For children who’ve had this experience, this theme could be difficult, and they might empathise deeply with Mei and Satsuki.The desire to be the next Walt Disney has been a major curse for many dreaming animators.
A big cuddly bear-like being that Mei calls Totoro is sleeping there. With curious excitement, she chases them through the undergrowth as they dash away, leading her directly into a deep, mossy and flower-filled hollow within the tree. She sees two little forest sprites bobbing along through the grass towards a towering and ancient camphor tree. One sunny day Mei is exploring the lush gardens. When little soot sprites scoot out of the dark corners of the house, the girls get to work dusting and filling the house with laughter and light. The girls arrive at the rather dilapidated but charming old house and discover that it might be haunted – much to their delight.
Their mother (voice of Lea Salonga) is recovering from a long-term illness and is staying in a hospital nearby. Set in 1958, My Neighbor Totoro is about two young sisters, Satsuki (voice of Dakota Fanning) and Mei (voice of Ellie Fanning), as they travel with their father (voice of Tim Daly), an archaeology professor, to stay in an old house in rural Japan.