blue ones are all Japanese trolls. Obviously they are different from the trolls that we know. I can understand that because of so many cultural differences some things in this movie might seem weird to some people. However I love this movie and so many people do because of how heartwarming and sweet it is. Love the reaction
One of my favorite movies! I think Totoro and the other creatures are real but only children can see them. Granny said she used to be able to see soot spiders when she was a girl. Mei is certainly young enough and Satsuki is right on the cusp of not being able to see them. (I wonder how five-year-old Suzy would feel watching this movie as compared to grown up Suzy? LOL) By the way, I don't know exactly what year the movie takes place but I'd guess it was sometime not too long after World War II. Writer/Director Hayao Miyazaki was born in 1941, so this could have been set at a time when he was a young boy. In fact, the neighbor boy, Kanta, can be seen playing with toy airplanes and Miyazaki has a life-long fascination with airplanes and things that fly (which you can see in most of his movies).
If I remember correctly, the movie is set in 1970-1980’s Japan. People there generally believed in the existence of forest spirits that protect good people. The spirits themselves are simply born from nature, and the cause for the natural phenomenon of mother nature; things like the growth of trees, the gusts of wind, etc. Totoro doesn’t mean anything, he’s a creature of mythology.
Miyazki's mother was hospitalized with TB when he was a young boy. Historically, a large percentage of Japanese suffered from TB - in many stories you see one or more characters faint or get sick with no explanation - tuberculosis is still prevalent
Back in January 2023 I went to the Barbican Theatre in London to see the new stage adaptation of _My Neighbour Totoro_ and it was absolutely delightful too! It uses puppets for the magical creatures and music and songs from this film also make an appearance in the stage version. That stage adaptation was so well-received that it is re-entering the same theatre later on in 2023! :)
Great reaction video! My 8 year old nephew didn't like this when we watched it together. Well, I did! Anyway, the girls take off their shoes because the floor in their new house is covered in tatami mats made from a type of straw and it can be ruined if someone walks on it wearing shoes.
Unlike the original and other dubs, Satsuki and Mei are voiced by actual sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning. Also, late Pat Caroll plays Granny, who played Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Frank Welker (Abu, Rajah, Cave of Wonders, Flit, Cri-Kee, Khan, Scooby Doo, Fred and hundreds of other voice roles including many animal sounds even in live action films) voices Totoro and The Cat Bus, and Lea Salonga, the singing voice for Jasmine in Aladdin and the title character in Mulan, voices Mrs. Kusakabe.
I'm surprised you forgot to mention about Tim Daly who voice Tatsuo (The Girls Father) because he is best known for voicing Clark Kent/Superman in the classic Superman Animated Series and played Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive 2000 TV Series Remake.
This movie is kind of part of a 4 movie group all based in roughly the same area over the time of its change from rural (seen here) to an urban suburb of Tokyo. Tonari no Totoro is the earliest showing the idyllic rural setting. Pom Poko is the transition to urban...and shows a mythical battle to preserve the rural setting. Mimi o Sumaseba (Whisper of the Heart) is set in West Tokyo after the transition and makes fun of the transition. The Cat Returns is based on a story written by the main character in Whisper of the Heart. All are wonderful and are made by different people within Studio Ghibli in different styles. My favorite is probably Whisper of the Heart.
This was technically the first anime I ever watched, back before I even knew anime was a term haha. I’ve read hundreds of manga and watched lot of anime since. So much nostalgia 🎶
I like this movie. It reminds me of when I was a kid moving into a new home, and play outside without the technology like you said. Kids these days all you see if them with cellphones or iPads. They don't even know how to have fun outside anymore.
This movie and others take a lot of inspiration from eastern cultures and mythos so what makes perfect since to them might seem a little odd to others.
I'm pretty sure I'm substantially younger than these people, and I'm floored by the complete lack of consideration of cultural and historical context. Utterly bewildering.
Totoro is definitely real .... he summoned the cat-bus , which definitely took the kids to the hospital , where Mom and Dad definitely found the corn which the kids brought to Mom !!!!
The movie takes place in the 50s, and their mother's illness is based on Miyazaki's real life experience when his mother suffered from tuberculosis when he was young.
