Say "Totoro" five times fast.

Ever walk by that little blue awning in the square near the RadioShack and that horribly wafty LUSH place? You know the one. Above the little door that leads down into that little Japanese trinket wonderland called Kofuku. Well even if you don’t you might recognize the giant mouse-like creature at the right known as Totoro. Tototo? Totoro.

If you’ve never heard of Totoro or his creator Hayao Miyazaki, you really f*cking should. And there’s no better time than now. Why? Well, currently the Adams Pool Theater and the Harvard Japan Society is throwing down a Miyazaki Film Festival, playing a selection of his spectacular animated films. This isn’t Dragonball-Z. This is some serious stuff. Beautiful animation in every frame, rich textured landscapes, classy, classic movies. We swear….they’re big in Japan.

Looking for sickeningly cute Japanese creatures and heartwarming plots? (see: My Neighbor Totoro, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, Spirited Away).  If that’s not your thing, what about animated gore and epic violence? He’s got that too (see: Princess Mononoke). There’s so much to love here, and we soooo want you to go. If not for the rich cultural experience then for the hordes of adorable Asian chicks who are going to be ALL over this. Just kidding… kind of.

Anyway, the schedule (including the things you’ve missed) is as follows:

Schedule:
2/3 Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984)
2/10 Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
2/17 My Neighbor Totoro (1988)
3/3 Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989)
3/10 Princess Mononoke (1997)
3/24 Spirited Away (2001)
3/31 Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea (2008)

All showings at 8pm in the Adams Pool Theater.

Our one complaint? Where the heck is Howl’s Moving Castle??? Howl (aka Christian Bale) is so hot.

images from: Studio Ghibli and BackSeat Cuddler