#;forest guardian! (totoro)

[natureselements]

Had the honor of making my childhood’s favorite forest spirit 🙏✨🌿 customs: open ✨ shop here

[kinnoth]

Miyazaki on Miyazaki theft

- kuro/haku

- the gun fort lepers/the gun fort lepers

- red guard/yupa

- the old tree guardians do the Totoro dance to raise tree roots

(you kind of just have to watch the video)

-rats/jigo

- torrent/ yukul

- pus of man/demon god

(again, watch video)

- malenia/ princess kushana

-enia/nausicaa's grandmother

- messengers/ tree spirits

- ash lake/below the poison forest

[animechristi]

Princess Mononoke: Human-Divine Relations

I give this work to the blessed Mother to set before our Lord.

Job 1:21 “the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Info: Princess Mononoke is a 1997 movie by Studio Ghibli, which was released in the US in 1999. It takes place in Japan sometime in the Muromachi period.

Spoilers: If you haven’t seen it go watch it, and perhaps even read this before watching it so you can judge if I’m accurate or off my rocker.

Also, just a heads up, this is one of Ghibli’s more violent films with some warrior’s getting their arms cut off, etc. Just be aware of that before you unreservedly show it to little kids thinking it’s Totoro part II.

Why is it so good?

            Because Miyazaki isn’t making the argument “nature = good; industry = bad.” Instead, I suggest he’s showing us what it means for human society to have a proper relationship with divinity. His microcosm for this is Ashitaka, who is then juxtaposed with people like Lady Eboshi, and San. The wisdom in having Ashitaka as an outsider is that he gets to be a tertium quid that both sides think is “our guy.” The result is that at the end of the movie we aren’t left with a pithy black and white lesson like “mankind will never outlast or out do nature” but rather the uneasiness that while there are indeed forces greater than mankind at work, mankind will still continue to work – for better or worse.

First theme: Divine Providence

            Although perhaps that last theme to be grasped while watching the movie, I want to start with the theme of Divine Providence. This theme comes to the forefront when the Boar clan, led by old boar Okkoto, comes to the forest to declare their attack on Iron Town and meets our MC Ahistaka. When the boars are told how Ashitaka was attacked by the previous boar guardian Nago, who had turned into a demon, they don’t believe him at first. Especially when they hear that the forest spirit healed Ashitaka’s bullet wound but did nothing – and does nothing for the forest in its time of need.

Nago as a corrupted boar. If your boar ever looks like this, call an exorcist.

We see here the problem that has plagued countless hearts from the dawn of time: If there is a being who is allegedly all-powerful and respected as morally good and protecting all things, then why doesn’t he/she/it act in our time of need? Any character in Princess Mononoke could ask such questions: Why would the young and strong Nago be corrupted into a demon, why would such an old boar like Okkoto remain for such a big battle? Why would the forest spirit heal Ashitaka’s bullet wound but not his cursed arm? Why did the forest spirit kill Okkoto rather than heal him and Moro who were dying? If the forest spirit was close to wiping out Iron Town when searching for his head, why didn’t he wipe it out before Eboshi killed him? And the list could go on and on.

The problem of evil, or theodicy, in the bible is most clearly seen in Job’s struggle. Painting by Leon Bonnat.

Keep in mind, however, that Miyazaki has no intention of portraying a Christian world and so comparisons I make will be stretched a little. With that in mind, perhaps we can still see Miyazaki wrestling with the idea that God can bring a greater good out of any suffering. The happy circumstances at the end of the film only come about because of Ashitaka’s curse, Okkoto’s rage, San’s rebellion, Eboshi’s attempted deicide, and Iron Town’s environmental exploitation. Not everything is as everyone would want it. We see this in Eboshi rebulding, and San continuing to live in the forest. Yet there seems to be a sense that maybe everything is indeed as the forest spirit wants it. Much could be said about this, but we’ll stop here for now.