It’s possible. I saw a documentary where the lady in the power wheelchair in ponyo was emulated slightly off of his mom. I’m paraphrasing but I think he said something like “she was harsh but she loved me” or something like that. I think it’s on Disney plus but I’m not sure
@@Jenkinscraftingco2.0 It was said that he made Satsuki and Mei sisters because he couldn't stand if it was boys, like he and his brother.
Correct!
mmm I dunno
３０回くらい観てる映画なのに、なんで飽きないんだろね？これ。
Totoro is probably one of the many of forgotten local deities - essentially nature sprites who were once revered and worshiped as gods; Totoro had a shrine dedicated to him. The reason he was thrilled at the request of finding Mae could be because it probably had been a century since someone last prayed for his aid.
素晴らしすぎるコメント...
The mother was in a Tuberculosis hospital. The film is set in the 50s, and tuberculosis was a real problem in Japan and other east asian countries back then.
The kid bath with parents thing is a very cultural specific thing, you’ll see it in a lot of ghibli movies or older anime too, it’s not really weird at all...
It's another way of saving water or save up the warmth. I seen and heard from previous cultures and histories about this, so I respect and never judge those that are different, but all an all, I agree with you
@@sugartoothYT Ooooh!!! Really?!? Which kind of culture? Now I'm curious
@@sugartoothYT same I still do once in awhile (I'm 15) it's very normal in my family and it also helps save water I'm not sure if it's a culture thing as we're native american but ye
Isn't it bizarre that the culture assumes that parents will sexually abuse their own children in the first place?
@@sugartoothYT I also remember sharing baths with my dad when I was small. My Parents are from Russia, but I dont think its a cultural thing.
I am a Mexican living in Japan and married to a Japanese. The whole bathing together is still normal. It starts to get segregated around 10-13 years old.
Studio ghibli films are works of art. Spirited away, howl's moving castle and the cats return are my top three and definitely worth a watch xxx
my top 3: castle in the sky, princess mononoke, valley of the wind.
Same as me!
My favorite 3: The Secret World Of Arrietty,
My Neighbor Totoro & Spirited Away.
@@哈哈哈哈-n7y you like action
@@shawnthedragonwarrior18 nice!!!
I saw other people also comment, but the bath scene is a cultural thing. It's not uncommon for Japanese families to bathe together like that, especially back in the day when bathes were still heated by wood and fire. It's a pretty normal sight to see parents bathe with their kids or same-sex siblings bathe together to save water or help wash each others backs. Heck, even some friends bathe together in some cultures and it's not seen as a weird thing. It's wise to keep an open mind and look up information when you come across something you aren't used to.
僕が言いたかった事！まさにそれなんだよありがと
Also, in Japanese traditional culture, it was more like a spa pool. They washed themselves and then got into the bath.
子供だけで風呂に入ったら溺れて死ぬ事もあるからな
それにお互いに毎日体をみる事で怪我や病気になってないか観察もできるしな
日本人は毎日風呂に入るから水の節約も兼ねてるのかもな
While Satsuki intended to lend dad's umbrella to Totoro, he thought it was a gift. Probably the reason he gave the bag of seeds to the girls was a thank you present for the umbrella, or he wanted to spread trees around to grow and nice kids tend to want to plant seeds they get.
Oh, I never thought of this
日本の田舎の風景が懐かしい作品。
春から夏にかけての風景が本編では描写されており、エンディングでは秋と冬の風景が描写され、このアニメを通して一年間の日本の季節が描写されているのが、芸が細かい。
舞台となった年代は昭和30年代頃（1955年頃）らしいので、テレビもまだ全ての家庭に普及していない時代の話。
でもなぜか、このアニメの世界は世代の人間じゃ無くても、「懐かしい」と感じさせる魅力がある。
Phantom panda man ,a lovely description
The bath tub scene isn't weird nor should it be seen as weird.
It's just a family sharing a bath together, it's common in Japan especially in that era. It was also common in my family, my dad would share the bath with me and my siblings when we were only toddlers - it was a way to save money.
Damn, the last time I shared bath time were my siblings, and my elder sis when she was a toddler, but damn back there was a whole different era.
not to mention, a single father with two small children. When else is he gonna bathe? What on earth would mei get up to when he's in bath?
This was set in the 50's and a lot of those older houses still have wood burning stoves and used open flames to heat up water. So it makes sense to save money and heat by sharing a bath when you can because your spending money on the wood every time you need to do something.
I wasn’t allowed to bring this movie to school because of that scene 😂😂😂😂😂
@@julia-1582 Exactly!
