Studio Ghibli Analysis: My Neighbour Totoro

This is the first of several analyses examining the works of Japan's most popular animation studio. I hope you enjoy!
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[@ahhhhhh124]

Just watched it, liked the way they did the crying, thats literally how kids cry.

[@BloodFromSpain]

I thought the same thing lol

[@deltamation7823]

When i watched totoro and film ended, i was like whaa? thats it?

[@ok.8775]

corn, haha, it’s for mom. * *movie ends* *

[@phoenixgamesgoosenugx3232]

I cried my eyes out 😭 MANY TIMES AKJSLSJHSJHAKKSH

[@JunkTrunk11]

WTF WAS WITH THAT PICTURE AT THE END?! DAMN NIGHTMARE FUEL

[@itsjustlukeRevive]

He's Mary Poppins y'all!!

[@jlqndyntny]

Well, well, well, Harry's Moving Castle finally does something Ghibli! Any chance you'll do Howl's Moving Castle next?

[@HarrysMovingMedia]

Jeiel Natunay Not next, but definitely on the menu!

[@l.tc.5032]

Harry's Moving Castle let me guess Kiki's delivery service.

[@YasunaLou]

I know from pictures and mum’s stories that my older sisters looked exactly like the two protagonist girls in Totoro when they were around their age. Their personalities fit too and it just makes this movie so very special to me, and as a kid I actually believed it was made about them.

[@kren62]

Amazing this was released alongside grave of the fireflies

[@airsir9559]

It's so the kids could laugh at something after crying their eyes out after watching Grave of the Fireflies.

[@kensavage7657]

Totoro would never actually have existed if it wasn't for Grave of the Fireflies. The studio guessed (correctly) that Totoro would lose money, as no-one would want to see it for the storyline it presented. On the other hand, Grave was already a very popular book - so could be expected to receive a decent audience. So they presented both together, to share the risk across the two ventures. When released, the order the movies were shown in wasn't always fixed. Sometimes one was first, sometimes the other. When Totoro was first, people often couldn't sit through to the end of Grave. However, when Grave of the Fireflies was first - no-one had any problem sitting through to the end of Totoro. I think I'd definitely have prefer to watchTotoro second in this combination :) After Totoro left the cinemas and was shown on Japanese TV, that was when his popularity could kick off. Of course, we all know now that Totoro - the movie that was expected to just lose money - really turned a profit for the studio through merchandising! But it's important to realise that we only have this amazing character because of Grave of the Fireflies....

[@bubbleapple13]

"Haiyo Maiyazarky" lol. Bless u for the disclaimer tho. Since I watched most Ghibli films as a kid I never really saw it through an analytical lens, so it's really great to be able to go much deeper into the symbolism behind it now that I'm an adult and can kinda understand it more. Also, Japanese only has 5 vowels that are always pronounced the same way, making it super easy to pronounce! A (ah) I (ee) U (oo) E (eh) O (oh), for future reference!

[@samuelpenn2973]

Lily snooty much?

[@alexphillips5319]

I haven’t seen this film in years! Now I want to rewatch it!

[@benjipixel1438]

then I'd assume you would want to watch the Fox Dub. It's hard to find.

[@LouiseBrooks-vt7jh]

So happy you did an analysis on this. Your videos are always so fascinating! It would be great to see you do more videos on Studio Ghibli, like Castle In The Sky and Spirited Away. Can’t wait to see your on Kiki‘s Delivery Service. Thanks for all you do!

[@zacroper3577]

Hopefully Totoro can make a second cameo in Toy Story 4.

[@thanigaivelan6012]

I don't care for the dark theories. I just want this film to be a feel gooood one.... This will always be my favorite movie forever.

[@ghost-cb2lx]

If you think about it, spirited away and my neighbor totoro have a connection. That slipper is like the one from spirited away, where the main charecter jumps in the water or haku to get her slipper.

[@devilovesdevil]

I always found that westerners, me being one, finding that bath scene weird was odd. Firstly cuz its like a thing over here to take pics of your kids in the bath as babies cuz it's cute, some allow their todds and kids at young ages run aroubd naked and or barely dressed or take the classic professional baby photos and their children are naked for pure babies are pure thing. So as a child when I saw the bathing scene I felt no weirdness just familiarity of this is papa and he is with us to bath to save water in the country side.

