Movie #175 - My Neighbor Totoro

Title: Tonari no Totoro

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Release Year: 1988 (Japan)

Plot Summary: When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wonderous forest spirits who live nearby.

Thoughts: I don't feel like I have a great amount to say about this one. It was definitely cute, and gorgeously animated like all of Murasaki's films are, without exception. The story was a little on the light side - the above plot summary mostly says it all, though of course there are some subthreads and subtexts and whatnot - but then I don't feel like it was really meant to be more than a children's fable, and taking it on that basis, it's really quite topnotch.

Recommendations: Worth watching, but perhaps your kids would enjoy it a little more. If you're a Murasaki fan, though, obviously you'll want to catch this one eventually. =)