These days, thanks in no small part to popular CULTure and 3rd wave feminism, all fathers are seen as potential pedos. That's the only reason that scene would be considered "weird" or "uncomfortable" to most Americans.
I would never assume to judge Japanese culture by those standards, and I don't see dads as creepers, so the scene didn't bother men -- or anyone else with an ounce of mental maturity.
It was first released in 1988, and it's already been 33 years. I can see people who were children at that time getting married and becoming parents and watching Ghibli works with them or showing them to their children. In this way, Hayao Miyazaki's animated films continue to be watched.
What I love is the way Totoro blinks, how they animated him so that every motion feels alive and intentional
"My Neighbor Totoro" is set in 1958.
At that time, ordinary households did not have refrigerators or washing machines.
1:11:23 fun fact, actually Satsuki and Mei english voice actor is also a sisters irl. It's 11 yo Dakota Fanning and her lil sister 7 yo Elle Fanning. And the japanese voice actor is a full grown woman, Mei VA is 31 yo Chika Matsumoto and 26 yo Noriko Hidaka as Satsuki.
All characters love each other, Hayao Miyazaki created a universe where there's no evil. It's remarkable. Oh, a message to Hollywood screenwriters: Satsuki is a "STRONG FEMALE CHARACTER". She's not fighting bullies, she's not competing with the most popular girl, or demoting all boys to stereotypical assholes. She is a good, smart girl, but not a miniature genius detective! She's sensitive and caring. If only american filmakers absorbed this concept and stopped being condescending to girl brats and hateful to boys, we would have a better society.
Conan?
Agree
One of the things I love about studio Ghibli is how they portray the characters. Kids in films (whether cartoon or live action) most of the time exaggerates a child's character for it to stand out. Like being someone who's with too much wisdom, being too sassy or being too bratty. Studio Ghibli films show how a kid would usually behave, their pure excitement, their random tantrums but most importantly their innocence.
I disagree with other commenters saying that this is just cute, nothing else. Other than Totoro being nature himself, the elders showing respect to the forest and every living thing or spirits around them, the importance of Family. It's the innocence of the kids, and what better way to teach respect and love than by showing it thru someone who's as pure as these kids. And that we can learn a thing or two from these kids.
The closeness of Family was not also exaggerated. That's how it is in most part of Asia esp before the 2000's. My family is still big in superstitions. I live in the city, with barely any trees, but whenever we go to the country-side we make sure to pay respect to nature and asking permissions from whatever spirit there is when threading even the shallow parts of the forest. Some people might call it dumb, but what will you lose really by showing some respect? Anyway, that's a really LOOONG Comment! But I've enjoyed binged-watching your Studio Ghibli reactions :D Thank you!
子供の頃はこのアニメを見て笑ってたのに、大人になってから見ると、なぜか泣いてしまう。この子達の純粋さは私から消えてしまった(T_T)
心も体も汚れちゃったね！
同感です、今も涙してしまいました（；＿；）
私は、数十回トトロを見て、最初から最後までセリフも覚えてて言えるほど大好きな作品です
本当、素敵なストーリーですよね（＾＾）
まるで昔は純粋だったかのようだね！
That's true...
子供の頃がとても懐かしいです
As a guy on Letterboxd said:
"No plot.
No central character.
No antagonist.
No defined purpose for side characters.
No threat.
No three acts.
No jokes.
No punchlines.
No explanations.
No internal references.
No catchphrases.
No political polemical voice.
No melodrama.
No lessons.
No beginning.
No end.
One of the best films ever made."
my review is: no plot, slower than molasses in January in Alaska...MASTERPIECE
Traditionally, familial communal bathing is a Japanese thing. Same as what Satsuki is doing, washing herself before she gets into the bath. In the pre-war era this movie takes place in, that was what it was like - you always washed on the bathmat first, then got in the bath. Washing was a chore, the bath was more for pleasure, like a spa pool.
It's post-war rural Japan, it's one of the safest places in human history.
Mei is pronounced the same as the month 'May'. Satsuki can be written in Japanese kanji as 'fifth month'. I like that the folks at Ghibli added that detail.