Second theme: being nice =/= being good

            Our second theme is displayed in Lady Eboshi’s character. We are introduced to her not as the dictator of Iron Town, but rather its beloved matriarch. She buys out the brothel girls’ contracts and gives them honest work in the iron factory. She employs lepers who would have otherwise been left destitute. She wants the women of the town to be able to defend themselves. In all respects it seems she’s a selfless woman. It seems, but sadly it’s not the case. The subtlety is that all this is done to further her own plans. Make no mistake. I fully support her intention of getting women out of the brothel and giving the lepers honest work. But her prior intention seems to be that all these people are meant to work for her and that there is nothing, no higher power, no higher authority, beyond Lady Eboshi. We see this clearly in her understanding of the spiritual and sacred when she proclaims “I’m going to show you how to kill a god, the trick is not to fear him.” The ignorance – as if spiritual creatures could “die” – comes from her lack of piety or fear of the Lord, which, as we know “is the beginning of wisdom” (Pro 9:10).

Eboshi employs lepers to make her weapons.

Ashitaka on the other hand is shown not only to respect the spiritual world, but is also aware of the role the spiritual plays within the material. He knows where humans should be in the grand scheme of things. This is why he can prioritize the lives of Iron Town’s people in battle, but also tries to dissuade them from advancing any further. As I mentioned before, we see the other extreme in San’s character. San identifies so much with the forest spirits that she almost rejects being human. There’s a moment when she tries to kill Ashitaka and while holding her back he says “you’re beautiful.” We might say it’s the affirmation of her humanity – in contrast to her demonization by the townspeople – that starts to change San’s way of thinking.

San embraces her exclusion from human society and is treated as a demoniac by the people of Iron Town. Perhaps her predicament mirrors the Gerasene Demoniac’s more than we think?

Honorable Mentions (aka but wait – there’s more!)

There is always more to say, but I’ll leave you with four extra foods for thought.

The West

At the beginning we hear from Ashitaka’s village that the west is where bad things come from e.g. the boar demon. But the west is also the place of the forest spirit. It’s interesting that in order to be healed, to reach the place of the gods, one also needs to go through adversity.

Death

Moro, aka “Mother Wolf,” claims that Nago (demon boar) was corrupted because he feared death. Moro herself has been injured by an iron slug but isn’t corrupted precisely because she doesn’t fear death.

Marriage

When Moro tells San about Ashitaka’s proposal she says “he would share his life with you.” A short line that cuts to the heart of marriage. And we can see why San – who has never lived with other humans – would be afraid of such a thing.

Anger -> Stupidity

Moro tells San the humans are purposefully enraging the Boar clan so that in their anger they will become stupid. Sadly, it works. We’re reminded here that to be patience – which is the opposite of angry – is to suffer.

Much more could be said, but for now let’s spend some time appreciating the invisible realities around us.

St. Justin Martyr, pray for us!

[fmp-sm]

Gods in other media

Pokemon

Pokemon is a turn-based game based around catching unique creatures with different elemental abilities.

Pokemon has multiple elements of 'gods', or divine beings. For example Arceus, who is described to be the Original Pokemon.

"Arceus is known as "The Original One", as it is said that it created Sinnoh and Ransei, and possibly the entire Pokémon universe, along with the lake guardians, Uxie, Azelf, and Mesprit, as well as the Pokémon of Myth: Dialga, Palkia, and Giratina." - https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Arceus_(Pok%C3%A9mon)

Yu-Gi-Oh

Yu-Gi-Oh is a turn based card game, with a subsequent anime, with a lot of reference to and inspiration from egyptian mythology.

There are multiple Gods referenced throughout the game and anime, such as Ra, Horus and Anubis.

"The "Egyptian Gods" are one-of-a-kind all-powerful cards created by Maximillion Pegasus, who modeled them after three Ancient Egypt divine beasts whose likenesses surround the Millennium Puzzle on the stone tablet said to hold the memories of the nameless Pharaoh." - https://yugioh.fandom.com/wiki/Egyptian_God

My Neighbor Totoro

My neighbo Totoro is an anime film based around human characters interacting with forest spirits, and house spirits. It portrays the gentle and playful nature of these spirits, referencing japanese folklore and mythology.

"My Neighbor Totoro (Japanese: Tonari no Totoro) is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli for Tokuma Shoten. It focuses on two young sisters and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan." -

[translationandbetrayals]

"My Neighbor Totoro": A Triumphant Trio of Whimsical Wonders

Welcome, on this post we’ll be in the heart of one of Studio Ghibli's enchanting masterpieces, "My Neighbor Totoro," specifically i want to rant a little about three captivating characters that have completely stolen the spotlight and adoration of hundred of followers, each of them contribute to the film's magical feeling in a unique and unforgettable way.

