Totoro is underrated: the mythology & meaning behind the film explained

My Neighbor Totoro is regarded as one of the more simple Studio Ghibli films. It's actually one of the most complex. On the surface, it really is about two young girls meeting a fluffy forest creature and having some fantastic fun in the Japanese countryside. Below that surface, there's a lot more going on if you know a bit about Japanese mythology and how this film connects to the studio's companion work, Grave of the Fireflies.
(And no, this has nothing to do with that "theory" about Totoro you might have heard. In fact, it's quite the opposite.)
Get the Studio Ghibli Secrets guide that reveals the story patterns behind all Studio Ghibli films at www.followthemoonrabbit.com/s...
Written and performed by Adam Dobay
Recorded by Livia Farkas
Editing by Gabi Trost and Eszter Vermes
Special thanks to Flick Beckett and the Duke of York's cinema staff

[@linkinaball]

People are so conditioned by Hollywood and think that ‘plot’ is the way to go to make movies. A lot of people think that Totoro is a simple film where nothing happens. Such a shame. Because it’s even more layered then you are displaying here. And such a beautifully crafted film in general. But you the viewer needs to put in the work. For me it’s such a wholesome film. From your analysis to how childeren cope with trauma. And how it mirrors Miyazaki’s soul and what he went trough in his life. So yes. It’s underrated. But luckily there are lots who love it. And I hope this film keeps Being recognised by newer animation/ film Lovers to come.

[@followthemoonrabbit]

I completely agree that you couldn't sell Totoro's plot to a Hollywood producer. Technically Totoro does have a plot, in the wider, I would say original sense of the word. Each scene has a purpose, and each character is doing things that either have a plot-related, character-building or worldbuilding purpose. The huge difference is in that it is very nuanced storytelling, nothing is in-your-face about it. The result is that even in Ghibli groups online you find people who claim that Totoro has very little plot or no plot at all. But what is going on with the children both externally and internally throughout the film is a huge deal - but yes, you need to have your eyes and ears open to notice. Thank you for your thoughtful comment!

[@linkinaball]

​@@followthemoonrabbit tnx for the reply. You are right about the structure of the film's plot. And if you know Miyazaki. He isn't interest in standard plot proceedings anyways. He is interested in the world and how these characters interact in said world. How one thing affects them, and the dealings of that one thing. Then it snowballs organically into what these characters would do. They stay in character. Most Hollywood productions break characters just to get the plot going. I prefer the character studies of Miyazaki. Also, if one does a little bit more research people would really understand how personal this film is. It has a lot to say. Combined with your essay I say that Totoro is actually way more dense intellectually than most popular films today. There is a reason why he is adored by many. And we are getting a new one. So that is exciting. Tnx fro spreading the gospel of Miyazaki. Btw. Have you seen that 4 part documentary about him? That was really good. You follow him as he works on Ponyo and goes on from that. Very insightful and personal. Must watch if you are a admirer of his.

[@followthemoonrabbit]

@@linkinaball you could say that not letting the plot drive characters around is just good writing, and knowing when to use chance and the occasional divine intervention (and when you can get away with it) is also a good skill to develop as a writer. All this shows that Miyazaki is a masterful storyteller. I wouldn't even dare to guess what percentage of Japanese vs. American mainstream productions are written poorly, I've seen many low-rate productions to come out of Japanese animation that easily rivaled bad Hollywood. Living in the West just makes you exposed to more standard and substandard Hollywood fare than Japanese things. The documentary is forever in my bookmarks and I can't wait to have some time to give it my proper focus. I know I love Kingdom of Dreams and Madness, a very good insight into how the man and the studio operates.

[@scegbert]

This movie has always struck me with it’s simplicity, authenticity and beauty. Its my all-time favorite film. Despite how many times I’ve seen it, there is so much in your presentation I’ve never thought about that adds to my appreciation of it. The idea of the tree being the anti-atomic bomb literally choked me up. What a beautiful idea! And it’s amazing to think of this film as a companion to Fireflies.

[@followthemoonrabbit]

Thank you for your comment! I'm always happy when I can show something new to people who have seen a film dozens of times.

[@Discordia5]

My husband and I absolutely bawled our eyes out watching this video. He's very into WW2 history, and I'm very into Japanese history. We watched this video right after watching Totoro the first time, and it could not be more perfect. ❤ Thank you for answering all my questions, and then some.

[@everafter2611]

I cried while watching it.... That's when I thought there must be something under the surface

[@bangtwitterandtwicetagram830]

Same

[@dp503]

Is it weird that I like this film so much but have no idea why?

[@followthemoonrabbit]

It's not weird at all! That's what good art is, it speaks to you directly in a way that makes you feel something. You don't need to know why it has the effect on you that it has in order to appreciate it. Sometimes it's interesting to find out (which is partly why I'm doing the things I do) but it's not required :)

[@NSResponder]

I've seen both of these films many times, but I saw fireflies for the first time several years after totoro, and I never made these connections. You've really opened my eyes to appreciate them on a very different level.

