Ghibli Guide: My Neighbor Totoro
Hello Ghibli guys and gals,
Today we're going to dip into a personal favorite of mine, "My Neighbor Totoro", also know as "Tonari no Totoro". A 1988 Studio Ghibli film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is an hour and 28 minutes long, and based in 1950's rural Japan. This is the first of Miyazaki's movies to take place in Japan.
Surprisingly, My Neighbor Totoro had the WORST opening in the box office out of all Studio Ghibli films. Back in 1987 Miyazaki's original pitch for the movie was rejected by Tokuma Shoten publishing Co. They didn't think there was an audience for the film. It was eventually released in theaters in 1988 as a double feature with "Grave of the Fireflies", which was a terrible idea.
"My Neighbor Totoro" completely flopped in the box office. The film didn't gain it's well-known popularity until a year later, when it aired on TV in Japan. The ratings were off the chart! Children didn't make up the majority that went to the theaters back then, so there is no surprise that the film didn't make the numbers it deserved. But when brought to television at home ,where parents and children could watch it became a hit.
Originally Totoro was meant to speak! On Miyazaki's storyboard Totoro speaks forwardly towards Satsuki. Speaking of Satsuki, she had the hard job of taking over her sickly mother's tasks. In the movie she is seen cleaning, cooking, and taking care of Mei with the help of granny and her father. Not the easiest task for a child but I think we can agree she did well.
Mei and Satsuki's mother, Yasuko, was sick with Tuberculosis. Much like Miyazaki's mother who was sick with Tuberculosis when he was young. Yasuko was placed in Shichikokuyama hospital. Where Mei later arrives with her sister after attempting to run away to find her. She gets lost followed by some dramatic scenes of Satsuki realizing her sister is missing. We get some of our best Cat Bus scenes here!
When the girls and their father, Tatsuo Kusakabe, move to the country, they pass by a village boy named Kanta. He shows his disgust (although we all know it was a crush) with Satsuki and her sister Mei. A fun fact about Kanta is that he makes a brief appearance in "Grave of the Fireflies" after the scene of the first air raid.
The movie is set about an hours drive from Tokyo in Sayama Hills, Tokorozawa. Where Miyazaki owns a home. Hayao has said "If I didn't live in Tokorozawa, Totoro would have never been born". The area is now nicknamed "Totoro Forest".
Miyazaki has said that Mei gave Totoro his name, although he hasn't confirmed or denied where the name came from fans have made it clear that Totoro sounds like a mispronounciation of the Japanese word for Troll. Which became apparent in the scene where Yasuko is reading a book about trolls, to the girls.
Fans have also come up with a lot of their own theories. A couple of the theories include; Mei dying in the movie And Totoro being the God of Death. Although Studio Ghibli said "There's absolutely no truth that Totoro is the God of Death or that Mei is dead."
The theory of Mei's death came from the scene where Mei runs away and the village people find a sandal in the pond. Satsuki ends up confirming the sandal doesn't belong to Mei. Also, the absence of Mei's shadow in an ending scene of the movie. People have also tried to link "The Sayama incident" to the girls. The Sayama Incident is an urban legend involving the death of two sisters from Sayama Hills.
Back when "My Neighbor Totoro" was going to be released in the US, US companies wanted certain scenes removed because they didn't think the American audience would understand them. The scenes included; the bath scene where the girls are seen showering with their father, and the girls jumping on their tatami mats. Thankfully, Ghibli insisted the movie would be released with no edits.
The bath scene may not have been understood by the American audience but back then, in Japan, the type of bathtubs seen in the movie were seen more as a hot tub/pool than they were an actual bathtub. Everyone got in together. It was rude to get in without washing off first, which you can see Satsuki demonstrating before she gets in.
Fans who love "My Neighbor Totoro" just as much as I do, can take in all the essence of the movie by visiting the Totoro statue inside of the House of Kurosuke, in Sayama Hills. Which is similar to the house in the movie, resided by the Kusakabe's.
With all of that being said I think we can all agree that "My Neighbor Totoro" is a wholesome classic. It's brought me comfort. Totoro especially has been someone I fall on when I'm feeling down. Whether it's watching the movie or indulging in my Totoro Merch, he is always there.
Here are a couple of fun cameos Totoro has made:
In Code Lyoko a Totoro doll is seen from time to time in Yumi's room.
In South Parks "Imaginationland" episode Totoro makes numerous appearances.
Totoro also made a brief appearance during a scene in Pompoko, another Studio Ghibli movie.
Another very popular cameo is in Toy Story 3. Totoro is one of Bonnie's toys!
I hope you've all enjoyed this read! Let me know on Twitter @GhibliGal which Studio Ghibli film you'd like to hear about next.
