Not dimming with age, I found myself smiling as the amazing production once again held my now-teenaged kids spellbound. Their excitement about working with each other comes right through the microphone and infects the project with an almost tangible charm.īut the real magic, which has delighted audiences since My Neighbor Totoro’s debut in 1988, is how accurately this animated film captures the essence of childhood-simply by illustrating believable situations and expressions. Real-life sisters, Elle and Dakota Fanning, have provided the voice talents. The viewing experience was even more enchanting this time because the audio track has been redone, and now features a better script where less is lost in translation. The mythical Totoros are also believable, as these warm and wonderful creatures accurately represent what many children would desire in an imaginary companion. While the story builds sympathy for their fears, it never becomes too scary for even the youngest of audiences.
There are no bad-guys-only the uncertainties associated with an ill parent. Told through the eyes of these youngsters, the world is a wondrous place where the biggest worries are windstorms, forgetting one’s umbrella, and making-strange with the babysitter. Invisible to adults, but very real to children, these fuzzy bunny-like “forest spirits” create a wealth of possibilities for fun and friendship.
Soon they discover the place is full of soot sprites (little, black, fluffy blobs with blinking eyes) and some other amazing critters called Totoros. Relocating to be closer to their hospitalized mother, the girls can hardly wait to explore the rural residence and its surrounding woods and rice patties.
Using the incredible art form of Japanese anime, the movie opens with two young sisters peeking out of a moving truck as it heads toward their new home.
With a chorus of “I remember this,” they settled around the TV to watch the familiar tale unfold. Feeling somewhat sentimental, I put the DVD into my player-and before the opening credits had finished, the sound of their accompanying music had summoned all my family members. Then one day, a copy of the new 2 Disc edition showed up in my mailbox. Grander and more mature cinema adventures beckoned… Suffering a similar fate to Puff the Magic Dragon, my aging children merely put it on the shelf one day and forgot to pull it back out again. Also discuss how Satsuki’s family and Kanta’s family may be different or have different customs for example, bathing as a family or sleeping in the same room (family bed), Record their responses on chart pad for the writing assignment.It has been many years since I last watched My Neighbor Totoro.
Also review the comparisons we made of our families and the families from Totoro.Ĭonclusion-Discuss the ending and the main idea of the lesson that although Japan may be so far away, families in Japan are very much like our own. Quickly review the family members and the characters from the previous session as well as where you left off. If you have time you could ask students about their reactions and predictions. “Who did you see in Kanta’s home?” Ask students to make connections with the families they see in the movie, “Do any of you live with your grandma?” “How many of you have an older sister or brother who helps take care of you?” Record the responses on chart paper. How they are the same or different compared to your families.” View first half of the movie.Īsk, “Who are the members of Satsuki’s family?” “What did they do in the family?” Also talk about the secondary character, Kanta’s, family.
Tell students, “Now we will watch the first half of a movie called, ‘My Neighbor Totoro’.