I'm not the hugest fan of My Neighbor Tororo - the film - (proceeds to get booed off any and all social media platforms this opinion ends up on) but when the character of Totoro showed up in this, I think it was honestly more exciting than the famed Andrew Garfield stepping out of the ring scene in Spider-Man: No Way Home.

Mei and the Kittenbus is another Hayao Miyazaki short that's good for some bite-sized Ghibli, but not able to do for the short film format what his best films do for the feature film format. It's like listening to a song you really like from a great artist versus listening to a complete, expansive, and entirely whole album from that same artist. The quality's still there in many regards, but it's never going to be quite the same impact-wise.

Still, Mei and the Kittenbus is worth digging up if you can, but that's easier said than done. Honestly, all these Studio Ghibli Museum exclusive shorts would make a killing if they were compiled into one DVD or Blu-Ray set; I know I'd buy that stuff, and I imagine the Miyazaki shorts and any other high-profile ones would all fit onto a disc or two. That might make people less-incentivized to see the museum, but I guess to that point, I'd argue it just feels a little unfair that people all over the world love Miyazaki, yet the only way to see most of his short films is to live in Japan (particularly near the museum) or have the money to travel to Japan to see the museum, which is becoming increasingly hard these days, what with the cost of... everything.

I don't know; that's my maybe selfish view as someone not living in Japan, but a boxset of these interesting short films and other oddities would sell pretty well, I imagine.

Japanese cinema is celebrated for its refined minimalist dramas and avant-garde experimentation; it also introduced popular genres like jidaigeki (samurai epics), kaiju, and anime. Across both high art and mass entertainment, it often explores morality, impermanence, and the pressures of modern life.

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Anime is a style of Japanese animation that has gained significant popularity outside of Japan. It is often characterized by its use of flat design and limited animation, with characters characterized by large expressive eyes, exaggerated facial expressions, and defined lines. These stories are produced for audiences of all ages, with specific subgenres catering to different age groups.

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The adventure genre features exciting journeys, quests, or expeditions undertaken by characters who often face challenges, obstacles, and risks in pursuit of a goal. Adventures can take place in a wide range of settings, from exotic and fantastical locations to historical or even everyday environments.

Animation is a form of visual storytelling that involves creating visual art and motion through the use of various techniques and technologies. In animation, images are manipulated to create the illusion of movement, bringing characters, objects, and environments to life. Animation can encompass a wide range of styles, themes, and intended audiences, making it a diverse and versatile form of storytelling.

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The comedy genre refers to a category of entertainment that aims to amuse and entertain audiences by using humor, wit, and comedic situations. Comedies are created with the primary intention of eliciting laughter and providing lighthearted enjoyment. They encompass a wide range of styles, tones, and themes, appealing to various tastes and audiences.

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The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

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The fantasy genre features imaginative and often magical worlds, characters, and events. It explores realms beyond the boundaries of reality, featuring elements such as magic, mythical creatures, supernatural powers, and fantastical settings. These stories can take place in entirely fictional worlds or blend fantastical elements with real-world settings.

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The short form refers to creative works characterized by their brevity and concise storytelling. Unlike full-length feature films, short films have a running time of less than 45 minutes, while TV shorts have a running time of less than 22 minutes.

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A Kittenbus puppy, the cat-shaped bus that is one of the protagonists of My Neighbor Totoro, becomes a great friend of little Mei and with her has an incredible night adventure in the forest.

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Mei and the Kitten Bus

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