My Neighbor Totoro
by Hayao Miyazaki
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DVD Cover Information
Director: Hayao MiyazakiBrand: Buena Vista Home Video
Cinematographer: Mark Henley
Writer: Hayao Miyazaki
Producer: Eiko Tanaka
Producer: Ned Lott
Producer: Rick Dempsey
Producer: Toru Hara
Producer: Yasuyoshi Tokuma
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); French (Subtitled); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Japanese (Original Language); English (Dubbed)
Format: Animated, Color, Dubbed, DVD, NTSC, Special Edition, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 86 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2010-03-02
Audience Rating: G (General Audience)
Model: 10184700
Studio: Disney Presents Studio Ghibli
Product features:
- MY NEIGHBOR TOTORO: SPECIAL EDITION (DVD MOVIE)
Movie Reviews of My Neighbor Totoro
Movie Review: 2010 DVD Release: A magnificent Hayao Miyazaki film with gorgeous animation and painted backgrounds and an enjoyable film for t
Summary: 5 Stars
Hayao Miyazaki, the most prominent Japanese filmmaker who has created animated films that not only broke Japanese box office records but has created animated films that reflect upon nature, technology, family and more. Compared to the accomplishments of Walt Disney, Miyazaki is a filmmaker who has amassed a respect from his fans worldwide and his animations studio, Studio Ghibli, continues to be one of the most appreciated and respected animation and production studios in the world.
In 1988, wrote and directed the animated classic "My Neighbor Totoro" (Tonari no Totoro) which won the Animage Grand Prix Award in 1988 and was brought over to the United States from Fox Video/Streamline on VHS in the '90s and on DVD in 2002. When their rights expired, Disney picked up the rights to the many of the Studio Ghibli films and redubbed the film featuring major Hollywood talent and re-released the film on DVD in 2006 but this time with both an English and Japanese audio track.
Here we are in 2010 and with Miyazaki's latest film "Ponyo" being released on Blu-ray and DVD on March 2nd, Disney will also re-release Studio Ghibli classics such as "Kiki's Delivery Service", "Castle in the Sky" and "My Neighbor Totoro" special editions on DVD.
VIDEO & AUDIO:
"My Neighbor Totoro" is just an amazing animated film which I first watched back in 1993 (in Japanese, no subtitles) and at the time, although I didn't know what was going on, I was simply in awe with the animation. Of how beautiful the artistic backgrounds were. The village and its lush green, to the painted detail on the trunk of the trees to even the ground during rainy weather, I was impressed. Now, the film is 22-years-old and watching it again, the film still holds up remarkably well today.
The film is presented in widescreen (1:85:1) - enhanced for 16×9 televisions. Colors are vibrant and one can only hope that Disney releases the film via HD on Blu-ray.
As for the audio, audio is clear and understandable. The film is presented in English Dolby Digital Sound and also includes the Japanese and French language tracks. It's important to note that fans of the film have heard two different English dubs of "My Neighbor Totoro", the FOX Streamline dub and the current Disney dub. Both are well-done but the difference is that in the Fox dub, the characters of Mei and even Kanta sound much older. While in the Disney dub, Kanta sounds a bit more younger. It's a matter of preference as both English dubs are done very well but its important to note that the Fox/Streamline version is out of print long ago and the DVD never came with the Japanese track or special features. Nevertheless, for those new to "My Neighbor Totoro", I'm sure they will enjoy the voice acting by the Fanning sisters.
Subtitles are in English and French.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
"My Neighbor Totoro" comes with the following special features on a second DVD disc. Included are:
* Original Japanese Storyboards - (1:26:16) - Watch the entire film but this time with the video showcasing the original storyboards.
* Creating My Neighbor Totoro - (2:59) Hayao Miyazaki talks about how he came up with the concept of "My Neighbor Totoro".
* Creating the Characters - (4:22) Producer Toshio Suzuki talks about the characters of "My Neighbor Totoro" and how "E.T. was an influence.
* The Totoro Experiencing - (2:00) Producer Toshio Suzuki talks about how the film didn't do well in the box office but when it aired on television, it did remarkably well.
* Producer's Perspective: Creating Ghibli - (1:22) Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki talks about how the named "Ghibli" came about.
* The Locations of Totoro - (28:34) An excerpt from a Japanese documentary on "My Neighbor Totoro" and visiting the areas that inspired Miyazaki to create the village of Totoro.
* Scoring Miyazaki - (7:17) A featurette about Joe Hisaishi's scoring Miyazaki films and more.
