MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO (1988) Revisited: Animation Movie Review

I want you to hit me as hard as you [Music] can hello and welcome to another edition of animation movies Revisited where we take a look back at some of the greatest animated films and ReDiscover the reasons they've left a lasting impression throughout the years in this episode we'll be making our way to tokorozawa City Japan where a young girl named satuk kusakabe and her family have just moved into Enchanted Farmland where mysterious Forest Spirits are known to cause Mischief I'm speaking of course about Studio ji's fantasy animated feature my neighbor todoro before becoming a household name a fixture at Hot Topic in studio ji's most recognizable mascot todoro began his journey into the hearts of millions as a story book character for the world famous creator Hao Miyazaki held is one of the most influential storytellers in all of Japan Miyazaki invented todoro out of an act of frustration with his current job as an animator for ISO takahata's television series 3,000 leagues in search of mother feeling like his life wasn't going anywhere anytime fast Miyazaki got to work on creating a story all his own at first Miyazaki envisioned my neighbor todoro as a children's book and began drawing pictures pies of a furry mythical creature standing in a satama back when my neighbor todoro was conceived stories about normal kids living in ordinary places were considered a risk by any measure kids back then wanted rambunctious robots The Adventures of a little white lion and a female fronted Sports drama that helped pave the way for shjo anime in short if your character didn't have superpowers or live in a Fantastical setting your work was considered a risky investment regardless of the purity of your intentions thanks for watching our show if you like what you see like this video and click on the Bell to receive notifications every time a new one goes up now back to the show Miyazaki used watercolor to create the concept paintings for my neighbor todoro at the start he painted a version of the iconic creature and his humanoid companion a seven-year-old girl named May or satsky the names were interchangeable at this stage of the project given that satki is a traditional Japanese name for the month of May as Miyazaki continued working on the story he quickly realized that the world inhabited by his characters was growing larger and that the todoro project would require a different approach feeling as if the concept could use another set of eyes Miyazaki contacted art director Kazo oga and asked if he could lend his perspective Miyazaki knew that oga would challenge his ideas and have plenty to say about too's overall appeal and aesthetic together Miyazaki and oga refined the Project's color palette giving the characters and setting a more vibrant and natural look as pieces to the project steadily came together Miyazaki decided that the story of May and todoro would be best represented Through The Art of Animation considering that Miyazaki has been called the Walt Disney of Japan you'd think that he'd have no problem selling such an adorable concept to potential buyers however Miyazaki was still in the process of making a name for himself and discovered rather quickly that some companies view todoro as something Antiquated and potentially difficult to sell to Young audiences Miyazaki pitched my neighbor todoro to the tokuma shoen publishing company in the early 80s and found himself rejected not to be ignored Miyazaki and producer toshio Suzuki tried to sell my neighbor todoro again in 1987 but the financiers and distribution Executives didn't think that the lovable and lethargic Forest Spirit was capable of capturing the imaginations of movie goers fools entertainment back then was all about guns action and speed I wanted my movie to be peaceful tranquil and innocent I wanted to create that kind of world also I wanted to prove that a movie like this could be successful Miyazaki once said about the process of bringing my neighbor tooro to the screen come on what are you waiting for you have to laugh loud to scare a spirit when the story focused only on May and todoro Miaki envisioned the project as a 40-minute short film however as the world of todoro began to expand with every new idea production aspirations increased alongside the cast of characters it was at this point in the creative process that Miyazaki decided to split May into two separate characters May was now may and satsky two young women with different worldviews experiencing magic in a world fraught with real problems directed and written by hayo Miyazaki my neighbor todoro tells the heartwarming story of a family who moves to a ly haunted house nestled in the farming area of Tokar zawa City located in the saitama prefecture at the head