Totoro: Guardian of Joyful Innocence

At the core of this whimsical tale stands Totoro, the gentle guardian spirit of the forest. We get to know him when Mei falls into a hole from a massive tree, home of the iconic fluffy creature that with his grin and endearing gestures becomes a beacon of joy and innocence. Through the lens of childhood wonder, Totoro symbolizes the magic that exists when one embraces curiosity and the natural world while also becoming a comforting presence in our minds, encouraging us to embrace our inner child.

Dust Bunnies (Susuwatari): Mischievous Sprites of Sooty Charm

Even if they’re hiding in the corners or shadows, the mischievous dust bunnies, or Susuwatari, playfully dance their way into our hearts. Of course their tiny playful presence adds a touch of charm and mystery, and beyond their whimsical antics, these soot sprites can symbolize the unseen enchantment that surrounds us, encouraging us to find joy in the simplest of moments or places… to be honest, I would love to find these friends when cleaning my room instead of some spiders.

Cat Bus: Feline Whiskers and Magical Wheels

Rolling in with furry charm and magical wheels, the eight legged Cat Bus is more than a whimsical mode of transportation. With its wide grin and flexible feline features, the Cat Bus becomes a soft living bridge between reality and fantasy. Symbolizing the boundless nature of imagination, the Cat Bus whisks characters away on adventures, embodying the idea that the journey is as important as the destination. Its presence adds a layer of delightful unpredictability to the narrative.

Together, Totoro, the dust bunnies, and the Cat Bus create a triumphant trio, each contributing to the film's enduring charm. Their unified presence not only enriches the narrative but also leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of viewers, turning "My Neighbor Totoro" into a timeless celebration of friendship, imagination, and the magic found in the world around us.

Mayte Alarcón

PD: I tried to add some photos... but i fear the technology won over again ;(

[tvrningout-archived]

can i just say yu exists bc of s.pirited away and k.ohaku’s existence :’ ) like that movie instilled a love for mythology/fantasy in me as well as for dragons and protector-type characters!! and it’s very fun to get to play around with that and draw the littlest bit of inspo from a chunk of my childhood

[dreams-in-daylight]

Never posted this sketch of my fursona, Stargazer, as my tumblr icon (screaming chu totoro) girlfriend made me promise to finish it after I showed it to her 😂

[theoceanisnotsilent]

Our favourite little forest guardian #Totoro. He is made out of perler beads and has a little stand, perfect for displaying on flat surfaces! I only have a few in stock, and I don't use perler beads as a medium for crafting anymore, so once these are sold, there won't be any more. Get yours while you can in my Etsy shop!⁠

[bugpysforge]

Totoro rarely goes out in public since they see protecting the druidic forests and ancient trees as their sacred duty.

Race: Harengon Class: Ranger Subclass: Primeval Guardian Alignment: Neutral Good

View the pokedex of all dungeon pokemon by following the link in the menu.

[polyhedral-amorous]

I finally had the energy to take a couple quick pics of my newest commission from @okami_and_scry! My Hayao Miyazaki/ Studio Ghibli set! 🥰

[Image description:

A close up of molded clay dice, intricately hand-painted with notable characters from Studio Ghibli movies.

Totoro, chibi Totoro, acorns, and Catbus adorn the d20, with hues of vibrant spring-green, golden yellow, and grey.

A beautiful ohmu from Nausicaa adorns the d12, in pastel greys and teals, similar to the spores and plants found in the Toxic Forest.

No Face and Haku encompass a vibrant pastel teal d00.

Princess Mononoke's mask, the Forest Guardian, and kodama are present on the d10, with hues of bright reds, greens, and grey.

The d8 showcases an immeasurably detailed castle from Howl's Moving Castle, with a chibi Calcifer in fiery orange and yellow debuting on the opposite side.

The d6 is the beautiful indigo of Kiki's dress in Kiki's Delivery Service. Her decorative red bow, broomstick, and void-kitty, GiGi, decorate opposite faces.

The d4 is all pastel grey, decorated with pastel rainbow Konpeito candy, with excited soot sprites decorating all the die faces, celebrating their sweet treat.]

