Cast _* Interesting Facts _* Main Source for this Page: Nausicaa.Net

Original Title: Tonari no Totoro

Directed by: Hayao Miyazaki
Written by: Hayao Miyazaki
Music by: Jo Hisaishi & Rieko Nakagawa

Original Title: Tonari no Totoro
Released on: 1988 (Japan), 1995 (U.S. limited release)
Running Time: 86 minutes

Budget: $
Box-Office:
 
 

CAST

Satsuki... Lisa Michaelson
Mei... Cheryl Chase
Dad... Greg Snegoff
Kanta... Kenneth Hartman
Mother... Alexandra Kenworthy
Nanny... Natalie Core
Farmer... Steve Kramer
Farm Girl... Lara Cody
Kanta's Mom...  Melenie McQueen
 
 
 

INTERESTING FACTS

  Totoros came completely from Miyazaki's imagination. They are spirits of the forest, and a mixture of several animals: tanukis (the Japanese version of racoons), cats (the pointed ears and the facial expressions), and owls (the chevron markings on their chests and the "ooo"-ing sound they make with their ocarinas at night).

  The name "Totoro" comes from Mei mispronouncing the word "tororu", which is the Japanese word for "troll". When Satsuki asks her "Totoro? You mean, the Troll in our book?" she is referring to their book "Three Mountain Goats" (The Three Billy Goats Gruff). In the closing credits you can see their mother reading the book to them. In the picture book for the movie you can see the picture on the cover shows a goat running over a bridge while a Totoro-like troll looks up from underneath the bridge.

  In Japan, cats are believed to have magical shape-changing powers if they get old enough. They are called "Bake Neko". The Catbus is a Bake Neko who saw a bus, became intrigued by it, and changed itself into a bus. He's Miyazaki's original design, but some wonder if he was inspired by the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland. Mei following chibi-Totoro and falling into a hole in a tree is also reminiscent of Alice.

  There will be no sequel to Totoro: Miyazaki doesn't like to make sequels, since he isn't interested in continuing what he has already done. Furthermore, Miyazaki said that Satsuki and Mei would never see Totoro again. He intentionally put no picture of them and Totoro together in the ending title. Instead, he put pictures of Satsuki and Mei playing with other children. According to Miyazaki, if the two children had stayed in Totoro's world, they wouldn't be able to return to the human world. Once their mother came home, they became ordinary children. Meeting Totoros once, and knowing that they are there is enough.