A gentle, sun-drenched fantasy that captures the quiet magic of childhood, where the rustling of leaves becomes a benevolent spirit's breath.
My Neighbor Totoro
となりのトトロ
"He's your friendly neighbourhood forest spirit!"
Director:
Hayao Miyazaki
Cast:
Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, Hitoshi Takagi, Shigesato Itoi, Sumi Shimamoto
Animation
Family
Fantasy
Budget:
$3,700,000
Box Office:
$41,000,000
My Neighbor Totoro - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
The Soot Sprites (Susuwatari) from 'My Neighbor Totoro' also appear in the 2001 Studio Ghibli film 'Spirited Away'.
In 'Spirited Away', these creatures work in the boiler room under the command of Kamaji. This shared element is a fun nod for Ghibli fans, creating a sense of a connected universe of magical beings imagined by Miyazaki.
In 'Kiki's Delivery Service' (1989), a model of a house on a bookshelf in Kiki's room features small figures of Mei and a mini Totoro in the windows.
This is a small, charming cameo that is easy to miss. It shows a cross-pollination of Ghibli's worlds and suggests that Kiki is familiar with the story of Totoro, placing the characters in a shared cultural (or perhaps literal) universe.
A stuffed Totoro toy makes a cameo appearance in Disney/Pixar's 'Toy Story 3' (2010).
This was an intentional tribute from Pixar's John Lasseter, a close friend of Hayao Miyazaki and a great admirer of his work. It demonstrates the immense respect for and cultural impact of 'My Neighbor Totoro' far beyond Japan.