#polyhedralamorous #dice #dicecollection #polyhedraldice #DungeonsAndDragons #dnd #dnd5e #DungeonsAndDragons5e #d20 #diceporn #CriticalRole #ttrpgdice #tabletopgaming #aesthetic #handmadedice #studioghibli #hayaomiyazaki #myneighbortotoro #princessmononoke #nausicaa #nausicaaofthevalleyofthewind #howlsmovingcastle #calcifer #spiritedaway #kikisdeliveryservice

[hoyaanae]

My thoughts and all the things I love about Lovely Us (2020)

This drama really surprised me with how good it was written and made despite already knowing that this is highly rated by my cdrama mutuals. First ep right off the bat made me laugh and cry. The following eps kept the flow really well and established the characters and their relations. Before I know it, I'm already in love and attached to the characters and everything about this drama. It's very charming, calming and heartwarming to watch. The acting, writing, execution, ost, and production are well-done.

Set in 2007, this is another drama with nostalgic vibe that will remind you of your childhood and probably teenage years as well of your old neighborhood and the people you used to hang out with when you're younger. Even though I'm kinda fed up with childhood friends to lovers trope by now, this one did it the right way. Romance is slowburn but the buildup isn't slow at all. The main cp are so cute despite the daily bickerings that you just can't help but root for them to be together. It also have unrequited love trope where you'll see the character continuously root for that person and not expecting anything in return. There's no antagonist/evil characters in this story, just your feel-good slice-of-life drama with a touch of teenage romance in it.

Another strong point this drama have is the friendship and family dynamics. The five main leads have such amazing and solid friendship and their chemistry with each other is very natural to watch you'll wish you have the kind of friendship they have. It's endearing how their respective families are friends with one another and the parents have absolute trust with their children even allowing them to stay in closed room, have overnight at their house without adult supervision and even go to outdoor camping sharing one tent. It's refreshing to see how they showcased different parenting styles in each household and the parents aren't portrayed as someone controlling, instead they understand and communicate with their children. There's even one case wherein a parent realized he's doing it wrong so he asked for advice and help from his son's friend in order to get closer with his son.

Unlike other dramas, this one never drags out misunderstandings and touches the issue in the most heartwarming way that it never felt annoying or frustrating to watch, instead I became emotional at those moments that I can't help but shed a tear or ugly cry.

The characters are funny, full of mischief but sweet and thoughtful on the inside. It's a delight to watch them get together and have their little meetings, bicker and help each other out.

The ost will surely stay on repeat in my playlist for the next few days or weeks even. The song choices fit the mood so well and I find myself heavily lss-ed with the opening song. The song "Can I See You Tomorrow?" gives off the ultimate nostalgic vibe and reminds me of one ISWAK ost.

What really stood out to me the most are the moments in each ep wherein a certain character will narrate his/her thoughts about love, life, and family. They're beautifully and oftentimes poetically written matching with flashback scenes that made the dialogue even more heartfelt.

Here are some of the lines that are deeply engraved in my heart because they are beautifully written and will really go well as book passages:

"Once people become parents, their memory begins to become biased. They always remember they are their children's most reliable parents, but often forget that they are also children loved by their own parents. When they are waiting for their children to come back home, they forget that their own parents are also waiting for their return in a similar mood."

"The audio frequency of the sound when a snowflake falls on the water surface is over 50,000 Hz. Because it falls beyond human being's hearing range, this snowy day is still so quiet that it seems I can only hear my own heartbeat and that it seems there is only me and the person in front of me on this planet with a population of 6.6 Billion. I hope this world can be noiser so that I can pretend that I've never discovered this secret."

"They think that the probability is just 0.01, so they put on the emperor's new clothes, trying to hide their affections with magic. But affections are not that easy to hide. Even if the probability is pretty low, it will be revealed at a certain moment. So on that rainy night, while looking at her back, he found that the most obvious evidence of falling in love with her was the feeling of easement in his heart and the smile on his face when he looked at her."

"You think nothing will change as time flies by. But this time, the moment you let go and turn around, some things completely changed. The sun went down and before it rises again, some people will leave you forever. We always thought that there would be a big ceremony to say goodbye, so we keep waiting for a warm hug, a refreshing drink, and a heartfelt goodbye, but in the end, we realized that most goodbyes in our lives are all silent."

