Like all Miyazaki films, My Neighbor Totoro has incredible background painting and animation but this art wraps around a story that is unfulfilling and builds to nothing. The films central conflict is hollow and doesn't fully present itself until the last third of the film making the first hour of setup drag as you are left unsure why you should be caring about the children central to the story, other than the fact that they are kids.
Ultimately this is a delightful film with a couple of moments and many frames that could be art pieces by themselves, but as a complete package it leaves you unfulfilled and wishing for more. As a slice of life kids movie it serves as a cute story but it is not great. Worth a watch but probably not worth coming back to with any regularity.
Ultimately this is a delightful film with a couple of moments and many frames that could be art pieces by themselves, but as a complete package it leaves you unfulfilled and wishing for more. As a slice of life kids movie it serves as a cute story but it is not great. Worth a watch but probably not worth coming back to with any regularity.