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My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
My Neighbor Totoro (1988) poster
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My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

となりのトトロ

Fantasy, Animation, Family • 1h 26m

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Cast: Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, Hitoshi Takagi, Shigesato Itoi, Sumi Shimamoto, Tanie Kitabayashi, Toshiyuki Amagasa, Yuko Maruyama, Masashi Hirose, Reiko Suzuki, Machiko Washio, Naoki Tatsuta, Tomohiro Nishimura, Chie Koujiro, Yuko Mizutani, Shigeru Chiba, TARAKO, Mitsuko Ishida, Daiki Nakamura, Akiko Hiramatsu, Ikue Otani

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IMDbThe Movie Database (TMDB)

2014 "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Japan Blu-ray or US Disney Blu-ray

Best English-friendly release · updated 9 days ago

Overview

Two sisters move to the country with their father in order to be closer to their hospitalized mother, and discover the surrounding trees are inhabited by Totoros, magical spirits of the forest. When the youngest runs away from home, the older sister seeks help from the spirits to find her.

Release details

Best Video Release

2014 "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Japan Blu-ray

2014 "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Japan Blu-ray
Comparisons: https://slow.pics/c/6JWnlfit

Best Audio Release

All sources are within margin of error. Comparisons: Japanese, English
Alternate Streamline English dub is available only on 1994 Fox LD.

Additional Info

US GKIDS Blu-ray has more bonuses than the US Disney Blu-ray

TSPDT
2026: #162
2025: #161
2024: #160
2023: #156
2022: #156
Length
86 mins
Type
Movie

Featured in Sight and Sound’s Greatest Films

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Director: Alfred Hitchcock

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Universal 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2005 Universal DVD

Director: Jacques Demy

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

For Blu-ray Criterion Demy Set > StudioCanal

Director: Kenji Mizoguchi

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Criterion 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

See chris's review

Best Audio:

1991 Daiei LaserDisc

Director: Stanley Kubrick

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set coming October 20th with FiM encode, work done to un-Nolan the 4K master, the first ever appearance of the 35mm mono track on physical media and a new restoration/remastering of the 70mm 6-track mix.

Video Notes:

(early pressing has errors of a shot, later pressings fixed)

Best Audio:

1997 MGM LaserDisc, 1998 MGM DVD

Director: Stanley Kubrick

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

WB 4K Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set coming October 20th with FiM encode, new restoration of mono mix which should be better than what was on the WB 4K Blu-ray and 1999 DVD and revised colour timing to make the film look more like it did in 1971.

Best Audio:

WB 4K 5.1: a remix but has higher fidelity

Mono: 4K Blu-ray/1999 DVD

Director: Stanley Kubrick

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

US Cut: WB 4K Blu-ray

International Cut: Old 2007 Europe Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set coming October 20th with FiM encode, both the US and the International Cut, new restoration/remastering of the mono mix which should be better than the 1999 WB DVD, revised colour timing to make the film look more like it did in 1980 and for the first time ever on physical media, the film will be in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1.

Best Audio:

1999 WB DVD

Additional Info:

No Blu-ray or DVD release has presented the movie in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.85:1 for the US cut or 1.66:1 for the International cut.

The packaging on the back of the 4K Blu-ray incorrectly states it as 1.85:1 when the movie is actually 1.78:1 as is the original Blu-ray. 

Director: Stanley Kubrick

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Sony 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

Criterion Box Set coming October 20th with FiM encode

Best Audio:

1994 LaserDisc (marginally)

Director: F. W. Murnau

Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

MoC OOP Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

Flicker Alley 4K confirmed for 2027 https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.php?p=24404584&postcount=1

Directors: Emeric Pressburger & Michael Powell

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Imprint 4K Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab) · filmalert101.blogspot.com (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

FiM encode and none of the low-pass filtering present on the Criterion 4K, resulting in more detail and better handling of highlights on Imprint https://filmalert101.blogspot.com/2026/09/on-4k-uhd-david-hare-rhapsodizes-over.html?m=1

Director: Yasujirō Ozu

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2020 BFI Blu-ray

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Best Audio:

2005 Raro DVD

More from Hayao Miyazaki

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Director: Hayao Miyazaki

4K · Disappointing
Best English-Friendly & Video:

2025 Discotek US Blu-ray SteelBook

Video Notes:

4K Blu-ray is denoised

The 2025 SteelBook uses the same transfer as the 2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray and 2015 Discotek US Blu-ray but with better white balance.

Best Audio:

Japan: 1995 Japan LaserDisc 

English: 2012 UK Blu-ray

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Japan Studio Ghibli 4K Blu-ray announced for a November 25, 2026 release

Best Audio:

Japanese audio: 2014 Japan "Hayao Miyazaki Collection" Studio Ghibli Blu-ray/US GKIDS Blu-ray

English dub (Disney): 1998 US Disney VHS has better sounding vocals despite altered music and sound effects, the US Disney LaserDisc has limited audio

Releases from 2010 onward have the original music and sound effects, but distorted vocals

English dub (Streamline): 1996 Japan LaserDisc, available in Ghibli Aa Ippai Collection boxset

Additional Info:

2012 US Disney Blu-ray has dubtitles. US GKIDS Blu-ray has bonuses that are absent on the US Disney Blu-ray

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Video format: UHD Blu-ray

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly:

Japan Studio Ghibli RM4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japan Studio Ghibli 4K Blu-ray

UK StudioCanal Blu-ray for the English dub

Additional Info:

4K Blu-ray includes the original 5.1 mix in its unaltered form, all other releases after the LaserDisc had its dynamic range lowered.

US Disney Blu-ray has dubtitles.