"At that silent corner in my mind, there are a number of weird illusions. For example, can I become Alice who enters the wonderland with White Rabbit? For example, can I become the little girl who enters the forest with Totoro? For example, is there some special switch in this box which can teleport me? No, none of them exist. There's no flying dragons or knights, and I'm not the heroine of some comics for girls, either. However, the only thing I'm sure about is that this escape greatly shocks my world. My palms would sweat, and my sight would be indistinct. Then my view becomes narrower and narrower until there's room for only one person in my eyes. After a long time, I know such a moment is named adventure, in which the one in your eyes is irreplaceable."

"The familiar chirping of cicadas on summer nights, the familiar bear doll who must lean by the lamb, the familiar lovely girl who frowns even when she sleeps, and the 17-yr-old time wrapped by the sense of familiarity never seem to have changed. The only difference is that when I look at the familiar him, I feel a flurry and uneasiness that I have never expected."

"There are many new days like today. Today, he holds my hand. Today, he holds me in his arms. Today, he carries me on his back and runs in the street in the early morning. Many days with him like today will eventually become my unforgettable past days. I'll remember days like today for a long time."

"Friendship means so much to us. It brings us close, and makes me flinch, so sometimes we just tell ourselves that as long as we're together, I can be just a friend of hers. But the taxi that I failed to catch, the phone calls that have been hung up, the time that's flying and my restless heart are telling me eagerly that in this world, both love and friendship are important. Every detail related to you is reminding me that we can't be just friends. So when it's still not too late, I have to tell you the things that I want to tell you as soon as possible. Huang Chengzi, I like you."

"In this world, it seems like all wishes have a guardian. Wishing wells, shooting stars, the aquarium's white whale. They're all hiding in the corners of the universe caressing the sorrow of loving someone alone. It's just that the god of happiness can't bless everyone out there. They let some people be happy and their wishes come true, and let some be sad, but they can't admit how sad they really are. The feeling of being in love is like a butterfly gently flapping its wings, that stirs up a hurricane in people's hearts. The second you realize it, then there's no escape."

[jeoseungsaja]

♚ RANDOM TIDBITS, PT. 2 VERSE FOUR: VERMEIL GUARDIAN

◍  He wears a ring on his left hand that represents a fragment of his past and true origins. This ring was attached to the mess of blankets he was wrapped in when he was abandoned in a forest as a baby. When his adoptive father and King of Goryeo found him, he took note of the ring and saved it, promising to give it to him when Yeo was old enough to understand the story behind it. Unfortunately, Yeo’s father couldn’t tell him about it, for he passed away before having the chance to do so --- instead, his older brother was in charge of unveiling the truth to him.  ◍  Yeo doesn’t know much about his roots. He just knows he’s a full-fledged nine-tailed fox and, therefore, both his biological parents should be full-blooded gumiho as well. Other than that, he’s at loss. When younger, a period of his life was dedicated to look after the ones who left him behind as to find answers, but he always hit dead ends; fragments here and there but not the full picture. Such a thing used to frustrate him back then, but now that he has more control of his own life and has gained more maturity, this doesn’t bother him much. ◍ Unknowingly, he’s been interacting with his biological younger brother all this time. He still doesn’t know they share the same blood, nor that they have the same ring. Unknowingly, he’s learned to slowly but surely grow fond of him, even before being aware of the truth. ◍ Other than wearing his ring, he wears brooches of different shapes as a personal choice; he enjoys attaching them to the lapel of his coats or blazers. He likes shiny, sparkly ones; will wear simple ones (that are just completely silver and/or gold) and also elaborate ones (that have gemstones or small details dangling with chains). Right now he’s on the hunt for a Totoro brooch (pls get him one, I mean---) ◍ More often than not, you’ll see him eating edible flowers as snacks. He washes them, puts them in a bowl and eats them like chips or pieces of fruit. His favorite are royal azaleas, honeysuckles and strawberry blossoms (the red kind).  ◍ He has a sweet tooth. Favors sweet dishes over salty ones. Catch him eating candy and/or desserts first and then getting to ‘real food’ second.  ◍ Knows how to play traditional games like Yutnori, Go and Mahjong. Is a little bit outdated on more modern games; please don’t get him into UNO! or he’ll slice the deck in half and burn the whole thing if you pull a ‘Draw Four’ on him when he’s about to win or something--- ◍ Enjoys: cuddling, burying his face on his beloved’s chest, stealing kisses and smirking while at it; be brazenly affectionate with his beloved if allowed.  ◍ By beloved I mean Kim Shin--- ◍ He owns a car. Even if he possesses super speed due to his nature as a gumiho, sometimes he can’t just run from one place to the next. He doesn’t use it as much, though; truly prefers to walk.  ◍ His sword is one of a kind, derived from a combination of ancient sword styles. He can summon it at will or carry it with him disguised as a different object. Yeo usually carries it with him as an umbrella inside a holster.