[@ZidaneWarner]

I think it’s occurred to me now that this movie might be Miyazaki’s take on Mary Poppins.

[@16shatterglass]

Howl's Moving Castle or the Wind Rises! I love your videos, and I like how you're including some animation stuff :)

[@saretenkov9129]

Soooo good!!! Please do Spirited Away!!!

[@KanishQQuotes]

I always wondered what disease did mom have. Tuberculosis sort of makes sense because it did took a long hospital stay back in the days, outside into often hills or rural places to keep away from pollution of cities. However they do show her return home in the credits. Though mom's big forehead made me wonder if she was dying of cancer. However she remarked about fever and the common tuberculosis does cause fever

[@MaffSalles]

Hell yea I love Studio Ghibli films

[@minnieatkins]

You have to do spirited away!! One of my all time favourite films

[@musiczmyescape12]

I liked the music for the second half of the video. It was weirdly suited

[@iNIMATEstudio]

The bath scene was a problem?,bruh in asia thats normal

[@worrywirt]

Pronounciations are *mEE-ya-za-ki and *Jibli but otherwise great video :)

[@gemlikestardust]

empty sky ugh I didn't want to be a jerk but this was driving me insane

[@saretenkov9129]

He put a disclaimer in the beginning

[@HarrysMovingMedia]

Ah man I realised the miyazaki pronunciation mere minutes after upload. However I will look into the ghibli pronunciation though because I thought that was an Italian word - and if it is, it will DEFINITELY be "Jiblee".

[@TheRojo387]

Harry's Moving Castle you can choose to or not to pronounce the U in Satsuki.

[@romanisahuman]

More studio ghibli pls!

[@punilux62]

I love ponyo would love to see you do a video of that please !

[@KanishQQuotes]

It's a beautifully animated film with the simple story of children

[@DanThomasUK]

I didn’t get the bit about how “it would be too hard hitting if they were boys as the animation style has a lot of stills”... what?

[@zachdouma8050]

I think he meant that because Miyazaki based this off of his experience of dealing with his own mother’s illness, making the characters boys and having to stare at images of those characters constantly would make the film too personal/relatable and bring back tough memories of his mom’s illness, more so than if the characters were girls (obviously because Miyazaki is a boy). Hopefully I cleared that up.

[@mvgikk1969]

Zach Douma you explained that perfectly

[@DanThomasUK]

@@zachdouma8050 makes sense, thank you

[@soulfoodie1]

This got me to watch the film - excellent analysis which explains the meaning of the Tortotos. thank you!

[@demondollee]

Have any of you guys seen the Ghibli film My Neighbours The Yamadas? It's such an underrated film and while it's a more humourous film,it is really stylised and was one of my favourite films as a child.

[@sofiat7756]

What The Fuck Fucking Rhymes With Florida ? Um I don’t think anything rhymes with florida

[@Deftoneslover-p6q]

BAHAHHA I’m high asf and your ending made it so heartwarming to know but then you brought up the creepy picture hahaha made me laugh

[@p_gglie9871]

2:18- For anyone who’s wondering this says "Although I could be wrong about this, I based this statement on my understanding of WESTERN film production companies." ty :)

[@H1nted]

Hope u get loads of subs this year..

[@Voltaic_Fire]

I never thought I'd organically stumble upon this video.

[@satyam_krishna]

The music in the movie is so good

[@WillScarlet16]

This story could easily have taken place in postwar England, France or Germany, or any country with a long folklore tradition and agricultural history. One country it probably couldn't take place, sadly, is the USA - most Americans haven't been living there long enough to build up any ancient folk traditions similar to the ones in Japan that inspired this movie.

[@miguelangel0306]

Great job. Loved the video!

[@Dewpoke]

Thanks for doing a video on my favorite movie!!!

[@chaengiejeon5344]

This was a very satisfying analysis

[@ForeverGhibli]

Great analysis! More Ghibli movies please! 😊

[@magmagoon9852]

Can you make an Analysis on Inside No.9 episodes?

[@calbarto7803]

MagmaGoon i agree

[@DeanithForeverYoung]

I didn't realized the importance of the credits scenes , I just skipped it and never knew it meant something until now.

[@NadaNadida]

Nice explanation. I misheard Kento = Gunter couole times.

