My Neighbour Totoro

Story

Satsuki, Mei, and their dad move to the countryside to be nearer to their mother’s hospital. One day, Mei discovers a large woodland spirit which she calls ‘Totoro’. At first no one believes her. But when Mei goes missing, her sister Satsuki must call on the spirit to help find her.

Why we chose it

One of the most popular anime movies of all time, My Neighbour Totoro has won numerous awards, amassed a worldwide cult following, and has become Studio Ghibli’s mascot.

Where it came from

The film’s setting was based on a forest in the Sayama Hills near Tokorozawa, where Japanese filmmaker, Hayao Miyazaki, lives. The influence of Japanese folklore is clear in many of his films. Indeed, the Catbus in My Neighbour Totoro was inspired by a legendary shape-shifting cat called Bakeneko, and Totoro himself is not unlike the Kami spirits of ancient Shinto folklore.

Where it went next

The story has been adapted as a novel, picture book, and comic series, and both an asteroid and a species of velvet worm have been named after Totoro.

Associated stories

Miyazaki has directed several other films with Studio Ghibli, including Castle in the Sky (1986), Spirited Away (2001) and Howl’s Moving Castle (2004). Other films from Studio Ghibli include The Secret World of Arrietty (2010), based on The Borrowers and and When Marnie Was There (2016) based on the book by Joan G Robinson, both directed by Hiromasa Yonebayashi