[crybabysunflower]

A discussion on the myth of Totoro

Introduction

Totoro is a well known Studio Ghibi movie. The plot centres around two young sisters, Satsuki and Mei who had moved to the countryside with their father so that they could stay closer to their ailing mother who was hospitalized. It is also about their relationship with Totoro, a giant mammalian creature who is said to be the guardian spirit of the forest.

Totoro is not a traditional Japanese legend but rather is the brainchild of Miyazaki whose appearance is a mix of a cat, a raccoon and an owl.

However, because of Miyazaki's habit of including hidden meanings in his movies, many viewers have interpreted Totoro as a shinigami (a death God) and have linked the movie to the Sayama incident.

Disclaimer:- Trigger Warning! this blog mentions sensitive topics such as murder and suicide, so if you feel uncomfortable you are free to skip this blog.

The Sayama incident

The Sayama incident took place on May 1 1963, where a sixteen year old girl was kidnapped and later murdered while she was returning from school, the victim also had an elder sister who couldn't get over the grief and had taken her own life in the aftermath, before her (elder sister's) death, it was rumored that she had been hallucinating a cat or a raccoon like creature.

The suspect for the crime was arrested and imprisoned for thirty one years, but no evidence was found against him. He was released in 1994.

Theories for the statement

The month of May

As mentioned above, the Sayama incident took place on the month of May, the names of the two lead characters are Satsuki and Mei. The word Satsuki refers to the month of May in Japanese while the name of the younger sister Mei sounds like the English word for the month.

Location

The model house of the movie is said to be in Sayama hills, the movie is said to be set in Tokorozawa city which is quite close to the Sayama city, this might be the reason why the film is titled as "My Neighbour Totoro" as both of them are neighbouring towns to each other.

Another evidence which suggests that the location of the movie is in Sayama is this picture, here behind the old lady, there is a box with a label which says "Sayama Tea"

The third evidence which suggests that the movie took place in the Sayama region is the hospital where the ailing mother was admitted to, the hospital in the movie is known as Shichikoku byourin, the real life counterpart of the hospital Hachikoku byourin is located in the Sayama region.

Visual hallucinations

Seeing things which do not exist (which is basically having visual hallucinations) is not considered to be a good sign, according to Japanese folklore, having visual hallucinations means that you are very likely to die soon, in the first half of the movie we see both of the sisters seeing Soot spreaders (Susuwatari) when they enter the kitchen and later when they are in the attic of the house, in the movie, they are also the only ones who can see Totoro and the cat bus, although it is said that only children can see such mythical creatures, Kanta (who is also a child character) couldn't see any of them. The sisters being the only ones to see the soot spreaders, Totoro, catbus, etc might indicate that they are soon going to die.

Walking to the 'death realm'

While Satsuki was searching for Mei, she had found a sandal in a pond, later she walks to the forest and falls into a hole where she requests Totoro to search for her sister. According to the people behind the conspiracy theory, the sandal found floating on the pond symbolises that Mei had drowned, and Satsuki walking into Totoro's burrow is said to symbolise that she took her own life out of grief and walked into the world of the dead. Later, we see both the sisters watching over their ailing mother from a tree outside, which the mother had noticed, this brings us back to the previous point about hallucinations and death.

The Jizo statues

Following up with this theory, Satsuki and Totoro get into the catbus and search for the sister in the world of the 'dead', Mei is finally found weeping beside the Jizo statues, in Japanese Buddhism, Jizo statues represent Jizo Bosatsu a divinity who protects the spirit of unborn children or children who died at a very young age.