Honestly I always felt so sad for Satsuki. It is so hard being the older sibling but still a child yourself but you have to grow up faster when hard time hit a family. The dad is doing the best he can while trying to balance work, 2 young children and a sick wife. Still poor Satsuki is still a kid but you can see it when she brakes down that she has more awareness of the real possibilities of what can happen to her mom but is just as upset as Mea and still a younger kid herself but feels she has to be the "grown up", "mature" one vs Mea who is too young and only understands mom isn't coming home right when she wants her too. I do NOT think Satsuki is being perantified but you see her take on more responsibilities cooking, laundry, doing Mea's hair, watching her sister. The few times she could have to herself like school, taking the umbrella to her dad, Mea throws a normal 4 year old tantrum and Satskie has to take care of her. I know poor Mea is only 4 or 5 and hurting too about their mom too but Satskit has it really hard.
Aparently the mother had Tuberculosis. Thats why they moved to the country: she was in for a long recovery and it was thought that the fresh air would help
The film, “My Neighbor Totoro” was released in the late 1980s. However, the story takes place much earlier. The story occurs in 1950s Japan. But, it’s an ‘alternate universe’ 1950s, in which World War II never happened. (Therefore, huge chunks of Japan were not destroyed or firebombed, The Japanese people didn’t have to rebuild their infrastructure from scratch, and there was enough wealth as to be conceivable that a teacher/professor (which is what the father is) could afford to buy a house outside Japanese cities, in the midst of farmland that would be ‘pre-suburbs.’ ) It’s the sort of Japanese history that the people of Japan wished they could have had.
If the story was indeed taking place during the late 1980s, then the radio being hauled in by the movers would’ve been the size of a Walkman (and so, you wouldn’t need two people to move it). Also, the truck driven by the dad wouldn’t have looked like that, and you would’ve been way less likely to see Japanese citizens as a family working in rice paddies.
Just as the 1980s are seen as a simpler, healthier time, relative to today (pre-Internet in the home, pre-Social Media, pre-cell phones and Smart Phones, among other things) so, too, were the 1950s viewed the same way, from the viewpoint of 1980s audiences. For example, the family interacts with the outdoor world a lot; No one has a TV; there’s an absence of almost all power appliances (no dishwasher, washing machine, power tools…) and while there are electric lights, I have a sense that they’re not ubiquitous, and also that those lights haven’t been in place for THAT long…
••••
I think I recall reading that the little boy neighbor, Kanta, is modeled after how Miyazaki remembered himself being, when he was a kid: no sisters, and didn’t know how to relate to girls at that age.
••••
I think the mom was supposed to be sick with tuberculosis.
••••
Miyazaki films are noted for several things. One of them is: disproportionately, they’re a welcome contrast to contemporary tropes in mainstream American media. For example: both TOTORO and KIKI’S DELIVERY SERVICE portray a father who is a competent, loving, compassionate protector. In TOTORO in particular, the father never belittles the girls over their wild tales of seeing invisible forest creatures; he’s not concerned, even a little, with the possibility that the girls could be lying to him. He genuinely entertains (or seem to) the possibility that the forest spirits exist, and that they have the power of ‘selective invisibility.’ …We also note that Satsuki’s and Mei’s family is not fighting against the values of a corrupt community or a corrupt nation or ‘media culture.’ In fact, in MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO, the story has no ‘bad guys’ (and works wonderfully anyway).
Great watching the premiere this morning, I watched this recently and loved it. Glad we're having a Studio Ghibli marathon here!
You know, you could stop looking for symbolism and see the world through a child's eyes. A world full of wonders and miracles. I admit that it is not easy, but sometimes that is all there is to it and all you need. What do you need to know about Totoro? He is a good neighbour like the other neighbours. He helps like the other neighbours. What is he? A neighbour. Does he have to be more?
I mean you said that's how kids should be, so be like them yourself. Don't overthink something simple.
I mean I'm not a child I'm 32 so it's quite difficult to suddenly see things as a child lol.
I just turned 50 and I know that it is difficult. I also learned how important it can be to reclaim the abiliy to see things as a child. At least sometimes. That's where movies like this can help us adults. :-)
I wouldn't even say it's exclusive to kids. Seeing wonder and all that. I'm a huge fantasy fan so when I see magic in stories or movies I just accept it as it is. No need for symbolism. Sometimes magic is just magic.
@@monster-enthusiast mhm, and magic is just element, not a symbol.
Exactly!
This anime shows the good old days of Japan and the original Japanese people. It is an animation of the Japanese people who cherish Shiboku and the conscience and kindness of the Japanese people.