[@IanMorris500]

Great video. Really enjoyed the analysis. My two suggestions: 1. Slow down. Miyazaki movies are calm and thoughtful. The analysis should be presented in a relaxed, easy pace. 2. Putting the weird, scary Totoro interpretation illustration at the end makes it harder for me to share your analysis with my son so that we can discuss. The illustration doesn't add to the analysis and kids won't know what to make of this scary image.

[@MsCheshirskaya]

I'd love to see Spirited away analysis)

[@aberockerroller2445]

nooooo when u see this film in the wider cultural shinto tradition and ideas of environmental relationality we never stop relying on this harmonious relationship with nature to survive and maintain healthy happy family units that survive hardship, we need the rice, we need the trees, we need the water, we need totoroo

[@janakathalu]

thanks for the nightmares, dude

[@benlawrence309]

Great video like all way's, but there are so many videos already on this topic, that I thought you where going to take it in another direction.

[@meg-l4f]

I first watched the anime when I was 5 holy feck years go by fast

[@marioskyrillostosounis9088]

Jesus christ the photo at the end gave me the shakes

[@strawberrysoulforever8336]

In case you haven't been told about this already, I'd like to give you some help on how to pronounce Japanese nouns, as you pronounced Miyazaki in correctly. It is "a" as in "car", e as in "kept", i as in "tree" (I know there's no i in tree, it's a double e sound), "o" as in "hop", and "u" as in "food" (double o sound). I learned it via Maori vowels, but you probably aren't a New Zealander, so I hope I explained it all right. In Japanese, the vowels are actually ordered as A I U E O, but that's besides the point. My point is, all Japanese vowels have only one sound, so if in doubt, use that sound. Additionally, I thought "Pom Poko" was about tanuki, not kitsune. Were there foxes in that movie, too? I don't remember them, but it's been a while since I watched it.

[@Texicus_Reddicus]

honestly mei is the villain

[@vances5833]

😹

[@avathorman5781]

So you think she is like Eric

[@markopolo7723]

Brilliant as always! I have to ask tho: what's the background music called at 2:47 ?

[@joeytrout6981]

It’s from spongebob I believe

[@melviness4769]

its Meeyazaki not Myazaki... you'd think that someone would learn how to pronounce a name correctly before releasing a video that mentions his name several times

[@Asfgxff]

This is a plot summary...

[@ff-xh5ml]

Can you give me the sources you used to find the information?

[@NouchkadeVries]

I love the spongebob bg music lol it gives me: explaining complete nonsense vibes hahahaha

[@mittelego1098]

2:59 No wonder why children are so realistically portrayed!

[@shinomustdie]

Release along side Grave of The Fireflies. That's funny.

[@coke199alt]

Who’s Gunther?

[@raspberrymilkshake5782]

Not the god of death theory!

[@masudashizue777]

You did get Tokuma Shoten correct though.

[@Eidlones]

What do we say to the god of death theory? Not today

[@ShrekThaOGEE]

I guarantee you that none of my friends recognize totoro and neither do I

[@joelekelow5380]

Totoro is the frickin goat

[@prijoyvaz9603]

Who is Gunther?

[@user-po6kl5sz8r]

Can you do an analysis of “your name” next? Thanks!

[@timtams5283]

I want to know, whats a totoro?

[@PatTheHyruler]

9:40 why?

[@harrihaffi2713]

cool

[@classicpinball9873]

Do Your Name in the future please!

[@careytaitt868]

I like this one more

[@michaelcaesar5855]

I really feel creeped out from only this film especially I’m 22 and I’ve watched it once when I was 16. Can someone please tell me I I feel this way? I don’t hate this film trust no hate just really uncomfortable for me to watch. Explain please!

[@theatheistspoon2551]

please do princess nausicaa!!!

[@cantbeleveitsnotnaru]

Like seriously. Your name is "Harry's Moving Casle", yet there is no video about your name sake? Wut.

[@dessieangel1021]

Do Howl's Moving Castle!

[@DiceFTW273]

Could you please eventually do Porco Rosso?