[@followthemoonrabbit]

Thank you for your comment! This is exactly why I do these talks. :)

[@Kitefel]

Wooooooaahhh! That imagery is insane! thank you so much for sharing your analysis! I'm personally one of those people that heavily underestimated this film

[@followthemoonrabbit]

Thank you! This is exactly why I do what I do :)

[@FlyingNakedPanda]

Such an amazing analysis, thank you so much for your work. Truly inspiring.

[@COZYTW]

I would very much like to purchase a CD with all of these lectures going in-depth of the movies

[@sheesh-era]

Thank you for your analysis no wonder totoro is my healing film .

[@robotpanda77]

It reminds me of a comment I saw once on a video about Ray Bradburys "Something wicked this way comes" where someone was questioning why one character died because she didn't seem like a bad person, ie they were so used to the narrative structure of only bad people being punished which is far from reality. I think that is what people struggle with with Totoro. There is no villain, no "will they won't they" romance, no climax. Which is confusing for them and leads them to think the film is therefore about nothing and of no consequence. When it is rooted in so much more, family, nostalgia, joy and even fear of death. Totoro defies conventional narrative structure and that is something many viewers struggle with.

[@samidelcueva]

Fireflies made such a big impression on me... I feel that its a tragedy in two senses, the tragedy happens because the kids didnt have support from society and didn't had a parental figure or a guide... Also it happens because of the misery that war generates. Its heartbreaking the more you analyze it.

[@wayla9933]

I love Totoro so much.

[@nexusyang4832]

With everyone stuck in quarantine, children and adults alike, perhaps it is a good time to revisit Totoro. #COVID-19_2020

[@moensbruno]

Thank you for this insight. Especially about the mushroom cloud/healing tree switch up. Really interesting!

[@DanielWijk]

I came in here after seeing the growing tree in Totoro just because it was an obvious symbol. I was not sure if it was a mushroom cloud or not but now that I know the movies are mirrors of each others it seems kind of obvious :)

[@followthemoonrabbit]

Exactly! It's one of those "you cannot unsee it" moments. And I'd know, I had seen the film at least 35 times before I learned this about it, and never made the connection.

[@anactorsheart]

Incredible talk. So pleased I found it.

[@ridhofidiantowi7475]

I just cannot believe how you could draw the connection to grave of the fireflies. And speaking of grave of fireflies i have try to forgotten the movie since it was too dramatic and depressing for me. I had a depression state for a full 1 week after watching that. Even watching you connect both two movies made me a little bit depressed by watching some of its scene

[@the_9ent]

This was a very well thought out assessment. Thank you

[@matreat1]

I loved this! Thank you.

[@teroblepuns]

Subbed! Excited

[@WillScarlet16]

This story could easily have taken place in postwar England, France or Germany, or any country with a long folklore tradition and agricultural history and rushed from rural to modernist culture in the same decade. One country it probably couldn't take place, sadly, is the USA - most Americans haven't been living there long enough to build up any ancient folk traditions similar to the ones in Japan that inspired this movie.

[@alexkennedy9963]

You just blew my mind

[@fiveoctaves]

I don't think I've watched Totoro more than five times, the last time well over twenty years ago. I think I've only seen it in Japanese without subtitles and the Fox dub. I've watched GotF multiple times introducing it to friends. I knew about the double-feature release but never attempted to draw any parallels especially having not watched Totoro in so many years. I will have to do a rewatch with different eyes!

[@Dupreee360]

good work bruh :)

[@ghiblinerd6196]

Subscribed.

[@yuliaxgon]

How do you spell the professor's name?

[@maccheese8379]

So this explain why Totoro my neighbor has more depth than Wakanda forever

[@Soumya1401]

I am Totoro for someone hope someone will be mine.

[@KyleWhiteandfriends]

Look at all my many friends pretty set let's go

[@HailToTheMeep]

If we see how long, how many generations, it has taken, for the Japanese to process their collective trauma, can we imagine how the kind of collective 70 year trauma the people in Palestine is still experiencing now. Mind blowing. Sobering as well about how we can decide what we want to do to create the society that could have been and can be.

[@joowonmo6800]

Totoro is simply Japanese Troll

[@followthemoonrabbit]

Satsuki does first ask Mei whether she's referring to the "tororu" from their mother's storybook when she says "totoro", so that is indeed one of the origins for the name and association. However, there's a lot of layers on top of that (or below that depending on how you look at it): Miyazaki's self-described owl/bear/badger design, the Inari connections with the acorns and the shrines with the kitsune, the Mary Poppins callback, the Alice in Wonderland callbacks, the reversal of the troll/goat folktale, and so on. As routine with Miyazaki, he gives a lot of thought to his main characters, and adds a lot of layers to them. You can pick one you like, you can look at them as a synergistic whole, and you can even find your own interpretations. That's the beauty of it. :)