I remember watching this as a kid back when I lived in Puerto Rico at my grandparents house without even knowing where it was from or what they were saying and still loving it…this brought back so many memories!
I love the tadpole scene! When I was little I lived up on a hill and our PE teacher at school took us out on "adventures" and my friends and I would catch tadpoles and swing on tree branches. This movie is so reminiscent of my childhood, even though I live far away from Japan and was born in the 2000s. BTW I used to bathe with my brother and occasionally my parents, idk why you'd find that weird, we did it until we were too big to share the tub (I was around 7 maybe?).
16:23 that is how underpressure pumps work. Air is compressible, so if its filled with air and you try to pump it the air is just extended and then compressed again, without moving the water. water is in comparison basically incompressible, so if you apply lower the pressure, you actually move the water and can therefor pump it.
Man i love this movie so much. And yes i believe the way it depicts parenthood is very wholesome. If i'm ever to be a father i hope to be one as good as this - lifegoals.
34:52 saying you will never chop a tree down....while having a christmas tree in the background feels a bit....you know.....
So glad you guys watched this, it's truly one of my favorites. I hope you keep up the Ghibli streak, Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind is my other favorite and it's spectacular.
Totoro was a made up nature spirit which fitted comfortably in the Japanese religion of Shinto, which recognizes a pantheon of gods from the grand, to the mundane. Shinto believes that even everyday, mundane objects can have kami(gods) inside them. You will just have to read more about it than just my comment.
The voice actresses for the girls were sisters, Dakota and Elle Fanning who at the time, almost perfectly mirrored the ages of Satsuki and Mei. Both are now successful actresses as adults.
Their voice work is flawless.
This movie was a huge part of my childhood, and now that I’m learning Japanese, I’m trying to understand it from a more cultural perspective of the movie, because there are so many different things about it from what my life is like, so it really feels like a whole new movie from a different perspective.
初めて英語版の声を聞きましたがすごく自然で可愛かったです！
子供の頃から大好きな映画❤️楽しんでいただけたなら嬉しいです😊
I watched half of this anime when i was a kid but today i watched whole anime it was so beautiful to see children how enjoy
43:37 That's actually one of the most famous scenes in anime history, and probably one of the most iconic in Studio Ghibli films.
That s definitely true .i remember this scene from my childhood however i didnt watch the whole anime
The way I've always seen this movie is regular life, but seen through the eyes of a child. Dealing with huge, unfamiliar things like moving to a new town, a parent in the hospital, meeting new people, etc. are easier for us to imagine with crazy fantastical elements like soot sprites and Totoro.
The story is basically about exploring the world from a child's point of view. No one is bad. Everything is innocent. The world is vast and fascinating. Even the lack of discussion of the mom's illness. It's just going to be "she's sick" at their age.
Trivia (25) The film is partially autobiographical. When Hayao Miyazaki and his brothers were children, his mother suffered from spinal tuberculosis for nine years, and spent much of her time hospitalized. It is implied, yet never revealed in the film, that Satsuki and Mei's mother also suffers from tuberculosis.
When you look at the girls vs boys confrontation in the credits, Kanta keeps himself out of it as he is great friends with Satsuki and Mei (maybe Satsuki's boyfriend even). It's also cute that Mei makes friends with the baby/toddler and he is almost everywhere with her.
If there's any symbolism, I don't think it's anything weird like Totoro being the mom or stuff. I saw somewhere that Totoro is supposed to be symbolism for being positive in dark times, think, everytime they were scared or had no hope in this movie, that's when Totoro appeared. I honestly that's beautiful symbolism if that's the case.
The name Totoro is said to be derived from the fact that a girl acquainted with director Hayao Miyazaki pronounced the place name "Tokorozawa" as "Totorozawa".
Ghibli mixes Dao, Buddhist & (esp) Shinto mythology. In Shinto, everything in the Natural World has Kami, spirit.Totoro is one of the spirits of the forest. Trees, rocks, wind all have living spirits,.
Kanta (The boy who was shy to Satsuki) crack my up always when he was shy and so. I find him funny Lol 😂
今まで何回かトトロ見たけど、見るたびに心が綺麗になります✨
子供の頃のピュアな気持ちをいつまでも忘れないようにしないとですね!(^^)!
日本語ですみません(^^;)
My mom love this movie so much she named my middle name after Mei
Parents sharing the bath with young children is an older tradition of Japanese cultural.