[@Rosy2468]

2:04 - you say the film lacks complexity and has no villain. Those are two different concepts entirely. The film absolutely has complexity, just not a great strife between good and evil, maybe not a story of moral complexity. But the idea that no fighting means there is no complexity to the story is pretty ridiculous. Exploring the beauty of everyday life, mixed with the emotional burden of an ailing mother and moving to a new landscape is both mundane and deep. You should look up shinto (which ill mention again later) because in that religious and cultural belief there is no absolute right or wrong and that people are complex. A movie doesn't have to have conflict to have meaning. 4:30 - you say totoro isn't a god and that hes more like buddha, whos large and known for sleeping. This is a pretty ignorant view of buddha, and a pretty ignorant view of shintoism. Obviously you are viewing this from a western/christian viewpoint which could be alright except you don't say this is how i interpreted it from my initial viewing" you say "this is how it is" and make your argument based on no research into the culture of the movie you're watching. Gods don't have to be omnipotent beings who rule over people, in different cultures spirits can be viewed as minor or major gods, and totoro in that context absolutely is one. Also, Buddha is not fat and sleepy. Thats an ignorant american viewing of him, I'm actually cringing so hard at that one I struggle to explain it. Meditation is not sleeping. Honestly just do some basic research.... 8:37 - I didn't view the search for mei as ending almost immediately. Theres the terror of the town dredging the lake, the guilt felt by Satsuki, the loneliness and desperation as she runs and runs, and then the flickering hope as she sees totoro and gets his help. I don't know how you just blew past all that. I think it stems again from the idea that you have that there must be conflict in a movie. Its clear that you think that the disappearance is the only real "story" in the movie, and that that plot line should've been the majority of the film. But the movie didn't separate the sisters for dramas sake, and it's not supposed to be the overarching mission of the movie. It's a moment in time. The movie is not about a lost girl, but about a family trying to cope and move on with everyday life even in the face of a scary situation. You seemed capable of some research when talking about the bathing scene, and can recognize there that theres a difference in western and japanese practices, so i have no idea why you threw that out the window for other moments and concepts in the movie. I love movie analysis' and usually love a new take but this was really REALLY subpar and i think it all stems from this idea that the western way is the right way. I really was disappointed in this.

[@Rosy2468]

I have to come back to this. You say the director and creator of the film is wrong about Totoro being a god. Miyazaki cant be wrong - he made the film. What he says is canon, especially because its based on his nations culture and religion and fully makes sense within that context. How arrogant and entitled that you think to tell him that he is incorrect. And then you say your disgusting comment that buddha is large and known for taking naps?? Honestly this analysis is deeply offensive, completely ignorant, and you clearly assume your culture is the "correct" way to view things to such an extent that you believe your interpretation should be listened to over anyone elses. Its genuinely alarming.

[@MuunTheFIre]

@@Rosy2468 couldn’t agree more with the both of you tbh. This entire analysis was lacklustre and essentially takes on a demeaning and didactic perspective on a tale that - A) Isn’t rooted in the same cultural diaspora and thus lacks validity. And B) essentially lacks the intellectual ability to fully develop a cognitive perspective that can entirely understand the complexities demonstrated in thus film.

[@Rosy2468]

@@MuunTheFIre - exactly right. This person's take blows past ignorance and genuinely starts to border on outright racism. It is unbelievable to me that someone could be so egotistical and self centered that they deny other cultures have different styles and takes.

[@martinarias4468]

As a lover of film... this movie is loaded with spiritualism and knowing miyazaki and the culture for the time he is telling the story through wonder like children's eyes. The sense of new chapter, dying mom to them atleast, getting lost, a haunted house etc. Totoro is a forest garden only children see him, guards them and comforts them it's clear to see that in the film. The scene at the bus stop and as well when he is planting the fields. Miyazaki purposely removed the parents from the film to show adolescents and community between neighbors. One day mei throws a tantrum and spends the day at school with her sister the dad doesnt even know whars going on, it's just the day to day of the siblings without mom around. At the end when mei takes off the father is at the hospital after work calm and collective thinking hope his daughters didnt take it out of proportion lol and we saw that it was a huge thing for them, totoro called catbus and showed them everything was ok. It's not a super grand adventure but its gentle hearted. Could it have been despressing or maybe deeper yes but remember that the main characters are very young children, mei is 4 lol we all watched a movie about a 4yr old lol just enjoy. Lol

[@emiliadaria]

Gautama Buddha was skinny actually.

[@slandersir7255]

How long until Deathly Hallows: Part Two?