The Catbus

The theorists claim that the cat bus is the one way ticket to the world of the dead, which is evident as one of the destination of the catbus read "cemetery/grave".

the lack of shadows

It is usually the dead people who lack shadows, in the last scenes of the movie we see none of the characters have shadows as well.

Theories against the statement

This theory had got so popular that the authorities of Studio Ghibli had to step forward to release a statement in 2007 to debunk the theory. The statement reads:-

"No need to be alarmed. There is absolutely no truth or configuration that Totoros are the Gods of Death or that Mei is dead in My neighbor Totoro." – said Studio Ghibli.

Studio Ghibli had mentioned that because the animators in the end were too lazy so they had forgotten to put shadows and had decided that shadows were unnecessary in the scene.

Miyazaki had mentioned that the two girls are actually based on his friend's daughters.

It is also confirmed that the rumours about the elder sister in the Sayama incident hallucinating raccoon like creatures were wrong.

Sayama Tea is a popular kind of tea in Japan which means that the box behind the old woman might not actually be related to the location of the movie.

The hospital in the movie is located in the Hachikoku area, which is quite far away from the Sayama region, The girls and their father used to go to the hospital by cycling and it's not possible to travel from Sayama to Hachikoku in a cycle.

Conclusion

According to me, I am more leaning against the conspiracy theory, I think if Miyazaki really wanted to connect Totoro with the Sayama incident or basically death in general then I think he might have not dismissed the theory, but he did.

The second reason for me to not believe in the theory has to do more with Kanta. The theory claims that Kanta couldn't see Totoro, but to be fair, as far as I know the movie it rather gives us a vague information about whether Kanta can see Totoro or not, in the early scenes we see Kanta running around, telling Satsuki that she lives in a "haunted house" and his statement gets brushed off by others. But he could have actually been serious about it.

In the last scene, it's not just the two girls lacked shadows, even Kanta didn't have one as well.

The Nanny in the movie mentions that she used to see things like susuwatari, when she was younger. If I see this statement according to the theorists, then the nanny would have been long dead, but this isn't really the case.

Sources

https://www.tofugu.com/japan/totoro-conspiracy-theory/

https://youtu.be/ZredB46HYfY

[darkmasterofcupcakes]

A big project that I’m going to do is ranking/rating all of the movies I currently own...which considering how many movies that is, is quite the task. It will take a while, because I need to watch/rewatch all of them, but I am determined to eventually do it. 

For reference, these are all the movies I have to watch:

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Conqueror of Shamballah

Hetalia: Paint It White

My Hero Academia: Two Heroes

Howl’s Moving Castle

Princess Monoke

Spirited Away

The Secret World of Arietty

Ponyo

My Neighbor Totoro

Kiki’s Delivery Service 

Castle in the Sky

The Cat Returns

Summer Wars

Wolf Children

The Boy and the Beast

Mirai

My Little Pony: The Movie (2017)

WALL-E

Toy Story

Toy Story 2

Toy Story 3

Toy Story 4

Inside Out

Incredibles

Incredible 2

Coco

Brave

The Good Dinosaur

Monsters University 

Monsters, Inc.

Ratatouille

Finding Nemo

Finding Dory

A Bug’s Life

Pooh’s Grand Adventure

Piglet’s Big Movie

Doctor Strange

Peter Pan (Animated)

The Tale of the Princess Kaguya

The Lion King 2: Simba’s Pride

Mary and Max

Pocahontas

Pocahontas 2: Journey to a New World

Maleficent

Winnie the Pooh: Springtime with Roo

Sleeping Beauty

Shazam!

Hocus Pocus

Saving Mr. Banks

Spider-Man: Far From Home

Song of the Sea

The Breadwinner

The Jungle Book (Animated)

Robin Hood

The Aristocats

Christopher Robin

Pinocchio

Snow White

Into the Spider-Verse

Deadpool

Deadpool 2

Scott Pilgram vs The World

Tangled

Meet the Robinsons

Frozen

Wreck It Ralph

Lilo and Stitch

Lilo and Stitch 2: Stitch Has a Glitch

Big Hero 6

Mulan

Mulan 2

Tarzan

The Little Mermaid

Treasure Planet

Oliver and Company

Bambi

Bambi 2

Brother Bear

Dumbo

Beauty and the Beast (Animated)

