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KnockBack, Episode 66: My Neighbor Totoro

It can't be overstated how unusual it is that so-called "Nerd Culture" has taken over the world. Not too long ago, it was completely unthinkable that something like Game of Thrones or The Avengers could be the biggest entertainment properties in the world. But along with the mainstream popularization of fantasy, superheroes, and the like has come a quieter revolution that we definitely take for granted: The influence of Japanese media, particular when it comes to its animation. It seems incredible to think that we're only a few years removed from anime itself being a truly underground phenomenon, but it's true. And one of films that help popularized Japanese animation in the west during its more niche days was My Neighbor Totoro, the gorgeous Studio Ghibli picture that hinged on a unique sense of eastern post-war nostalgia the likes of which only a master like Hayao Miyazaki could capture. This episode of KnockBack is dedicated entirely to Ghibli's 1988 classic, and all of the conversation, points of interest, and even conspiracy theories that come along with any thorough analysis.

KnockBack, Episode 66: My Neighbor Totoro

Comments

Personally, I don't find the details of why their mom was sick to be that important to the story, just the fact that she is sick is what's important to the story. Also I kind of see it as the story happening from the kids point of view, and if you think about it that way, kids don't really think about the details of things like that they just know Mama sick. Great episode by the way.

Christopher Puckett

Welcome to Patreon! Thank you for your support. Per your thoughts... well... you could very well be right.

Colin Moriarty

Thanks. =) Glad you enjoyed it.

Colin Moriarty

Hello, new patron, wanted to give my two cents on the whole 'not explicitly saying what is wrong with their mom' thing. I think it has to do with the movie being from the point of view of the girls, and how they might not really understand what is really wrong with their mom, other than she is sick and has to go to a place far away, if I remember right (been awhile since i've seen the movie) they ask often when she is going to come home, which drives this hypothesis further.

CoughE

Just wanted to say this has been one of my favorite episodes of Knockback to date. The juxtaposition of the somberness of discussing the bombings of Japan and hilarity of Dagan’s reaction to seeing the cat bus’s balls just made this particular episode really enjoyable for two very different reasons.

Joshua Staggs

Wow. That's a genuine surprise. I've been listening since EP1 and have only submitted questions once; that was when it was a guarantee to have your question answered. So it's amazing to put into perspective the amount of growth and engagement Knockback has seen! Hats off to Dagan and yourself Colin. <3

Daniel Schiffer

Hey Daniel! Unfortunately, the volume of questions we get simply precludes us from using everything submitted (which was actually possible when KnockBack was newer and had a smaller audience). I apologize. <3

Colin Moriarty

I've never been more excited for an episode! I thought for sure my question would make it through for this episode.

Daniel Schiffer

Interesting in the same way it's interesting a guy like Ryan Reynolds was the best at portraying a huge d-bag to being the type cast 'good guy'...🤔 lol

Erik Peterson

Ms. Curry sucked! LOL.

Colin Moriarty

Possibly, though they should just make their own. =D

Colin Moriarty

I think the scoring was probably my favorite part of the movie.

Colin Moriarty

Possibly. I wonder if they were gamers?

Colin Moriarty

I concur.

Colin Moriarty

Thanks for the notes. You're a huge nerd. =D

Colin Moriarty

Very cool. Must be very worn out! =)

Colin Moriarty

It's fascinating.

Colin Moriarty

That's true. I guess I don't really care too much who's into what, for what reasons. But it's worth noting that this stuff is very mainstream now, which is interesting.

Colin Moriarty

I love “Totoro”. Such a beautiful movie. Oh, let me say something about the au pair, named Mrs. Curry” 😂 Even I have a Mrs. Curry story - or two... 😐🙄 At any rate... really enjoyed listening to thus. As always, thank you, my boys.

BettyAnn Moriarty

I feel like Breath of the Wild could be reskinned to be a really cool Mononoke game.

Brandon Hardman

That might have a lot to do with Dark Souls. That’s why I even know what Berserk is.

Anthony Longo

Jo Hisaishi is a stellar composer. He's done quite a few scores, but his most prolific are Ghibli and Beat Takeshi movies. Definitely recommend listening to more of his stuff if you enjoyed Totoro.

Jason Bolla

It's funny that you brought up Breath of Fire, Colin. Rush has a song called Open Secrets off of the album Hold Your Fire that sounds a ton like the Breath of Fire III soundtrack. The album came out first, so I wonder if Rush took influence from Japanese composition, then that flowed into Breath of Fire.

Collin Sparling

Man... Dagan just has a good heart.

Jordan Gagliano

So excited for this episode and more Ghibli to come. Few notes I took. -GKIDS is an animation distributer. Basically all the Oscar noms not Disney or Pixar these days are GKIDS films. -In 2011 GKIDS picked up the theatrical rights to most of the Ghibli catalog. This is why you’ve been seeing Studio Ghibli Fest the last few years at your local theater. -In 2017 GKIDS picked up the home video rights to most of the Ghibli catalog. They immediately reissued basically the whole collection minus stuff like Lupin, Grave, & Wind Rises and including stuff that had never been released in HD here like Yamadas and Only Yesterday. They made all the box art uniform it looks very nice. -So don’t hold your breath for Ghibli on Disney+ they only hold the rights to The Wind Rises any more. -There is a really good new Miyazaki doc from NHK that’s free on their site. It’s 4 hours long and you get some really great behind the scenes stuff and Hayao just being Hayao. So far 3/4 episodes have been released. Super interesting to see the dynamics and how he conducts himself. (https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/program/video/10yearshayaomiyazaki/?type=tvEpisode&) Can’t wait for the next one!!! You guys rule.

Ivan Hornett

Similar to the other listener, Totoro was also my first anime experience back before I even knew what anime was. I was probably 5 years old when my mom bought me the VHS and I watched that thing almost daily. Still have that same copy.

Michael Miller

Anyone who doubts the mainstream appeal of anime these days need only look to the amount of buzz Netflix is generating by teasing a Berserk adaptation...

Justin Matkowski

You spoke of this recently and I admit I have to catch myself constantly. Its upsetting to a point that everyone claims they've always been into X,Y,Z now that so many once niche things are 'mainstream'. However, when you consider the alternatives I think I'd still take what we have because it's pretty easy to tell the 'posers' from the hardcore nerds.

Erik Peterson


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