[@AlsErsteInFlorenz]

Very nice Video! But you talked soo fast that I was overwhelmed bc english is not my mother tongue xD

[@BloodFromSpain]

Set Playback speed to x0.75 ;)

[@MorningThief_]

Ocean Waves. Somebody please tell me why this is the worst movie by the Studio -- because I agree. I just can't be as articulate as many youtubers here.

[@jackaylward-williams9064]

Can you review The Cat Returns?

[@samd_yt2006]

its kanta not Gunther

[@MaskedFox-ln4vc]

*clapping intensifies*

[@kren62]

Your clapped

[@deepakpurti]

I am 5 years late but I would have to object to you rejecting the idea that Totoro could be a god. In Shintoism (traditional Japanese religion), people pray to kami, who include both gods and spirits (there is no singular God like in Christianity). So we really cannot rule out the possibility that Totoro is one of the Shinto gods (although it is more likely he is just a nature spirit). Then you mentioned how the closest entity to Totoro would be the Buddha, and showed two pictures of the Buddha - one with a big belly, and one with him lying down. But those are two different Buddhas (there are multiple Buddhas, "Buddha" just means enlightened one). The fat Buddha or the "laughing Buddha" was from China, while the historical Buddha who founded Buddhism i.e. Gautama Buddha, was from India. In the 2nd picture that you showed, he is not taking a nap. Buddha reclining as if he is asleep, depicts his death (and attainment of Nirvana). I know it wasn't the inspiration for Miyazaki, but the closest figure in mythology I could associate Totoro to would be the Hindu god Ganesha, who is an elephant-headed deity with a big belly and is known as the "remover of obstacles".

[@raxzen-1610]

Had to stop a minute and a half in, couldn't hear the word "Mayazaki" any more

[@naomi9627]

BLACK MUSEUM ANALYSIS PLSASDEEDJXJ

[@minn_e]

Spirited Away Please!

[@salvadorlopez527]

Tf was that ending . Wow

[@warholcow]

More Miyazaki please!

[@anavhs9810]

totoro is a god of death representing the coping of the family through the possible death of their mother haha just sayin'

[@totallycrazystudios1801]

The creator has stated that these dark theories aren't true though

[@Moss_Made006]

why do westerners have to ruin everything, I'm a westerner as well however I still understand cultural differences.

[@imbuzzkillington]

Do Porko rosso please !

[@mikeyjvasquez]

She is 4

[@marioguy1225]

3:00 wtf

[@sarcasticallyyours]

While your pronunciation of Japanese names and words bothers me, I understand that they are difficult to learn. Other than that, excellent video. I appreciate your attention to detail when researching it. Please review Grave Of The Fireflies when you are able. :)

[@nightowl8477]

I'm getting pretty sick of video essays now. Don't turn pretentious, Harry. If I wanted a Nerdwriter video, I'd watch Nerdwriter. This video was awesome, by the way. I'm just on the rant. You know how it is.

[@munk.]

This is good content though wtf, let him make what he likes to make don’t think you have a say in the type of content he should make if you watch his videos for free

[@nightowl8477]

Yeah, I know. Like I say, it's just a rant. I love Harry and I know its dick to give him half-arsed hate after a video which clearly took a lot of effort, but I do want to make it clear that *it isn't directed at Harry.* He's too cool a dude. It's more that pople will make video essays on anything these days. Not Harry. But I don't blame you for being mad, since I'd react the same.

[@isabellelightwood9738]

nightowl ur a weird one aren’t u

[@munk.]

nightowl then don’t watch video essays da heck

[@HarrysMovingMedia]

It's definitely become formulaic by this point, I understand your frustration pal. I've definitely been contemplating how to make analyses unique from video essays, I'm glad I'm not the only one who wonders about this. Will definitely be giving it a hard think for the Kikis video, thank you!

[@123rebelguy]

The film is sbout how their father trained them without their mother and taught em to be positive all the time.. totoro was nothing but their imagination, coming to rescue everytime they feel the need but ending is ambigious, they were never on the cat bus so did they reach the hospitsl or not ? I think filmmaker himself dont wanted to answer it. There was a possibilty that there mother actually had passed away..

[@reubenbishop]

Nice channel you work hard sucks you don't have many subs

[@MrHellisforHeroes]

Yeah maybe don't include that bit at the end, that isn't appropriate

[@DazeyChaineMusic]

whats with the awful reality show generic instrumental music in the background