My Neighbor Totoro

“My Neighbor Totoro ” is a widely acclaimed and beloved Japanese animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. From the enchanting scenery and the magical encounters of Totoro, the first impression one might perceive is that “My Neighbor Totoro “is simply a heartwarming fantasy film. Granted, the lack of direct conflict can lead one to believe that the film was designed to be geared towards children. However, if examined further, “My Neighbor Totoro ” illustrates far more than what meets the eye.

“My Neighbor Totoro “is a story that encompasses childhood innocence while depicting the journey of how two young girls who use their imagination to cope with their mother’s illness.

The basis of the plot involves two young girls (Satsuki and Mei) who move into a new home while trying to cope with their mother’s illness. When the family first moves in, Satsuki and Mei discover interesting creatures to what their neighbor Nana confirms to be “soot sprites.” Nana also claims that “I could see them too when I was a very small child,” alluding that adults in the film have lost their way of imagination.

After the mysterious soot sprites are discovered, it’s foreshadowed that there is something different about their new home. As the movie progresses through the introduction, Mei meets a tiny ghost sprite that leads her to the massive tree in the forest. She then falls down into a hole and meets a giant forest spirit to whom she names, “Totoro.” Mei plays with Totoro and eventually falls asleep with the giant, while still inside the hole.

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However, when Satsuki and her father Tatsuo realize Mei is missing and search for her, Satsuki finds her asleep on the forest floor.

Interestingly enough, there is no explanation as to how Mei got there. Satuski finds her sister Mei asleep on the forest floor With that, it’s apparent that Mei was only dreaming. Thereafter, Satsuki does not believe her sister when they cannot find the spirit. In fact, Satsuki does not experience Totoro for herself until later in the film when she believes in the possibility of Totoro existing. Therefore, it can be seen that Totoro is only real to Satsuki and Mei inside their own mind, versus any other of the characters. Totoro is what imagination is to Satsuki and Mei, an imaginary spirit that comes from within. This theme of imagination can be seen throughout the entire film. As for one among many explanations for the recurring theme of imagination, one that connected the dots is that “My Neighbor Totoro “appears to be very much inspired by Disney’s animated classic, “Alice in Wonderland “.

It’s an interesting parallel that was apparent throughout the film, especially during the appearance of Catbus in comparison to “Alice in Wonderland’s Cheshire Cat Catbus in My Neighbor Totoro Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland Clearly, both cats undeniably resemble eachother although Miyazaki made the Catbus especially unique. Catbus played an interesting role in the film and added a playful while imaginative tone to “My Neighbor Totoro “. It is characters like Catbus that bridged the close connection between imagination and the child’s mind. Another interesting detail that appears to be inspired by “Alice in Wonderland “is the hole by the tree that Mei falls into when originally meeting Totoro. In “Alice in Wonderland, “the main protagonist Alice falls inside a rabbit hole before meeting numerous imaginative characters, much like Mei with Totoro.

Clearly both films revolve around imagination created by a young child’s mind. This particular aspect is what appealed to children abroad thus making the film so popular. Zooming out of evidence within the actual film, an important detail is that “My Neighbor Totoro ” is directly inspired by Hayao Miziyaki’s childhood. Having grown up in cities like Tokyo and Tokorozawa “, ” aspects of the film such as the beautiful scenery captured by Miyazaki can be clearly seen as a direct parallel with his personal childhood. In “My Neighbor Totoro “, Satsuki and Mei’s mother is hospitalized due to an unnamed illness that is presumed to be tuberculosis. According to the book “Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation “, “Miyazaki’s mother suffered from spinal tuberculosis and was bedridden from 1947 until 1955.” This would explain the recurring theme of childhood, as Hayao Miyazaki’s is displayed throughout the entire film. Furthermore, Miyazaki has also said, “the film would have been too painful to make if the two protagonists had been portrayed as boys rather than girls.”

When writing the film, Miyazaki definitely saw Satsuki and Mei as him among his brothers. The fact that male protagonists would have been too similar to Miyazaki’s upbringing, it’s clear that “My Neighbor Totoro “was inspired by his own childhood. Whether the spirits in “My Neighbor Totoro ” are the imagination of Satsuki and Mei or not, the film remains a masterpiece ” “regardless. The film is about childhood innocence and imagination at its core, thus making it appeal to many. And even though the film may be looked as a movie strictly for children due to the lack of conflict, the film stands out by being unique in its own ways. “My Neighbor Totoro ” represents the child we all once were and in the end, childhood is something we will never get back.

Works Cited

1. “My Neighbor Totoro”. Directed by Hayao Miyazaki, Performances by Dakota Fanning, Elle Fanning, Tim Daly, and Pat Carroll, Studio Ghibli, 1998.
2. McCarthy, Helen. ?Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation ?. Stone Bridge Press, 1999. NTV. Interview with Hayao Miyazaki. ?The Wide ?. Nippon Television Network Co. 9 Sep. 2005.
3. Esmeralda, Jade Nicolette. “15 Things You Never Knew About My Neighbor Totoro.” ScreenRant ?, Screen Rant, 17 Apr. 2017, screenrant.com/my-neighbor-totoro-trivia-facts-studio-ghibli-miyazaki/.
4. (Firm), Buena Vista Home Entertainment, et al. “My Neighbor Totoro (DVD).” Amazon, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, 2010, www.amazon.com/My-Neighbor-Totoro-Dakota-Fanning/dp/B073ZT7S3C.