For the English dub, the UK StudioCanal Blu-ray is the least limited mix.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Audio:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki Collection Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

For English dub: OOP US 2015 Disney Blu-ray

Additional Info:

US GKIDS Blu-ray is missing some features from the OOP US Disney Blu-ray but has an exclusive 12-page booklet.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly:

Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray or US GKIDS Blu-ray

Additional Info:

US Disney Blu-ray has alternate "simplified" subtitles compared to the translation used in the Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray and the US GKIDS Blu-ray

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

4K · Excellent
Best English-Friendly, Video & Audio:

US GKIDS 4K Blu-ray

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japanese audio: The HQ Audio Restoration by Hydra Spectre (made using the 2011 US Disney Blu-ray and the 2003 Taiwan Disney DVD), 2003 Japan Studio Ghibli DVD or 2003 Taiwan Disney DVD as an alternative

English audio: 2005 US Disney DVD

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Studio Ghibli The Collected Works of Hayao Miyazaki Blu-ray

Additional Info:

The Ghibli ga Ippai SPECIAL Short Short 1996-2016 Blu-ray has a different video transfer that has a tealer tint and slightly tighter framing.

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly & Video:

2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray

Video Notes:

2017 US GKIDS Blu-ray has better detail and grain, 2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray from the Hayao Miyazaki box set for MGVC with added bit-depth for supported players

Best Audio:

2011/2014 Japan Studio Ghibli Blu-ray for original 6.1 audio mix, Cinema DTS for the English dub

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Best English-Friendly:

2017 GKIDS Blu-ray

Best Video:

2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Japanese audio: 2014 Japan Hayao Miyazaki boxset Studio Ghibli Blu-ray has 6.1 discrete

English audio: Cinema DTS-ES, 2010 US Disney Blu-ray as an alternative

More from Disney

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Director: Chris Columbus

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney+ has Streaming in 4K

Video Notes:

Fox has Blu-ray

Best Audio:

1995 Fox LaserDisc

Director: Michael Bay

Video format: HD Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney+ HD Streaming

Sources: Criterion Forum (opens in a new tab)

Upcoming Release:

4K possibly teased?

Video Notes:

Disney+ has new master better than Blu-ray

Audio Notes:

Criterion DVD/Disney Blu-ray is missing a line:

Hummel: (line missing)
 
Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

Disney+:

Hummel: Hummel.

Lou Lindstrom: "Hello Frank. Lou Lindstrom"

Directors: Bill Roberts & Paul Satterfield & Wilfred Jackson & Ben Sharpsteen & James Algar & T. Hee & Hamilton Luske & Samuel Armstrong & Jim Handley & Norman Ferguson & David Hand & Ford Beebe Jr.

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Censored: 2010 Disney Blu-ray
Uncensored: 35mm Scan

Sources: caps-a-holic (opens in a new tab)

Video Notes:

See caps of Blu-ray vs DVD

Best Audio:

1991 CAV LaserDisc

Audio Notes:
  • 1991 CAV LaserDisc includes an approximation of the original Fantasound mix in Dolby Surround using the surviving magnetic mixdown, using Stokowski's original mixing notes as a reference. Original aggressive pans and dynamic range are left in tact.

  • The 2000 DVD uses this same mix in discrete 5.0, but with some unnecessary dynamic range compression + a redub of all Deems Taylor audio with Corey Burton.

  • The 7.1 mix on the 2010 Blu-ray sounds poor, having been hit with excessive noise reduction, dynamic range compression, original aggressive pans no longer in tact, and the channel usage no longer resembles Stokowski's original intended sound design. 

Director: Chris Columbus

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Sources: slow.pics (opens in a new tab)

Best Video:

Kaleidescape 4K Streaming

Video Notes:

Disney 4K Blu-ray has encoding issues with bitrates dipping into 40mbps, and Kaleidescape has better encoding than Disney see caps 
Old Fox Blu-ray master is stretched and sharpened

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

4K Streaming on Disney+ or Disney Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney Blu-ray TrueHD 5.1

Director: Jon Turteltaub

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

4K Streaming on Disney+ or Disney Blu-ray

Upcoming Release:

Disney 4K Blu-ray Steelbook

Best Audio:

US Disney Blu-ray LPCM 5.1

Director: Simon West

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Theatrical: Disney+ has Streaming in 4K without DNR, Disney Blu-ray is a bad master with DNR

Extended: Disney DVD

Upcoming Release:

2026 Disney 4K Blu-ray Steelbook

Director: Joel Schumacher

Video format: HD Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney+ is Streaming in HD with OAR

Or Disney/Touchstone DVD

Best Audio:

Disney/Touchstone DVD DTS 5.1

Director: Peter Weir

4K · Solid
Best English-Friendly & Video:

Disney 4K Blu-ray

Best Audio:

Disney 4K Blu-ray has neutered audio compared to OG home video release

Cinema DTS or DVD DTS 5.1 is better and has more bass.

Additional Info:

The 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray lack the bonus features found in the old Collector's Edition DVD release. The France Blu-ray has all extras plus an isolated score.

Director: Peter Weir

Video format: 4K Streaming

Best English-Friendly & Video:

Theatrical: Disney+ Streaming has a new 4K restoration

Extended: Disney LaserDisc

Upcoming Release:

Disney 4K Blu-ray announced for September 29, 2026

Best Audio:

Theatrical: Japan Disney DVD has the original 70mm 6-track mix in 4.0, all other releases save for Disney+ only have a 5.1 remix. Disney+ Streaming has a new Dolby Atmos remix that nonetheless is truer to the original 6-track mix than the past 5.1 remix.

Extended: Disney LaserDisc

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· last reviewed 9 days ago

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