Review of Re-Release of Classic Animation My Neighbour Totoro

Elysian Film Group and Anonymous Content are re-partnering to theatrically re-release the beloved and cult classic animation film, My Neighbour Totoro, from Academy Award®-winning director Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, The Boy And The Heron) screening in cinemas across the UK this summer from August 2^nd.

The celebrated 1988 animation, which premiered alongside Grave of the Fireflies as a double-feature on April 16, 1988 with its iconic lead character, Totoru, has long been a family favourite. Both OV Japanese and English dubbed versions will be part of the re-release so you can choose how you want to view it.

My Neighbour Totoro’s cinematic return follows the highly successful release of Miyazaki’s critically acclaimed feature, The Boy and The Heron last Christmas. The Boxing Day extravaganza became the biggest Studio Ghibli film ever in the UK, grossing over £5m at the UK box office and garnering BAFTA, Golden Globe and Oscar Award wins.

My Neighbour Totoro is a moving and gentle film. Set in postwar rural Japan it is centred around two young sisters who move house close to the hospital their mother is being treated at due to a longterm illness, and they discover friendly woodland spirits nearby, including the titular character, Totoro.

Totoro can be viewed as a Shinto deity or ‘kami’, a kind, harmless spirit of the forest, embodying the Shinto belief that gods can be found in all aspects of nature.

The sisters’ bond with Totoru fosters a deep understanding and distinct respect for the natural world around them. Voiced by Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto and Hitoshi Takagi, this is uplifting must-see film will inspire and entertain all of the family. My two year old was just as captivated as my 14 year old. The animation is beautifully illustrated, the characters relatable and the film’s themes universal, making it a timeless film that will live on through the generations.

The re-release of My Neighbour Totoro will delight fans of Studio Ghibli, and with the film considered one of the top animation films of all time (ranked as No. 1 animated feature in the 2012 Sight & Sound critics’ poll), Elysian Film Group and Anonymous Content can think of no better title to celebrate this catalogue.

Nick McKay, Head Of Distribution at Elysian, commented on the upcoming summer release:

‘We are incredibly excited to be bringing My Neighbour Totoro back to cinemas by giving it the standalone reissue that it truly deserves. Getting to see Satsuki, Mei and Totoro’s adventures on the big screen will be a truly special experience for audiences, and we are positively thrilled that this Summer release will give cinemagoers this wonderful opportunity to revisit another classic from Hayao Miyazaki after our Christmas release of The Boy And The Heron. We cannot wait for audiences to bask in the beauty of another quintessential Studio Ghibli film.’

Coming to a cinema near you, soon! Enjoy.