of the household is tatsuo kasukabe voiced by shikis at toy in the Japanese version Gregory snegoff for the Streamline pictures release and Tim Daily for the Disney dub then there are tatsuo's pride and joy 10-year-old satsky voiced by noro Haka Lisa mikkelson and Dakota Fanning for their respective versions and four-year-old May played by chica Sakamoto Cheryl Chase and L Fanning in each rendering of the film lastly there's yasuka kusakabe the love of tatsuo's Life who spends the entirety of the film in a hospital while being treated for an unnamed illness yatso is voiced by sui shimamoto Alexandra kentworth and Leah Salonga in each iteration soon after exploring their new home the kusakabe learns that their house is a Haven for Wayward Forest Spirits often friendly curious and harmless these creatures go about their business while remaining invisible to most humans when they choose to be seen it's usually to guide worthy guests into their captivating world I [Music] bet as tatso satuk and may adjust to life in tokorozawa city and prepare for their mother's eventual return from the hospital satuk and may are introduced to todoro a massive Forest spirit that can commune with nature and is capable of flight inspired by several different animals todoro shares much in common with the Japanese raccoon dog called a Tanuki in talking about the character throughout the years Miyazaki has insisted that todoro is neither a dog nor a raccoon but it suggested that cats and owls played a role in his design in the film todoro appears to the girls on several occasions be it for a nap within the safety of a massive camper tree to wait with them at a bus stop in the rain or join them in a dance that helps their garden grow each instance presents an opportunity for todoro to remind satsky and may that magic exists despite them living in a harsh world and that so long as you respect and embrace the wonders of nature a friend will always be there to fuel the Wilds of your imagination my neighbor todoro is semi-autobiographical and that some aspects of the film are based on true events when Miyazaki was a child his mother yiko Miyazaki was hospitalized for a severe case of spinal tuberculosis which caused her to be bedridden from 1947 until 1955 according to the book hayo Miyazaki master of Japanese animation she spent the first few years of her illness mostly in the hospital but was eventually able to be nursed from home reminiscent of Lewis Carol's mind-bending 1865 novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland my neighbor todoro celebrates the concept of animism which britanica defines as the belief in innumerable Spiritual Beings concerned with human Affairs and capable of helping or harming human interests similarly the film Embraces the East Asian religion Shintoism in which followers Express devotion toward invisible Spiritual Beings and Powers called Kami shrines and a plethora of rituals direct references and shades of these Concepts can be found throughout my neighbor todoro which are of course coupled with miyazaki's everpresent themes of conservation and environmentalism helping to set the tone for todoro Big Screen Adventures is the Japanese composer mamaru fujisawa professionally known as Joe hasashi having arranged over 100 film scores and solo albums throughout his expansive career isashi is known for combining elements of minimalist Electronica Western classical and Japanese classical music in his songs in addition to arranging the Whimsical score from my neighbor tooro hasashi created music for several of miyazaki's most beloved features including NASA of the Valley of the wind Lauda Castle in the Sky Kiki's Delivery Service Porco Roso princess manoke Spirited Away how's Moving Castle Pono The Wind Rises and The Tale of Princess kaguya he's also set to arrange the score for miyazaki's next and possibly last feature film titled how do you live haach scor from my neighbor todoro ranges from playful and jubilant to mysterious and somber as the film takes an emotional turn during the third act joining hashi's maleus Melodies are five vocal Arrangements performed by aumi inway including the film's uplifting theme song which contains a catchy chorus that is sure to have you singing along by its second refrain while my neighbor Todo is famously heartwarming it does play host to some Dark fan theories that have followed the film like a sh Shadow throughout the years before I give any of these theories a platform I would like to State for the record that Miyazaki himself has debunked all of the wild ideas I'm about to list and maintains that my neighbor todoro represents an innocent Adventure about family and exploring the unknown that being said if you care to Tumble down an intricate Rabbit Hole of intrigues I suggest you research the sayama incident which involves a brutal murder