My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated film directed by Hayao Miyazaki, following two young sisters who encounter friendly forest spirits in rural postwar Japan.
The film's title character—a large, furry creature—has become an iconic figure in animation, serving as the logo for Studio Ghibli.
The film is celebrated for its gentle tone and absence of traditional villains: We watched My Neighbor Totoro with the kids.
Japanese animation powerhouse
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Spirited AwayTaken by supernatural beings
- Kiki's Delivery Service
- Princess Mononoke
Flooded fields for grain
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
- rainWater dropping from clouds
- umbrellaHandheld rain shelter
- acornsSeeds of oaks
seedlings · bus stop · countryside · farmhouse · tadpoles · corn · bathtub · windstorm
- MeiChinese name, often female
- forest spiritMythical woodland creature
- acornsSeeds of oaks
- umbrellaHandheld rain shelter
Japanese cartoon art form
- 1988A calendar year
- cel animationDrawing on transparent sheets
- storyboardPlanned visual sequence drawings
- background artNon-focal visual elements
watercolor · hand-drawn · feature film · Japanese cinema · soundtrack · orchestral · dubbing · voice acting
Life's earliest phase
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- natureInherent quality or disposition
family · sisters · rural · countryside · nostalgia · magic · whimsy · growth
Ease or soothing relief
- warmthHeat you feel
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- cozinessComfortable warm intimacy
- reassuranceWords meant to calm
solace · gentleness · peacefulness · serenity · bittersweet · melancholy · longing · tenderness
Studio Ghibli
Japanese animation powerhouse
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Spirited AwayTaken by supernatural beings
- Kiki's Delivery Service
rice paddies
Flooded fields for grain
acorns · seedlings · bus stop · countryside · farmhouse · tadpoles · corn · bathtub · windstorm · shrine
Totoro
- MeiChinese name, often female
- forest spiritMythical woodland creature
- acornsSeeds of oaks
anime
Japanese cartoon art form
- 1988A calendar year
- cel animationDrawing on transparent sheets
- storyboardPlanned visual sequence drawings
background art · watercolor · hand-drawn · feature film · Japanese cinema · soundtrack · orchestral · dubbing · voice acting · theatrical release
childhood
Life's earliest phase
- innocenceFreedom from wrongdoing
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
nature · family · sisters · rural · countryside · nostalgia · magic · whimsy · growth · loss
comfort
Ease or soothing relief
reassurance · solace · gentleness · peacefulness · serenity · bittersweet · melancholy · longing · tenderness · security
- Anime/Mangaanime, manga, shonen, manga adaptations, mecha
- Studio GhibliStudio Ghibli, Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Kiki's Delivery Service
My Neighbor TotoroThe Exorcist
Seminal possession horror film
Schindler's List · The Road · Threads · dark · gritty
My Neighbor TotoroAkira
Japanese given name meaning "bright"
violent · Die Hard · John Wick · action-packed · high-stakes
My Neighbor TotoroThe Road
Paved travel surface
Antichrist · nihilistic · cynical · misanthropic · pessimistic
neighbor, neighbour, neighbors, neighbours, neighboring, neighbouring, neighborhood, neighbourhood, neighborly