Today we're going to dip into a personal favorite of mine, "My Neighbor Totoro", also know as "Tonari no Totoro". A 1988 Studio Ghibli film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. It is an hour and 28 minutes long, and based in 1950's rural Japan. This is the first of Miyazaki's movies to take place in Japan.
Surprisingly, My Neighbor Totoro had the WORST opening in the box office out of all Studio Ghibli films. Back in 1987 Miyazaki's original pitch for the movie was rejected by Tokuma Shoten publishing Co. They didn't think there was an audience for the film. It was eventually released in theaters in 1988 as a double feature with "Grave of the Fireflies", which was a terrible idea.
"My Neighbor Totoro" completely flopped in the box office. The film didn't gain it's well-known popularity until a year later, when it aired on TV in Japan. The ratings were off the chart! Children didn't make up the majority that went to the theaters back then, so there is no surprise that the film didn't make the numbers it deserved. But when brought to television at home ,where parents and children could watch it became a hit.
Originally Totoro was meant to speak! On Miyazaki's storyboard Totoro speaks forwardly towards Satsuki. Speaking of Satsuki, she had the hard job of taking over her sickly mother's tasks. In the movie she is seen cleaning, cooking, and taking care of Mei with the help of granny and her father. Not the easiest task for a child but I think we can agree she did well.
Mei and Satsuki's mother, Yasuko, was sick with Tuberculosis. Much like Miyazaki's mother who was sick with Tuberculosis when he was young. Yasuko was placed in Shichikokuyama hospital. Where Mei later arrives with her sister after attempting to run away to find her. She gets lost followed by some dramatic scenes of Satsuki realizing her sister is missing. We get some of our best Cat Bus scenes here!
When the girls and their father, Tatsuo Kusakabe, move to the country, they pass by a village boy named Kanta. He shows his disgust (although we all know it was a crush) with Satsuki and her sister Mei. A fun fact about Kanta is that he makes a brief appearance in "Grave of the Fireflies" after the scene of the first air raid.
The movie is set about an hours drive from Tokyo in Sayama Hills, Tokorozawa. Where Miyazaki owns a home. Hayao has said "If I didn't live in Tokorozawa, Totoro would have never been born". The area is now nicknamed "Totoro Forest".
Miyazaki has said that Mei gave Totoro his name, although he hasn't confirmed or denied where the name came from fans have made it clear that Totoro sounds like a mispronounciation of the Japanese word for Troll. Which became apparent in the scene where Yasuko is reading a book about trolls, to the girls.
Fans have also come up with a lot of their own theories. A couple of the theories include; Mei dying in the movie And Totoro being the God of Death. Although Studio Ghibli said "There's absolutely no truth that Totoro is the God of Death or that Mei is dead."
The theory of Mei's death came from the scene where Mei runs away and the village people find a sandal in the pond. Satsuki ends up confirming the sandal doesn't belong to Mei. Also, the absence of Mei's shadow in an ending scene of the movie. People have also tried to link "The Sayama incident" to the girls. The Sayama Incident is an urban legend involving the death of two sisters from Sayama Hills.
Back when "My Neighbor Totoro" was going to be released in the US, US companies wanted certain scenes removed because they didn't think the American audience would understand them. The scenes included; the bath scene where the girls are seen showering with their father, and the girls jumping on their tatami mats. Thankfully, Ghibli insisted the movie would be released with no edits.
The bath scene may not have been understood by the American audience but back then, in Japan, the type of bathtubs seen in the movie were seen more as a hot tub/pool than they were an actual bathtub. Everyone got in together. It was rude to get in without washing off first, which you can see Satsuki demonstrating before she gets in.
Fans who love "My Neighbor Totoro" just as much as I do, can take in all the essence of the movie by visiting the Totoro statue inside of the House of Kurosuke, in Sayama Hills. Which is similar to the house in the movie, resided by the Kusakabe's.
With all of that being said I think we can all agree that "My Neighbor Totoro" is a wholesome classic. It's brought me comfort. Totoro especially has been someone I fall on when I'm feeling down. Whether it's watching the movie or indulging in my Totoro Merch, he is always there.
Here are a couple of fun cameos Totoro has made:
In Code Lyoko a Totoro doll is seen from time to time in Yumi's room.
In South Parks "Imaginationland" episode Totoro makes numerous appearances.
Totoro also made a brief appearance during a scene in Pompoko, another Studio Ghibli movie.
Another very popular cameo is in Toy Story 3. Totoro is one of Bonnie's toys!
I hope you've all enjoyed this read! Let me know on Twitter @GhibliGal which Studio Ghibli film you'd like to hear about next.
Love Totoro. First ghibli film I saw back in 99. After that became a fan instantly. Now with 7 Ghibli movies in our collection, Totoro is one of the few we're missing. Here's hoping to buying it soon.
ReplyDeleteIt was my first Ghibli film as well! I hope you can add it to your collection.
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