Jeptha Hines
Dr. Elaine Childs
English 1301
30 September, 2012
My Neighbor Miyazaki
I recently watched the animated movie “My Neighbor
Totoro.” This movie mad me smile, laugh
and choke up. This film was animated and
directed by a man named Hayao Miyazaki.
Miyazaki is an Academy Award winning animator. I would definitely use the movie “My Neighbor
Totoro” as a reference to technique of why more people should watch other
animated movies that Hayao Miyazaki has made.
The techniques Miyazaki uses in “My Neighbor Totoro” are all found in his
later work.
“My Neighbor Totoro” has robust and very detailed
background art. Miyazaki masterfully designed all of his own backgrounds. The lush forest scenes of “My Neighbor
Totoro” create a vibrant green and dark green contrast with an abundance of
details in the leaves, stems, bark and even the dirt. This attention to detail is one of the things
that make “My Neighbor Totoro” and all of Miyazaki’s films stunning works of
art. The lush and robust forests are
present in Miyazaki’s “Princess Mononoke,” as well as luminous lakes of water
and dreary mountain side paths. In
Miyazaki’s movie “Howl’s Moving Castle” you get an overwhelming amount of
detail in the castle. There is so much
going on with it that it makes it hard to describe. But as famous movie critic Roger Ebert said,
“The castle is an amazing visual invention, a vast collection of turrets and
annexes, protuberances and after thoughts.”
The characters from “My Neighbor Totoro” are very special
as well. The way the children move and
act is so life like. Especially life
like with the youngest sister Mei. Her
mannerisms are so pure and childish. It
reminds me of watching a real life child as they do their own thing when they
think no one is looking. It just makes
you smile. And it makes you aware of how
well Miyazaki brings his characters to life.
Like in his Academy Award winning movie “Spirited Away,” the characters
in this movie come to life in such an eerie way. The main character Chihiro is just as life
like as the sisters in “My Neighbor Totoro.” And the witch Yubaba is so hideously
detailed and creepy. You can also see
this in “Howl’s Moving Castle” when the main character, a 10 year old girl
named Sophia is transformed into a
wrinkly old lady by the Witch of the Waste.
Her mannerisms are changed so well for that situation. Miyazaki creates
flawless transformations with his characters in wondrous detail.
Hayao Miyazaki masterfully unraveled the story of “My
Neighbor Totoro.” I like how it has such a light, dainty build up, with such a
soft, fanciful, safe feeling. And even though
the movie doesn’t really follow a plot it has a link of situations that build
up to a heavy climax of anxiety, fear and urgency. The way it was done seems to provide a sense
of satisfaction for the emotional investment put into the story and characters. Even though Miyazaki’s other movies do follow
a plot he still tells the stories very well.
Like in “Princess Mononoke,” the way the story jerks you from action to
a calm situation, back into action again from the opening scene. And the mysticism of the forest spirits that
peak your curiosity like in “My Neighbor Totoro.” And the odd adventure of “Spirited
Away.” The way the story has plot twist
with strange happenings that leave you wondering about the next moment.
Hayao Miyazaki is a pioneer animator who makes ground
breaking films. And “My Neighbor Totoro”
had a huge impact on Miyazaki’s success.
Although, Miyazaki’s other films that followed like “Princess Mononoke,”
“Spirited Away,” and “Howl’s Moving Castle” only made him more acclaimed and
successful. For those just introduced to
Hayao Miyazaki’s animation through “My Neighbor Totoro” should checkout his
other films because they only get better.
