My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
95%RT Audience Score: 94%
Awards & Nominations: 5 wins & 2 nominations
My Neighbor Totoro is a heartwarming, sentimental masterpiece that captures the simple grace of childhood.
My Neighbor Totoro is the kind of movie that makes you want to jump into the screen and live in that world forever. It’s a heartwarming tale about two sisters who move to the countryside and befriend a giant, fluffy forest spirit named Totoro. The animation is stunning, and the characters are so lovable that you’ll want to hug them all. Even though it’s a children’s movie, it’s impossible not to be moved by the pure joy and innocence that radiates from every frame. If you’re feeling down, just watch My Neighbor Totoro and let it lift your spirits. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Production Company(ies)
Tokuma Japan Communications, Studio Ghibli, Nibariki
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
G
Year of Release
1990
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:NA
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Language(s):Japanese
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Country of origin:Japan
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Feb 28, 2006
Genre(s)
Fantasy/Anime
Keyword(s)
animated, family, heartwarming, childhood, Hayao Miyazaki, G-rated, Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, Frank Welker, Paul Butcher, fantasy, anime, Japanese, Dolby Stereo, Flat (1.85:1), box office, budget, reviewed by James Berardinelli, Larushka Ivan-Zadeh, Charles Solomon, John Hartl, Ted Shen, Charlotte O’Sullivan, Brian Eggert, Matt Brunson, Rachel Wagner, Ard Vijn, Panos Kotzathanasis, Sergio Benítez, directed by Hayao Miyazaki, written by Hayao Miyazaki, produced by Studio Ghibli, MPAA rating G, Totoro, Satsuke, Mei, forest, spirits, cuddly creature, schoolgirl, country house, illness, hospital, professor, Mrs Kusakabe, Kanta
Worldwide gross: $30,574,632
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $70,486,432
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,191
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 7,686,634
US/Canada gross: $2,250,213
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $5,187,617
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,800
US/Canada opening weekend: $539,245
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $1,243,170
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,255
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $3,700,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $8,529,941
Production budget ranking: 1,729
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,593,373
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $57,363,118
ROI to date (est.): 437%
ROI ranking: 304
Dakota Fanning – Satsuki – Voice
Tim Daly – Professor Kusakabe – Voice
Lea Salonga – Mrs. Kusakabe – Voice
Frank Welker – Totoro – Voice
Paul Butcher – Kanta – Voice
Director(s)
Hayao Miyazaki
Writer(s)
Hayao Miyazaki
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
5 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (55) | Top Critics (16) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (3)
Even the most amazing of the great Pixar films could be tagged with the label of “antiseptic.” No one would use that for Totoro, which, especially if seen under optimum conditions, astounds with its vibrancy.
June 29, 2018 | Rating: 3.5/4
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
TOP CRITIC
A beautifully observed study of childhood that’s unmissable, whatever your age.
September 5, 2017 | Rating: 5/5
Larushka Ivan-Zadeh
metro.co.uk
TOP CRITIC
Despite these limits, My Neighbor Totoro is a gentle and affirming film.
December 8, 2014
Charles Solomon
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Miyazaki’s appreciation of miraculous possibilities and childhood visions is what drives Totoro.
December 8, 2014 | Rating: 3/4
John Hartl
Seattle Times
TOP CRITIC
Sheer enchantment.
December 8, 2014
Ted Shen
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Not as complex or tense as Spirited Away (Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece, released 13 years later). Still, few things are.
May 24, 2013 | Rating: 4/5
Charlotte O’Sullivan
London Evening Standard
TOP CRITIC
Miyazaki’s film is about imagination and family in their purest, most innocent forms.
March 20, 2022 | Rating: 4/4
Brian Eggert
Deep Focus Review
Miyazaki makes movies the way other people hallucinate during fever dreams. No sight is too outlandish, no concept too radical, no idea too extreme.
September 22, 2021 | Rating: 3.5/4
Matt Brunson
Film Frenzy
An emotionally true animated film full of whimsy and delight
March 16, 2020 | Rating: 10/10
Rachel Wagner
Rachel’s Reviews (YouTube)
On paper it may sound saccharine and lethally sentimental, but My Neighbour Totoro is nothing but wonderful and honest.
January 14, 2020
Ard Vijn
ScreenAnarchy
Miyazaki creates a universe where childhood and its perspective of the world is the rule, with the Japanese master highlighting, once more, his knowledge of children’s psyche
December 1, 2019
Panos Kotzathanasis
Asian Movie Pulse
A magic that, from the beginning of the action to the end, with Totoro or without him, delivers sublime 86 minutes of footage whose charm is impossible to resist. [Full Review in Spanish]
August 28, 2019
Sergio Benítez
Espinof…
Plot
Two sisters move to an old country house with their father and befriend playful spirits, including the massive cuddly creature known as Totoro, in the heartwarming and sentimental masterpiece, My Neighbor Totoro.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The voice cast for the English dub of My Neighbor Totoro includes Elle Fanning, Dakota Fanning, Tim Daly, and Lea Salonga.
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