Movie Suggestions for a Toddler Obsessed with Totoro?

Updated on October 25, 2010
M.C. asks from Eau Claire, WI
12 answers

I have an almost 3 year old who has become obsessed with the movie 'My Neighbour Totoro'. It's a sweet, adorable movie with a wonderful message, but everyone in the house has the end credits song stuck in their heads, trees and forest spirits haunt our dreams, and everyone mysteriously has something else to do when the Disney logo comes up on the screen. We got Totoro with an introductory package from the Disney movie club, alongside Howl's Moving Castle, Kiki's Delivery Service, and Spirited Away, but somehow these ones don't catch her attention in the same way. Can anyone suggest other movies like Totoro that I may not have thought of?

2 moms found this helpful

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K.L.

answers from Madison on

My son (4 now) also loves Totoro - except when "he" first appears :). Kiki's did grab his attention - loved the blimp. Thomas has been a big hit. The Beatrix Potter stories have been animated and they are a hit too - very sweet and gentle.

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L.B.

answers from Stockton on

Funny, each of my three boys had a particular movie they were obsessed with at age 3, my oldest: the Lion King, second son: Jurassic Park , my youngest now is 3 and crazy for the Little Vampire. Chances are although he might watch other movies you bring home, he will tend to go back to his favorite. Don't worry, this too shall pass and then all you'll have is the memory and a good laugh!

2 moms found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from Denver on

Hi M. - just wait it out. I promise it will end. We've had lots of those little "obsessions" in our house. The Wiggles and the original Batman movie were some of them.

There is only so much "fruit salad, yummy, yummy" a mom should be able to take but somehow we survived.

1 mom found this helpful

M.B.

answers from Milwaukee on

Your question today made my day... another Totoro fan! Also I'm happy to read in the responses that others recommend Ponyo. If you like Totoro you will love Ponyo! We've also seen Kiki's Delivery Service but that hasn't captured my 2-and-a-half year old daughter's attention like Totoro and Ponyo.
I wanted to share with you a pic of my daughter with her stuffed Totoro:
http://onionhead1.deviantart.com/#/d2zqhp4
Also I agree with the person who posted about Kipper, Thomas the Train, Angelina Ballerina... we get to see them on a channel called Sprout. *Peace*! :)

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S.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

I second the Ponyo suggestion. My son loved it, along with Totoro. Of course the songs will get stuck in your head again. He also loves Alice in Wonderland for some reason.

M.F.

answers from Fargo on

Here is the "More like My Neighbor Totoro" list from Netflix:
The Swan Princess
Pokemon 4Ever
The Muppets Take Manhattan
The Secret Garden
The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
The Swan Princess
Pokemon 4Ever
Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie
Garfield's Pet Force
Stuart Little 3: Call of the Wild
Switching Goals
Free Willy
For a three year old I would start with the Muppets Take Manhattan, then Pippi Longstocking
But you may be stuck with it. For my daughter it's The Tigger Movie, she watches it at least once a day.

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S.H.

answers from Honolulu on

Yes, Ponyo

My kids love Totoro too.
Maybe get your child, a Totoro stuffed doll...
E-bay has them too.

E.A.

answers from Erie on

Try "The Cat Returns" and "Ponyo", both are the same genre and directed at a younger audience ("The Cat Returns" has the cat from "Whisper of the Heart", also for older children and one I highly recommend). As she gets older you can introduce the others and also add "Pom Poko", "Princess Mononoke" and "Nausica, Valley of the Wind". The others are for older kids, but are the same genre or also made by Miyazaki. We love his films, and have seen ALL of them a dozen times at least :D
For more info, Google "Studio Ghibli" or "Hayao Miyazaki".

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Awwww... Totoro was one of my favorites as a kid (I grew up in Japan, it's one of the best, but there are several others that just haven't made it over here yet, because they're kids stuff... not teen/adult anime)... and became one of my son's favorites as well.

*COMPLETELY* different medium, but similar vibe (thoughtful) is found in a lot of brit kids' shows. Like Kipper (especially kipper), thomas the train, fireman sam, bob the builder, angelina ballerina. Whenever possible, stick with the undubbed versions. Some bob the builder, fireman sam, and angelinas have been dubbed with american accents, been given faster music, and more *dramatic* background music. Ick.

((I'm going to have to go check out Ponyo now))

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J.R.

answers from Davenport on

Lots of others have given you suggestions of alternatives for that movie, but I am going to give you an alternative to the whole family having to watch it EVERY time the 3 year wants to...
#1 - say no, or put a specific limit on it - like once every 3 days or once a week, or something ( track this with a specific sticker on the calendar on the days we CAN watch OR the days we HAVE watched... - to show the little girl so she understands) . ON the nights/days you DON'T play her favorite, try new ones to see if she will find a new favorite, or try playing board games, she is getting big enough to play simple board games with adults and bigger kids, who have patience to explain rules and stuff - chutes and ladders, candyland, hi-ho cherry o, Cooties, Ants in the Pants, etc.!
#2 - Get her her own portable DVD player - this can be the little tykes version with headphones, or a laptop or portable DVD player you already own, so she can watch HER movie, and everyone else can watch another show or movie, or do something completely different.

Good Luck - all toddlers have occassional obsessions like this! My 3 and a half year old girl is like this with Toy Story 2, and my 20 month old boy is obsessed with Thomas.

Jessie

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D.C.

answers from Dallas on

My five-yer-old became obsessed with Totoro over the summer, and maybe I did too. I've taught myself to crochet for the sole purpose of making the three totoros to give her for Christmas! I believe "My Neighbor Totoro" is the best children's movie ever.

It looks like others have suggested "Ponyo", which is excellent. My nephew is three and currently loves "The Aristocrats" (a previous favorite of my daughter as well). When she was three, my daughter was stuck on "Peter Pan" for the longest time. We also like "Pocoyo", which is apparently very popular in Europe. Check YouTube for a few episodes, but I've seen a short episode available recently on Nickelodeon on demand.

Good luck! Now I'm singing the Totoro song in my head!

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C.O.

answers from Minneapolis on

My kids LOVED Totoro too. They also love Ponyo, which had a catchy song at the end too and they were both very interested in it. My kids are 6 & 3.

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