About their mother, I though it might be Tuberculosis. It was a common reason for people at that time to be sent to hospitals just like that built in rural areas (where the air is not polluted). If you read novels written in or focused on old ages from Meiji to Showa, you will definitely find a lot of examples. Miyazaki's "Wind Rises" is one of them.
Plus, although it is not a good story to tell, mental hospitals in Japan were more like prisons until somewhere around mid 20th century that can differ from region to region, facilities to facilities.
I want to have a bed like Totoro's belly
That's so adorable!
FOR REAL!😯
Well, you can get huge matress in totoro shape online 👍🏼 not the real totoro, but its cute 😆
Imagine how soft and light that belly feels, like a cloud without falling
43:10 the bus stop scene is my favorite movie scene OF ALL TIME.😍😍😍😍😍
12:49 The Soot Sprites, or Susuwatari as they're called in Japanese, are little sentient balls of soot. They're harmless and usually prefer dark, quiet places to hide and they're very shy. Studio Ghibli doesn't reuse characters, BUT these are an exception bc they put them in 2 movies: My Neighbor Totoro, and Spirited Away.
Best Anime Movie In The Universe, and I Love It a Lot
This is definitely one of my favourite movies.
The boy is shy. That is why he acted the way he did.
Big Totoro is Totoro, Small Totoro is Chu-Totoro, and Tiny Totoro is Chibi Totoro.
My neighbor Totoro is so different compared to western animation movies, but I love it so much totoro and the white and blue ones are all Japanese trolls. Obviously they are different from the trolls that we know. I can understand that because of so many cultural differences some things in this movie might seem weird to some people. However I love this movie and so many people do because of how heartwarming and sweet it is. Love the reaction
Your channel has been incredible this year and cant wait for next year's videos merry Christmas Suzy lu 🎄🎅🎁🌹❤
One of my favorite movies!
I think Totoro and the other creatures are real but only children can see them. Granny said she used to be able to see soot spiders when she was a girl. Mei is certainly young enough and Satsuki is right on the cusp of not being able to see them. (I wonder how five-year-old Suzy would feel watching this movie as compared to grown up Suzy? LOL)
By the way, I don't know exactly what year the movie takes place but I'd guess it was sometime not too long after World War II. Writer/Director Hayao Miyazaki was born in 1941, so this could have been set at a time when he was a young boy. In fact, the neighbor boy, Kanta, can be seen playing with toy airplanes and Miyazaki has a life-long fascination with airplanes and things that fly (which you can see in most of his movies).
If I remember correctly, the movie is set in 1970-1980’s Japan. People there generally believed in the existence of forest spirits that protect good people. The spirits themselves are simply born from nature, and the cause for the natural phenomenon of mother nature; things like the growth of trees, the gusts of wind, etc. Totoro doesn’t mean anything, he’s a creature of mythology.
it's 50's japan.
Mom has TB common in Japan at the time that’s why they moved to the country
Miyazki's mother was hospitalized with TB when he was a young boy. Historically, a large percentage of Japanese suffered from TB - in many stories you see one or more characters faint or get sick with no explanation - tuberculosis is still prevalent
Back in January 2023 I went to the Barbican Theatre in London to see the new stage adaptation of _My Neighbour Totoro_ and it was absolutely delightful too! It uses puppets for the magical creatures and music and songs from this film also make an appearance in the stage version.
That stage adaptation was so well-received that it is re-entering the same theatre later on in 2023! :)
Watching your videos is like watching movies with friends. So fun! Didn't had any for a while.
I turned my attic to a art studio and it has the stairs behind a door. It makes my kitten frusterated XD
Great reaction! This movie is so good! It is one of my favorites!
I love this movie so much even if that's not my favorite Ghibli movie
Great reaction video! My 8 year old nephew didn't like this when we watched it together. Well, I did! Anyway, the girls take off their shoes because the floor in their new house is covered in tatami mats made from a type of straw and it can be ruined if someone walks on it wearing shoes.
I always loved this film. It's just so heartwarming but also real.
Unlike the original and other dubs, Satsuki and Mei are voiced by actual sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning.
