All aboard the Catbus as Hayao Miyazaki’s classic returns to theaters. Believe it or not, My Neighbor Totoro is now 30 years old. The animated film from 1988 still holds up well, as the story of two sisters who discover friendly forest creatures near their new home is a timeless one. The film will return as part of Studio Ghibli Fest 2018. The festival has existed for two years now, bringing Ghibli films back to movie theaters for limited times. My Neighbor Totoro did return last summer, but a 29th anniversary is typically not worth celebrating. It seems that the upcoming 30th anniversary version will be no different from the one last year. However, Den of Geek reports that it will contain some “very special surprises” so there will be some added bonus. Perhaps a trailer for Studio Ghibli’s next film?
Ghibli Fest recently released a new trailer and synopsis for My Neighbor Totoro to commemorate the anniversary:
My Neighbor Totoro is the story of Satsuki and her sister Mei who move with their father to a new home in the countryside where they find country life is not as simple as it seems. They soon discover that the house and nearby woods are full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children. Totoro and his friends introduce the girls to a series of adventures, including a ride aboard the extraordinary Cat Bus, in this all-ages animated masterpiece featuring the voices of Tim Daly, Lea Salonga, and real-life sisters Dakota and Elle Fanning, in a classic tale of magic and adventure for the whole family.
My Neighbor Totoro will return to theaters for three days only, so make sure to plan accordingly:
- Sunday, September 30 at 12:55 p.m. local time (English-language dubbed)
- Monday, October 1 at 7:00 p.m. local time (English-language subtitled)
- Wednesday, October 3 at 7:00 p.m. local time (English-language dubbed)
Check out the GKids Ghibli Fest website for tickets, and to see what other Ghibli films are part of the festival.
As mentioned before, Hayao Miyazaki still has another film he’s making. While he previously said he’d retire after The Wind Rises, it appears he has one more film left in him after all. How Do You Live? will release in a few years, and the animation auteur says this will in fact be his last. At 77 years old he may be winding down, but you never know. The man likes to keep busy.
