My Neighbor TOTORO“My Neighbor TOTORO” is one of the most popular animation movies in Japan. Probably, Japanese children will have watched this movie once. This movie was produced by studio, Jiburi. The direction’s name is Hayao Miyazaki who is one of the most famous animation directions in Japan. In April 16th,1988, it was released. The music was created by Jyo Hisaishi who is very famous musician. And, this movie was received some prize.
There are some characters and main characters are Satsuki, Mei, their father, mother, grand mother, Kanta and TOTORO. ( Nekobus, Makkurokurosuke and so on.) Noriko Hidaka dub in Satsuki, Chisatsu sakamoto dub in Mei, Shigesato Itoi dub in father, Shimamoto Sumi dub in mother, Amagasa Toshiyuki dub in Kanta, Kitabayashi Tanie dub in grand mother and Hitoshi Takagi dub in TOTORO. Satsuki is a heroine in this movie. Satsuki is in her fourth grade, Mei is four years old and their father is an archaeologist and work part time as a teacher in a university twice a week. Their mother is in a hospital.
First, Satsuki, Mei, and their father moved to the country. The country had very beautiful nature and the four seasons. Their new house was very old, so it seemed a fun house. Ordinary children might frighten, but this three looked forward to living this house! The father said, “ My dream is to live a fun house!” They cleaned the filthy house, and then a character appeared. It was Makkurokurosuke. Probably, Makkurokurosuke was soot and dust. It was a mysterious creature, but it was so cute. After the cleanup, they had a bath together. The bathtub was Japanese traditional one named “ Goemon-buro” . The scene that they had a bath makes me very comfortable because I feel the sociable atmosphere of family. Then, they got the telegram saying that their mother who was in the hospital got wrong with her. So, Mei went to borrow a telephone to tell about her mother to her father, but she got lost. Mei went toward the hospital to give her mother corn. In the village, the people made a big deal out of her disappearance. Satsuki asked TOTORO for help, so TOTORO took Satsuki on “Nekobus” . And now, I will explain about TOTORO and Nekobus. First, about TOTORO, TOTORO live in a forest. We can see TOTORO when we are children. Children who does not wicked heart can see TOTORO and play with. So, this sister’s father can not see TOTORO. Nekobus is a bus, but it is not a bus shaped a cat. Cat is a bus. The eyes are the light. The cat is the driver and engine itself. The seat is very soft because it is cat fur. And, the bus does not run the road. It fly from the mountain to another mountain in the dark. Satsuki who got on Nekobus found Mei who sat tiredly. Then they went to the hospital together, looked their mother and were relieved. The corn that they gave her mother was cut the words, “ Dear, Mom” .
About this theme song, “Walk” and “My Neighbor TOTORO” are famous song in Japan. Mikiko Nakagawa wrote “Walk” and Hayao Miyazaki who is a TOTORO’s dirction wrote “My Neighbor TOTORO” . Azumi Inoue sing this song. Probabaly, almost all of Japanese people will be able to hum this song. Studio, Jiburi that produced this movie is very famous studio in Japan. In this studio, various animation movies are produced. The each animation movie is wonderful ones. Hayao Miyazaki founded this studio.
Shigesato Itoi who dub in Satsuki and Mei’s father says, “Probably, this strange creature is still in Japan.”
This year, Expo was taken place in Aichi Prefecture , Japan. It was very wonderful and exciting! I could not visit the place, but a lot of people, not only Japanese people but also foreign people, visited the Expo. I watched TV that was broadcasted the Expo in Aichi everyday. It seemed delightful, so I wanted to visit there. In the Expo, one of the most popular pavilion was Mei and Satsuki’s house. This is the house that Satsuki’s family moved to. This house was strictly catched. A dragonfly stop on the roof. There are some textbooks in a Satsuki’s school bag. In the bath room, there is a bathtub, named Goemon-buro. And, there is a low dining table that is a traditional Japanese dining table in the dining room. Though the Expo was closed, this house is still there. So, I wanted to see this house someday.
“My Neighbor TOTORO” is very interesting animation and friendly animation, I think. If you watch “My Neighbor TOTORO” , you will feel comfortable.
If you find some acorn on the road, in a forest and you are naïve, you might see “TOTORO”.