Also, late Pat Caroll plays Granny, who played Ursula in The Little Mermaid, Frank Welker (Abu, Rajah, Cave of Wonders, Flit, Cri-Kee, Khan, Scooby Doo, Fred and hundreds of other voice roles including many animal sounds even in live action films) voices Totoro and The Cat Bus, and Lea Salonga, the singing voice for Jasmine in Aladdin and the title character in Mulan, voices Mrs. Kusakabe.
I'm surprised you forgot to mention about Tim Daly who voice Tatsuo (The Girls Father) because he is best known for voicing Clark Kent/Superman in the classic Superman Animated Series and played Dr. Richard Kimble in The Fugitive 2000 TV Series Remake.
That's one of the best movies of my whole life.
This is my depression movie lol its so happy and optimistic. Thanks for reacting to it. Merry Christmas! ❤
This movie is kind of part of a 4 movie group all based in roughly the same area over the time of its change from rural (seen here) to an urban suburb of Tokyo. Tonari no Totoro is the earliest showing the idyllic rural setting. Pom Poko is the transition to urban...and shows a mythical battle to preserve the rural setting. Mimi o Sumaseba (Whisper of the Heart) is set in West Tokyo after the transition and makes fun of the transition. The Cat Returns is based on a story written by the main character in Whisper of the Heart. All are wonderful and are made by different people within Studio Ghibli in different styles. My favorite is probably Whisper of the Heart.
“I think her mom is totoro”
“If that’s true her dads real freaky”
😂😂😂😂
Im from Japan and this is one of my favorite film. Totoro is cute 😍💕.
THE BOY AND THE HERON | Official Teaser Trailer is finally here! it’s sublime December 8, 2023 imax
Black Soots are basically dust bunny spirits.
soot gremlins are basically like dust bunnies
I love how they just mentioned Ponyo when they’re watching another ghibli film, cuz Ponyo and Totoro are made in the same company!!
This was technically the first anime I ever watched, back before I even knew anime was a term haha. I’ve read hundreds of manga and watched lot of anime since. So much nostalgia 🎶
34:29 ゲタの事を「奇妙なクロックス」とはなんとも草
Totoro also made an appearance in Toy Story 3.
Totoro is the best !
I do agree
I like this movie. It reminds me of when I was a kid moving into a new home, and play outside without the technology like you said. Kids these days all you see if them with cellphones or iPads. They don't even know how to have fun outside anymore.
This movie and others take a lot of inspiration from eastern cultures and mythos so what makes perfect since to them might seem a little odd to others.
これおじゃまたくしとかとうもころしとかわかんないもどかしさね〜w
でもこの純粋で綺麗な世界観をちゃんと分かってもらえたのすっごく嬉しい
I'm pretty sure I'm substantially younger than these people, and I'm floored by the complete lack of consideration of cultural and historical context. Utterly bewildering.
Thank you for Totoro's reaction.
子供の頃に映画館に見に行きました。
『火垂るの墓』とセット上映だったので私は泣いて笑いました。
I really love the Christmas intro it was so adorable 😊
ディズニー ピーターパン を見た時の感動🥹😂
【となりのトトロ】の世界観は
日本人にとって
どこか懐かしい風景で
その時代に生きていなくても
DNAに刻まれているのか
心の奥にすうっと染みていくんですよね。
公開当時は
２本立てで
【となりのトトロ】と
【火垂るの墓】が同時上映されていました。
となりのトトロの監督は
宮崎駿で
火垂るの墓の監督は
高畑勲でした。
２人は若い頃からアニメーションに携わっていて
スタジオジブリを作った時に
それぞれが作品を作り
スタジオジブリを世界的に有名にさせていきました。
Of course he's a good dad. That's Tim Daly, that's freakin' Superman.
I Love that Movie
54:11 I always suspected a Tubercolosis recovery for the mom
日本の声優の演技力も作品の重要な要素です
出来れば吹き替えじゃなくて字幕も見てほしいですよね。
でも吹き替えの良いところは文字を読まないでよいので、表情や細かい描写を見逃さずに観られるメリットがある。
Totoro is definitely real .... he summoned the cat-bus , which definitely took the kids to the hospital , where Mom and Dad definitely found the corn which the kids brought to Mom !!!!
You can find Totoro in Toy Story3, one of the toys of Bonny.
Love the Family Guy reference 🤣 “oh a piece if candy!”
All we need Totoro
I saw My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Spirited Away last during and after Christmas.
The water into the pump primes it. If it sits there too long, it needs done in order to create the proper suction for the pump to work.