Story Origin

My Neighbor Totoro is an animated fantasy following the lives of two sisters, Mei and Satsuki, and their family. They soon find themselves befriending forest spirits in postwar rural Japan after moving to their new home. The film is animated by Studio Ghibli and written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.

The name Totoro actually comes from the character Mei’s mispronunciation of the word ‘troll’ which she has seen in a book, so thinks it is the same creature. The cat-bus character is based on a Japanese belief that alludes to an old cat which has the power of shape-shifting. The cat becomes a ‘bakeneko’, meaning a supernatural cat, which has decided to take the form of a bus.

Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation studio based in Koganei, Tokyo. It was founded in 1985 by directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, along with producer Toshio Suzuki.

Hayao Miyazaki’s son, Goro Miyazaki, has also directed some Ghibli films such as Tales From Earthsea, From up on Poppy Hill, and Earwig and the Witch.

Some of its most popular films to date are Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle and Ponyo.

Characters

Tatsuo

Tatsuo works as a professor at a university in Tokyo. He has just moved to a rural area with his family so that they can be closer to his wife, who is recovering from an illness in the local hospital.

Satsuki

Satsuki is 10 years old, calm, and very strong willed. She puts on a brave face to be there for her little sister but deep down is still very much affected by her mother’s illness.

Mei

Mei is 4 years old, she is very energetic, stubborn, and daring. She respects and looks up to her sister a lot which is made obvious when she is shown copying words and actions that Satsuki says or does.