Must have Otaku.

I've watched a lot of animated films in my life, but "My Neighbor Totoro" remains one of the best. It isn’t difficult to guess why: in the flood of cartoons overloaded with violence and stupid jokes (say whatever you want, but with "Cow and Chicken" or "Courage the Cowardly Dog” were, the worst cartoon of all time), Ghibli studio proposals are like an antidote to the world losing the ability to think magic.

Disney fairy tales are created by adults who think in an adult way and this, unfortunately, can be seen. They model the imagination of a child through the prism of values ​​that their parents profess: achieve success, work through trauma and revenge for harm ("The Lion King"), achieve professional success ("Princess and the Frog"), prove how much you are worth ("Merida", "Mulan"), understand where your place is and how important are the roots ("Tarzan"), break the fear of the world („The Hunchback of Notre Dame"). I’m not saying that it is bad, these cartoons are in a sense an adaptive role and they are supposed to teach the young generation that life isn’t a cake with cream. It is a pity that, on the occasion, they repeat that the ultimate and overarching goal of each individual should be to pair with someone. Not later, not too soon. Now.

Brave Mulan, beautiful and intelligent, is slowly being ridiculed because of her spinsterhood and her parents are worried more and more. When she finally brings the boy home, grandma is the most happy, but also the Fa parents are so glad that someone actually wanted her. Young Merida have luck this time but probably not for to long, and platinum Elsa will probably soon be married, whether she likes it or not.

Although I don’t always like the idea of Disney animation, I'm far from being condemned. I simply claim that they are washed out of magic and, although they try to pretend to be happening in the land of Never-Never, they actually embed the actions of their novels here and now, resorting only to a more or less shapely metaphor. Pay attention to how the world doesn’t fit stories that are not based on original scenarios and don’t originate from classic fairy tales: "Alice in Wonderland", "Bernard and Bianka" or "Peter Pan" is a completely different story, really.

Clothes and Accessories

I would wear a Totoro on my chest like a suit of armor. Is there something more cute than the big, gray creature on a t-shirt, on a blouse or in a hat? Enthusiasts of this good spirit can choose between cheap and expensive options, factory production and handicraft: on the web I found both t-shirts for a few dollars and leather bags with hand-made graphics.

The canvas bag (although the leather underneath me, oh, so much) is a safe compromise for me between wanting to wear the object of my admiration and fear of becoming a nerd. I don’t know about you, but I never wanted to be a nerd.

Crochet hat with Totoro is a nice addition for a child ... or for your inner child. Gladly my child share my admiration for Totoro. This character is perfect for kids as her favourite childish hero, friendly, gentle, but endowed with immense power, representing the power of nature and life with all its magic.

For Home

If you have a small budget and want to enjoy your Totoro gadget for a long time, you should choose a cookie cutters. They are really great! My heart, however, was won by a big cushion - a couch that could successfully replace a bed.

It isn’t easy, unfortunately, to watch this iconic animation legally. The Polish DVD edition has been sold out for a long time - if you are lucky, you may be able to get them on eBay for astronomical money, while the English-language edition remains. I adhere to the principle that the films are viewed in the original, so I try to avoid both dubbing and the reader, and if possible - also subtitles (unless in the original language). In the case of British and American films, it is easy, but - as you probably guessed - I don’t know Japanese at all.

Totoro works great in the kitchen: on glasses, mugs, water bottles, thermos, and even wooden spoons. Or maybe on a chopping board? These little kitchen trinkets are a good way to smuggle favorite characters into your home without any infantile effect. In the end, the mug with the hero of the favorite cartoon will not be astonished either after hours or at work, and the wooden accessories decorated with baked patterns will not betray even the layman of his origin.

Of course the easiest solution are the simply one... the original poster. This one can be a real work of art and adorn the flat without creating the effect of the cave otaku. Well, unless you're otaku. But then it's probably all the same to you.

A charming little thing is charming, it is beyond doubt. There’s so many thinks you can find on the internet, that everyone can be pleased.

#writing #animation #lifestyle