I first saw "My Neighbor Totoro" when I was maybe seven. At the time, I thought that it was really boring(that was still when I liked Disney movies). Years later, when I discovered "Princess Mononoke" I learned that MNT was by the same director and watched it again. And I find that I appreciate this film a whole lot more now then I did when I was seven.

The animation is absolutely stunning(as with all Miyazaki films)and the story is deceptively simple, told with patient, subtle attention to detail. The best example IMO is the scene where Mei falls asleep on Totoro's stomach.It's fruitless to try and describe it;you have to see it for yourself.

In closing, I would just like to say that I can't wait for a decent DVD to arrive so I can view this quiet masterpiece in widescreen in Japanese with subtitles.

My Neighbour Tororo is a movie set in the still countryside of early 20th century Japan. It doesn't feature grandiose action set pieces, it doesn't uncomfortably shift between the only 2 moods many of Disney's latest movies know of (i.e. goofy comedy or tearful tragedy), and it actually does not have a lot going on within its admittedly short runtime. And yet this movie is as magical as Walt Disney's best work.

It focuses on a few days in the life of two sisters, Satsuki (about 10 years old) and Mei (about 5 years old). They have just moved into a peaceful Japanese village with their father Tatsuo, a University professor who has to take the bus every night to work. Their mother Yasuko is recovering from an unknown condition at a hospital some three hours away. Inbetween visits to the hospital to check on Yasuko, the two girls explore the great woodlands and forests around them. One day little Mei, who I can only describe as cute, loud and curious, bumps into a forest dwelling "spirit" named Totoro. He's like a huge cuddly bear but only the two girls can see him. But everyone else is open minded about their existence. Tatsuo and the locals do not admonish the girls for believing in spirits, they almost encourage it.