Themes
Awards
Animage Anime Grand Prix, Mainichi Film Award for Best Film
Synopsis
When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby.
Plot
In 1958 Japan, university professor Tatsuo Kusakabe and his two daughters, Satsuki and Mei, move into an old house to be closer to the hospital where the girls' mother, Yasuko, is recovering from a long-term illness. The house is inhabited by tiny creatures called susuwatari—small, dark, dust-like house spirits that can be seen when moving from light to dark places. When the girls become comfortable in their new house, the susuwatari leave to find another empty house. One day, Mei discovers two small spirits who lead her into the hollow of a large camphor tree. She befriends a larger spirit, which identifies itself by a series of roars that she interprets as 'Totoro'. Mei thinks Totoro is the troll from her illustrated book, and the name sticks. She falls asleep atop Totoro, but when Satsuki finds her, she is on the ground. Despite many attempts, Mei is unable to show her family Totoro's tree. Mei and Satsuki's mother's visit home is postponed, and the girls wait for the bus to bring her. While they wait, Totoro appears beside them, allowing Satsuki to see him for the first time. Totoro takes them on a magical adventure, and the girls' faith in the existence of the spirit world is confirmed.