Do we like them?

Do we like Totoro?

A character from My Neighbor Totoro (1988)

Our score: 10 out of 10. Absolutely. He's big, sleepy and kind, and he asks for nothing. He shows up for two worried kids when they need him, so we'd back him.

Satsuki and Mei's mother has taken ill, so their father moves the sisters from the city to a neglected rural house that sits in the shadow of an ancient tree. The house and nearby woods turn out to be full of strange and delightful creatures, including a gigantic but gentle forest spirit called Totoro, who can only be seen by children.

Totoro is no talker. He yawns, naps, grins and roars, and he treats the girls with an easy, welcoming warmth. He doesn't ask anything of them. He's a bit shy and he enjoys small things, like the umbrella Satsuki gives him, which makes him overjoyed. He gives the girls a gift of acorns as he boards the Cat Bus.

That mix of power and gentleness is why he scores so high. He's a spirit of the woods who is more than happy to share some magic with kids, and he never uses it to scare or trick anyone. Very few characters are as easy to love, and we'd back him without hesitating.

When Mei goes missing and Satsuki is desperate, Satsuki pleads for Totoro's help, and he summons the Catbus, which carries her to Mei's location so the sisters can reunite. He comes through when it matters most.