* Original Japanese Trailer - (1:50) The original Japanese theatrical trailer.
* Behind the Microphone - (5:41) Featuring the English dub voice talents talking about their role, their appreciation for Miyazaki and his films. Also, behind-the-scenes of the talent recording their voices.
* Ponyo - Creating Ponyo - (3:56) Hayao Miyazaki talks about the creation of "Ponyo" and wanting to create a film for young children.
* Kiki's Delivery Service - Creating Kiki's Delivery Service - (2:27) Hayao Miyazaki discussing the creation of "Kiki's Delivery Service" and what inspired Miyazaki for the creation of the city in the film.
* Castle in the Sky: Character Sketches - (2:37) Miyazaki talks about the characters of "Castle in the Sky" and discussing how his audiences are loyal to his films over time.
* Enter the Lands - Visit the land featuring various small animated Studio Ghibli characters (from all films). Click on a character from that film (note: only "Ponyo", "My Neighbor Totoro", "Kiki's Delivery Service" and "Castle in the Sky" are available) to get a Q&A or a small video info. of that film and its characters.
EXTRAS:
Also, included is a postcard featuring Satsuki and Totoro at the bus stop.
JUDGMENT CALL:
I absolutely love "My Neighbor Totoro". From when I first saw it in Japanese (which I didn't understand at the time) at a Japanese animation club screening back in 1993 and now watching it over 15-years-later and watching it alongside with my son. There is this captivating quality with Miyazaki's characters, his enjoyable to sometimes serious screenplays and Studio Ghibli always delivering when it comes to quality.
And when you consider how a lot of animated films today are 100% CG animated, when you see a Miyazaki film, you know that he doesn't follow the mainstream. He makes the kind of films that he wants and for the most part, every film that I have seen from Studio Ghibli, I've been more than satisfied.
I remember watching "My Neighbor Totoro" and enjoying the lively moments from the beginning but having seen his animated films "Nausicaa", "Laputa: Castle in the Sky" and even "Kiki's Delivery Service", as his films are happy and humorous, by the final half of the film, the story definitely shifts to a serious tone and in this film, it does get a bit serious when both Satsuki and Mei facing the probability of their mother dying in the hospital. These are genuine emotions that these two young girls feel but at the same time, what transpires afterward was captivating and how the film ends, Miyazaki definitely knows how to wrap up a film and make you feel content and satisfied with overall story.
"My Neighbor Totoro" is a wonderful family film and by no means is it scary. For the parents, this film is among the more lighter-toned Miyazaki films out there. Miyazaki has mentioned in interviews that he created "My Neighbor Totoro" for the children while his latest film "Ponyo" was more of him wanting to create a film for even younger children. But for the most part, if you want to introduce a Miyazaki film to your children, "My Neighbor Totoro" is a great place to start.
But the big question for many people is if "My Neighbor Totoro" is worth the investment, especially if you own the 2002 and 2006 DVD releases. If you own the 2006 Disney DVD, there are a large number of special features on this 2010 release that are not included in the 2006 DVD but if you are not into special features, then its probably not worth buying it again. But for those who have never owned the DVD, let alone only have that old Fox/Streamline VHS or DVD, then yes its definitely worth it! I know there are some fans who prefer the original dub from the old Fox/Streamline years but that release was pretty much barebones. Yes, I still have my old copy of "My Neighbor Totoro" and I did enjoy the original dub a lot but personally, with this newer release, you get the Japanese audio track and plenty of special features that were not included in the 2006 DVD release as well.
Overall, this 2010 "My Neighbor Totoro" DVD release is fantastic. A great film with a lot of new bonus content. Highly recommended!
Summary of My Neighbor Totoro
Visionary and Academy Award?winning director Hayao Miyazaki (2002, Best Animated Feature, Spirited Away) has created a heartwarming, music-filled, and wonderful world in My Neighbor Totoro, a delightfully animated family adventure. And now, exclusively in this special edition DVD, never-before-seen bonus features reveal even more of Totoro?s fantastic world! Follow the adventures of Satsuki and her four-year-old sister Mei when they move into a new home in the countryside. To their delight, they discover that their new neighbor is a mysterious forest spirit called Totoro?who can be seen only through the eyes of a child. Totoro introduces them to extraordinary characters?including a cat that doubles as a bus!?and takes them on an incredible journey. Bring home My Neighbor Totoro from Studio Ghibli and Disney for your family?s DVD library and experience the timeless classic film Roger Ebert calls ?one of the very few that come along that are magical for all ages.?Similar DVD Movies
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