Originally released in 1988,My Neighbor Totorois an integral component of Studio Ghibli’s history and marks the beginnings of acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki’s involvement with the entertainment company. The movie focuses on two young girls, Satsuki and Mei, and their experiences acclimating to an unfamiliar new home filled with whimsical forest spirits, like the friendly Totoro himself.
My Neighbor Totorois more than just an entertaining tale packed with adorable creatures; its lessons on friendship, family, compassion, and caring for the environment are life-changing. Although mostStudio Ghibli fans have seenMy Neighbor Totoromany times, there are plenty of interesting facts about the production process and inspirations behind the film that not everyone is aware of.
10The Film Was Based on a First Draft of Princess Mononoke
Princess Mononokeis another famous Ghibli film created by Hayao Miyazaki, centered on environmentalism and the tricky balance between humankind and nature. This movie was not released until October 1999, 11 years afterMy Neighbor Totoro’sJanuary 1988 debut. Surprisingly, Miyazaki was draftingPrincess Mononokefirst, and one of those initial ideas metamorphosed into the story ofMy Neighbor Totoro.
These first inklings of an idea emerged in 1981, and Miyazaki had planned forPrincess Mononoketo feature a young female protagonist and a catlike anthropomorphic creature. Over time, his inspiration shifted and changed, turning into the more lighthearted story ofMy Neighbor Totoro,while thedarker and more seriousPrincess Mononokecame years later, with a different plot entirely.
Princess Mononoke’smain character is Prince Ashitaka, so the female protagonist element of the draft was not used. Although plenty of creatures, like the Kodama and Moro, appear in the film, a catlike being was not included.My Neighbor Totorohas two female protagonists and the Catbus, so these specific details of the draft were saved for that movie instead.
9Totoro’s Main Food Source Is Acorns
There is much discussion about exactly what kind of creature Totoro is, but the official consensus according to the film is thatStudio Ghibli’s mascot is a forest spirit. Although distinctive traits of existing animals, like a cat or a bear, are evident in Totoro, he is a species of his own. This begs the question: what does Totoro eat?
According to a Reddit thread, Hayao Miyazaki, Totoro’s creator, has cleared up the controversy once and for all: Totoro subsists on acorns. This food source for Totoro makes perfect sense, considering inMy Neighbor Totorohe lives in the heart of the forest, where trees bearing acorns are plentiful.
8Mei Became an Extremely Popular Baby Name After the Movie Was Released in Japan
The popularity of certain fictional characters can affect the names people choose for their babies in real life, and this phenomenon occurred in Japan shortly afterMy Neighbor Totoro’srelease. Years after the movie first debuted in 1988, countless fans chose to name their children Mei, after the youngest sister of theTotorosisterduo.
Mei became such a common name that it was evenranked as the #1 female baby name in Japan during the year 2014. Becoming one of the top ten baby names in Japan is an impressive feat, and it speaks to fans' appreciation of not just theMy Neighbor Totoromovie, but the bubbly, curious, and headstrong character, Mei Kusakabe.
7My Neighbor Totoro Did Very Poorly at the Box Office
Although people might assume thatMy Neighbor Totorowas an instant hit because of its comforting story, relatability, and whimsical animation, the movie actually failed majorly at the box office.According to an article on MentalFloss, producer Toshio Suzukistated that, “out of all the movies made by Ghibli,Totorohad the worst opening box office.”
My Neighbor Totoroand one of Isao Takahata’s Ghibli movies,Grave of the Fireflies,were packaged together as a double feature and shown in theaters together, but even this marketing tactic was not enough to raiseMy Neighbor Totoro’sbox office numbers.My Neighbor Totoromight have failed in theaters, but its television release caused it to explode in fame.
Suzuki explains that “ratings went off the chart” whenMy Neighbor Totorowas made available at home, in stark contrast with its poor movie theater performance.My Neighbor Totorowas not a box office smash hit, but its TV debut caused fans to finally recognize its greatness, and it quickly became known asone of Studio Ghibli’s best movies.
