My Neighbor Totoro

NZ release: 16 April 1988

Suitable for General Audiences Rated on: 16 April 1988

My Neighbour Totoro

What’s it about?

A father and his two daughters move into an old house. The girls soon find out the house is surrounded by spirits.

The facts

  • Directed by Hayao Miyazaki (Howl’s Moving Castle, Spirited Away)
  • Japanese language or English dub
  • Runtime: 86 minutes
  • Animated film by Studio Ghibli (The Wind Rises, Ponyo, Princess Mononoke)
  • Starring voice acting by Cheryl Chase and Pat Carroll.

Why did it get this rating?

This film was cross-rated by the Film and Video Labelling Body. You can find out more about cross-rating here.

Content that may disturb

A young girl goes missing, we see the desperation of various characters trying to find her. This can be distressing for some viewers.

The film features mythical creatures. For example, a ‘cat bus’ with many legs and a cat head at the front. There are also large creatures that growl loudly and enormous mouths. However, these creatures are friendly. This can be disturbing at first for younger viewers who are new to the Studio Ghibli genre.

Further information

Recent featured decisions

22 September 2026

Violence, offensive language, drug use, and suicide

Set in 1973 during the US’s attempt to overthrow the Chilean government, two CIA agents are dispatched to Easter Island. As the longtime partners wrestle with their dark pasts and present conspiracies, one of them bonds with a pair of rebellious students, which threatens to send everyone’s trip to this remote paradise sideways.

Read more

23 October 2026

Sex scenes, offensive language, and content that may disturb

In this fantasy comedy, an outcast fisherwoman commissions a basketmaker to create a husband from wicker. Their novel relationship and romance elicits jealousy and resentment among the villagers.

Read more