What is Totoro? He has been called many things from "a giant furry thing" to "a rabbit-like spirit". Basically, he is a spirit of the forest. Totoro is not a traditional Japanese character: he came completely from Miyazaki's imagination.

Is Totoro an actual spirit?

Totoro is a fantasy creature that is so specific to Japanese culture that is boggles the minds of 'westerners. ' And the film subtly gives us an understanding of that culture. A drawing of the characters from “My Neighbor Totoro.”

What is Totoro based off of?

The director based Mei on his niece, and Totoros as "serene, carefree creatures" that were "supposedly the forest keeper, but that's only a half-baked idea, a rough approximation".

Is Totoro a forest guardian?

The Totoro name comes from the Japanese word for troll, "torōru.” It's the shortened name for Neighborhood Troll in Tokorozawa. Totoro isn't just an enchanting character though. He's an embodiment of the mysteries of nature, a guardian of the forest, and a friend to all those who respect and cherish our world.

Is Totoro a kodama?

Trivia. The survived Kodama seen at the last of the film later turned into Totoro.

Which Studio Ghibli film features a forest spirit named Totoro?

Is Totoro the spirit of the forest?

What is Totoro? He has been called many things from "a giant furry thing" to "a rabbit-like spirit". Basically, he is a spirit of the forest. Totoro is not a traditional Japanese character: he came completely from Miyazaki's imagination.

What kind of God is Totoro?

The legend goes as follows: Totoro is the God of Death, and anyone who can see him is either dead or close to dying. The affirmation is strong enough on its own. We know Miyazaki looooves metaphors, and Studio Ghibli seems to have a weak spot for gods and spirits.

Is Totoro in their imagination?

Naturally, many people think that “My neighbor Totoro” is about the beauty of unbound imagination when free-spirited children face, and venture into, crude nature. But from a different angle, Totoro is not Mei's imaginary neighbor. Totoro used be our real neighbor, and it was so by design.

Why is the mum in hospital in Totoro?

It is implied, yet never revealed in the film, that Satsuki and Mei's mother also suffers from tuberculosis, as she was hospitalized in a sanatorium (a specialized hospital for tuberculosis patients and usually located in the countryside), which caused the whole family to move to the countryside.

What does Totoro symbolize in my neighbor?

In his gentle and nurturing way, Totoro acts as a symbol of harmony between humans and nature, a central tenet of Shintoism. These folklore references provide a unique cultural lens, enhancing the richness of the film's narrative.

Is Totoro happy ending?

Ultimately, it is Totoro and his Catbus friend who help Mei and Satsuki check on their mother, and the film closes with a happy reunion.

What happened to Mei in Totoro?

She gets into an argument with Satsuki when she finds out their mother wouldn't be returning soon. She takes it upon herself to go to the hospital and ends up getting lost. Only with the efforts of Satsuki, Kanta, Totoro and Catbus do they find her unharmed.

What does Totoro mean in Japanese?

Totoro is a gender-neutral name of Japanese origin. This name was made famous by Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro, where Totoro is a giant, friendly forest spirit. His name derives from the word tororo, meaning “troll,” but he's called Totoro throughout the film because of little Mei's mispronunciation of tororo.

What is the blue thing in Totoro?

Chu Totoro is the medium sized Totoro. Instead of white fur, Chu Totoro has blue fur. He has three upward pointing chevrons across the top of the white fur on his belly. He has big eyes like Chibi Totoro, but they don't appear quite as big compared to the size of the rest of his body.

Is Totoro a slice of life?

My Neighbor Totoro is simply Fantastic 😍 This is the definition of a heart warming slice of life film combined with some magical elements.

Is Spirited Away in the same universe as My Neighbor Totoro?

Nevertheless, while Miyazaki never declared that all of his films (or all of Studio Ghibli's films, for that matter) exist in the same cinematic universe, minor characters, such as the soot sprites that first appeared in My Neighbor Totoro, later appeared in Spirited Away and recently were featured in the Star Wars ...

What is the moral of Totoro?

Nature is a safe space to heal and seek comfort

While their dad is away at work, the girls were able to seek comfort in Totoro and the abundance nature has given them. Totoro and the other forest spirits protect and nurture the girls in their absence.

What time period is Totoro set in?

Set in 1958, My Neighbor Totoro is about two young sisters, Satsuki (voice of Dakota Fanning) and Mei (voice of Ellie Fanning), as they travel with their father (voice of Tim Daly), an archaeology professor, to stay in an old house in rural Japan.

Why is there only one girl on the cover of My Neighbor Totoro?

The original girl had features of both Satsuki and Mei and was 7: halfway between the ages of Satsuki (10) and Mei (4). Note that on the poster there is only one girl, reflecting the original idea.

What happens at the end of Totoro?

Catbus takes them home. The end credits show Mei's and Satsuki's mother finally coming home, with scenes of the children playing with friends while Totoro and the other spirits watch them, unseen.

Is My Neighbor Totoro based on a true story?

Some perspective: The story's origins are semi-autobiographical. Miyazaki's mother was hospitalized with tuberculosis when he was a boy, and his father brought him to the country. His mother was hospitalized for years but eventually left the hospital and lived at home with the disease for years.

What is so special about My Neighbor Totoro?

Perhaps the most sacred aspect of the film, however, is that it reminds us that life is magical. Not all of us have a neighbor like Totoro, but we are all fortunate in different ways. Each of us has something to treasure, something that brings joy and comfort.

Does Totoro mean chinchilla?

Many Cantonese speakers will think of cartoons when someone mentions chinchillas. That's because the name in Cantonese – long mao (龍貓) – is the same name that is given to Totoro, the puffy animated creature from Studio Ghibli.

Is there a villain in Totoro?

Exceptions include My Neighbor Totoro, as there is no villain in this film.