6A Real-Life Replica of Satsuki and Mei’s House Was Constructed in 2005 for the World Fair in Nagoya, Japan
TheKusakabe family house is an important part ofMy Neighbor Totoro, especially since the plot revolves around Satsuki and Mei’s move to the countryside. With a white exterior and bright red detailing, the Kusakabe family home is quite recognizable, and during the 2005 World Fair in Nagoya, Japan, it was brought into the real world.
During the expo, visitors could fully immerse themselves in Satsuki and Mei’s world by walking through the replica home and nearby woods. In order to make sure the Studio Ghibli landmark was as accurate to the one inMy Neighbor Totoroas possible, Goro Miyazaki, Hayao Miyazaki’s son, was heavily involved in the exhibit’s planning and creation.
5The Forest Scenery Was Inspired by Tokorozawa, Japan, Where Miyazaki Has Lived
The forest that the story ofMy Neighbor Totorois set within is nothing short of magical, teeming with fantastic creatures and boundless potential for adventure.Studio Ghibli fans may wonder: does this extraordinary natural wonder really exist? According to Hayao Miyazaki, it does. The forest in the film was inspired by a real-life woodland in Tokorozawa, Japan.
Miyazaki lives in Sayama Hills, Tokorozawa, and one specific nearby forest provided the filmmaker with the inspiration that led toMy Neighbor Totoro. Fans can even check out the forest for themselves, which is now nicknamed “Totoro no Mori” or “Totoro Forest,” and contains a statue of Totoro to honor Miyazaki’s creative work.
4The Word “Totoro” Means Troll in Japanese
The term “totoro” was derived from the Japanese word “tororu,” which translates to “troll.” Technically, it should be pronounced verbally as “tororu,” but because Mei is a four-year-old child, when she is attempting to discuss the forest creature with her older sister Satsuki, the word comes out more like “totoro.”
According to Hayao Miyazaki, the creatures are only known as “totoro” in the movie because of Mei. Apart from Mei’s nickname for them, which she chose based on seeing troll characters in fictional stories that were read to her throughout her childhood, “no one knows what their real name is,” adding another air of mystery to the playful forest spirits.
3Celebrities Dakota and Elle Fanning Voiced Satsuki and Mei in the English Dub
Satsuki and Mei areMy Neighbor Totoro’smain characters, and in the English dubbed version of the film, their voices were provided by two major celebrities. Real-life sisters Dakota Fanning and Elle Fanning voiced Satsuki Kusakabe and Mei Kusakabe, adding another level of plausibility to the family relationship between the sister duo in the movie.
Because Dakota and Elle are sisters themselves, their fictional interactions as Satsuki and Mei feel more natural and realistic. Furthermore, both women are experienced actresses, so they have plenty of experience bringing various characters to life in their films. Their convincing performances as Satsuki and Mei makeMy Neighbor Totoroeven more enjoyable.
2The Catbus Was Almost a Rickshaw, Not a Bus
Other than Totoro, theCatbus is probablyMy Neighbor Totoro’smost distinctpersonality. The Catbus is both a charming character and a form of transportation. Since Catbus is a bus, he takes riders from place to place, providing a transportation service that Satsuki, Mei, Totoro, and many other residents of the forest in the film use regularly.
The bus element is so ingrained in who Catbus is as a character that it seems beyond belief to envision it in any other form.Miyazaki explained that, “the Cat Bus once assumed the shape of a rickshaw carrier, but the sight of a bus rumbling by excited it so much it turned itself into one.”
A rickshaw is a cart, while a bus is a motorized vehicle, so the Catbus’s rickshaw form likely would have appeared very different when compared to the familiar bus shape it is known for.
1Mei and Satsuke Were Almost Combined Into One Character, Rather Than Portrayed as Two Sisters
Mei and Satsuke’s sisterly bond is one of the best parts ofMy Neighbor Totoro,but it was almost removed from the film entirely. Miyazaki set out to create the movie with one main female protagonist rather than two, which was going to be an amalgamation of traits from both characters within one person.
However, having just one protagonist did not seem to suit the story well. Miyazaki was also concerned that the plot would be confusing if the main character was a four-year-old navigatingMy Neighbor Totoroby herself, as opposed to four-year-old Mei with her eleven-year-old older sister, Satsuki, to help and guide her, which makes a lot more sense.
