My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
Kernel Score: 89% · 8,657 ratings · Rated G
Genres: Fantasy, Animation, Family
Released: 1988-04-16
Runtime: 86 minutes
Is My Neighbor Totoro worth watching?
Must-watch. Miyazaki's quiet story of two sisters and the forest spirits near their new home is gentle, calm and endlessly rewatchable. Nothing really threatens them, and that's the point: it's pure childhood wonder.
Watch it if you
- want a calm, kind film for small children
- love hand-drawn animation
- need a break from loud, fast cartoons
Skip it if you
- expect a big plot or villain
- want something with high stakes
Best for: Family movie night
Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.
Where to watch My Neighbor Totoro
- Stream: HBO Max
- Rent: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
- Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube
US availability, updated 2026-10-22.
Overview
Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.
My Neighbor Totoro parents' guide: all ages
Parents need to know that My Neighbor Totoro is a gentle, wholesome Miyazaki fantasy about two sisters coping with their mother's hospitalization, with mild peril (a lost child, hospital worry) but nothing violent or scary.
- Violence & scariness: A little — Mild, non-violent peril centers on a young child briefly going missing while searching for her mother; nothing frightening or graphic.
Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official G rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.
Movies like My Neighbor Totoro
If you liked My Neighbor Totoro, these are the movies we'd watch next.
- Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) — 89%: Another gentle Miyazaki story about growing up and independence.
- Ponyo (2008) — 88%: Child's-eye fantasy from Miyazaki, full of warmth and wonder.
- The Secret World of Arrietty (2010) — 87%: Quiet, tender story of tiny people in a human house.
- Spirited Away (2001) — 96%: Miyazaki's more adventurous take on a child in a spirit world.
- Castle in the Sky (1986) — 93%: A Miyazaki adventure with a sense of wonder.
- Song of the Sea (2014) — 90%: Folklore-based animated fantasy about family and nature.
Director
Cast
- Noriko Hidaka as Satsuki Kusakabe (voice)
- Chika Sakamoto as Mei Kusakabe (voice)
- Hitoshi Takagi as Totoro (voice)
- Shigesato Itoi as Tatsuo Kusakabe (voice)
- Sumi Shimamoto as Yasuko Kusakabe (voice)
- Tanie Kitabayashi as Granny (voice)
- Toshiyuki Amagasa as Kanta Ogaki (voice)
- Yuko Maruyama as Kanta's Mother (voice)
- Masashi Hirose as Kanta's Father (voice)
- Reiko Suzuki as Kanta's Aunt (voice)
My Neighbor Totoro FAQ
Is My Neighbor Totoro worth watching?
Must-watch. Miyazaki's quiet story of two sisters and the forest spirits near their new home is gentle, calm and endlessly rewatchable. Nothing really threatens them, and that's the point: it's pure childhood wonder.
Where can I watch My Neighbor Totoro?
In the US you can stream My Neighbor Totoro on HBO Max and rent it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and YouTube.
Is My Neighbor Totoro OK for kids?
My Neighbor Totoro is rated G. Fresh Kernels suggests all ages. Parents need to know that My Neighbor Totoro is a gentle, wholesome Miyazaki fantasy about two sisters coping with their mother's hospitalization, with mild peril (a lost child, hospital worry) but nothing violent or scary.
What movies are like My Neighbor Totoro?
If you liked My Neighbor Totoro, try Kiki's Delivery Service, Ponyo, The Secret World of Arrietty and Spirited Away.