While Grave of the Fireflies is a morbid examination of the way the terrors of the adult world smash the illusions of childhood, My Neighbor Totoro treasures and protects that innocence.
It's fascinating to consider that My Neighbor Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies were originally presented in theaters as a double feature, because it's hard to imagine two more starkly opposite takes on similar material. While Grave of the Fireflies is a morbid examination of the way the terrors of the adult world smash the illusions of childhood, My Neighbor Totoro treasures and protects that innocence. This film barely has a plot, much less a villain, but how many kids imagine dastardly foes when daydreaming in the backyard?