suicide that happened in the area where my neighbor tooro takes place other theories exist that will alter your viewing experiences such as one that casts todoro as the god of death or the outlandish suggestion that satsky and may are spirits themselves waiting for the cat bus to drive them to their final destination like I'd said you'll have to do your research if you want to understand why some fans believe that todoro is a fuzzy Fairman to the great Hereafter speaking of final destinations my neighbor todor Ro's journey to Cinema's had at one point encountered a surprising roadblock prior to its release investors expressed concerns about people wanting to see quote a movie about two little kids and a monster in rural Japan end quote baffled by their narrow-mindedness Miyazaki and his team devised a solution risk sharing it was then that my neighbor todoro became part of a double feature and was paired with ISO takahata's grave of the fireflies when todoro was released in 1988 it sold just over 800,000 tickets and earned a distribution rental income of 588 million yen or 5.1 million in US doar since its initial launch my neighbor todoro has been re-released in theaters on several occasions be It Through official channels or independent movie houses overall it's believed that the film has earned an estimated 41 million at the worldwide box office once all is said and done even if my neighbor tooro wasn't a box office barn burner its Legacy blazes brightly among fans cosplay enthusiasts and individuals that have reserved a portion of their skin for a stylish todoro inspired tattoo furthermore if you plan on traveling to Japan's II Earth Expo Memorial Park in the city of nagakute you'll find find JBL Park an immersive experience with attractions based on Spirited Away how's Moving Castle my neighbor todoro and more jibli Park is finally opening its Gates on November 1st 2022 be sure to book your travel plans accordingly and while there is no official sequel to my neighbor todoro an animated short film featuring May and the Cat Bus titled May and the Kitten Bus does exist however the only only place you can view it is at Studio jibble Museum in makaka Tokyo last but never least tooro can also be found making a cameo in Disney's Toy Story 3 as one of Bonnie's favorite stuffed animals when hayom Miyazaki set out to make my neighbor todoro he did so with the intention of inviting audiences into a world that asks them to slow down take in the scenery and allow their inner child to come out and play it's a confident film that deliberately lazes from one act to another with tranquil scenery breadcrumbs of mystery and an emphasis on honoring nature in all of its Majesty it's a film that can either be taken at face value or picked apart to suit an alternate narrative that tells a dark and tragic tale exquisitely animated eternally touching and containing many of the building blocks that helped lay the foundation from miyazaki's story career my neighbor todoro excels at leaving a lasting impression in the minds and hearts of audiences across the globe as I watched the film in preparation for the making of this video I found myself marveling at how my neighbor todoro has had a direct influence on how I've experienced every Studio jibi film since 1988 todoro taught me that there's more to the animated medium than talking animals retreads have already twisted fairy tales and happily ever Afters that often feel unearned it fills me with childlike wonder and makes me long for the days when responsibility was at a minimum and the woods behind my house were likely filled with magical creatures eager to play games my neighbor todoro reminds me to stop and breathe to every now and then carve out a moment of Solace for myself and commune with nature the world world is a better place because my neighbor todoro exists exactly as Miyazaki intended he never compromised his vision for the sake of sading Studio Executives or running with the rest of the pack that's why I'll be giving my neighbor todoro 10 Buzz Light gears out of 10 our first film with a perfect score for this series now if you'll excuse me I've got one ticket to ride aboard the Cat Bus burning a hole in my pocket and there's no time like the present to embark on a bold new adventure until next time folks stay animated

Channel: JoBlo Originals

Views: 17,630

Keywords: joblo videos, joblo, wtf, the best movie you never saw, joblo originals, movie review, review, Hayao Miyazaki, studio ghibli, my neighbor totoro, totoro, ghibli, spirited away, my neighbour totoro, tonari no totoro, princess mononoke, anime, studio ghibli music, howl's moving castle, studio ghibli movies, miyazaki, joe hisaishi, animation, ghibli piano, studio ghibli lofi, animated films revisited

Id: qeyrl1YCTE8

Length: 17min 11sec (1031 seconds)

Published: Thu Mar 17 2022