101 Dalmatians

Aladdin

Cinderella (1950)

Lady and the Tramp

The Lion King (1994)

The Princess and the Frog

Emperor’s New Groove

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Winnie the Pooh

The Tigger Movie

Zootopia

Moana

The Muppet Movie

The Muppet Christmas Carol

The Muppets

Muppets Most Wanted

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Enchanted

Beauty and the Beast (Live Action)

The Jungle Book (2016)

Cinderella (2015)

Into the Woods

Pete’s Dragon (2016)

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon 2

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Rise of the Guardians

Logan

Iron Man

Captain America: The First Avenger

Thor

The Avengers

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Thor: The Dark World

Guardians of the Galaxy

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Ant-Man

Captain America: Civil War

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.2 

Thor Ragnarok

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Black Panther

Captain Marvel

Avengers: Infinity War

Avengers: Endgame

The Glass Castle

Over the Hedge

Batman Begins

The Dark Knight

The Dark Knight Rises

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman 1984

Coraline

ParaNorman

The Boxtrolls

Kubo and the Two Strings

Missing Link

The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Prince of Egypt

The Croods

The Croods: A New Age

Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie

The Boss Baby

Mr. Peabody and Sherman

Megamind

The Iron Giant

The Day of the Doctor

A Monster Calls

Paddington

Paddington 2

Peter Pan (2003)

The Karate Kid (2010)

The Spiderwick Chronicles

Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Hugo

Love, Simon

Star Trek 2009

Star Trek Into Darkness

Star Trek Beyond

Nanny McPhee

Nanny McPhee Returns

Goodbye Christopher Robin

Room

Now You See Me

Now You See Me 2

The Peanuts Movie

Storks

The Lego Movie

The Lego Batman Movie

The Lego Ninjago Movie

The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

The Princess Bride

Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Where the Wild Things Are

The Sixth Sense

Once Upon a Forest

Annie (2015)

Steven Universe: The Movie

Saban’s Power Rangers

Soul

Arthur Christmas

Pitch Perfect

Pitch Perfect 2

Elf

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Halloweentown

Halloweentown 2: Kalabar’s Revenge

Home Alone

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Double Double Toil and Trouble

Murder on the Orient Express

A Quiet Place’

X-Men

X2: X-Men Unite

X-Men The Last Stand

X-Men First Class

X-Men: Days of Future Past

X-Men Apocalypse

Anastasia

Pokemon: The First Movie

Pokemon the Movie 2000

Pokemon 3: The Movie

Pokemon 4-Ever

Pokemon: Destiny Deoxys

Wakko’s Wish

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

War for the Planet of the Apes

Princess Diaries

Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Ant-Man and the Wasp

The Wind Rises

Venom

Spider-Man

Spider-Man 2

Spider-Man 3

A Dog’s Purpose

A Dog’s Way Home

A Dog’s Journey

101 Dalmatians 2: Patch’s London Adventure

Jumanji

Hotel Transylvania 2

Hotel Transylvania 3

Lion King 1 1/2

My Life as a Zucchini 

Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas

Mickey’s Twice Upon a Christmas

The Little Prince

The Rescuers

The Rescuers Down Under

Cinderella 2: Dreams Comes True

Cinderella 3: A Twist in Time

Kronk’s New Groove

Frozen 2

Joker

The Lion King (2019)

The Little Prince

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

The Great Mouse Detective

Babe 

The Life and Adventures of Santa Clause

Balto

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey

Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco

Jetsons: The Movie

We Bare Bears: The Movie

Mean Girls

Clueless

She’s The Man

Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle

The Greatest Showman

Chicken Run

Scooby-Doo

Scooby-Doo: Monsters Unleashed

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstine

Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman

The Persuit of Happyness

Indian in the Cupboard

Hook

Alice in Wonderland (Disney Animated)

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Arrival

The Ultimate Warrior Jiang Ziya

The Legend of Hei, Protector of Spirits

Ne Zha

Aquaman

The Road to El Dorado

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension

Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel

Phineas and Ferb Star Wars

Mary Poppins

Mary Poppins Returns

The House with a Clock in It’s Walls

Inception

Les Miserables (2012)

Forrest Gump

Night at the Museum

Spaceballs

The Blind Side

Scoob!

Knives Out

Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron

Robin Hood: Men in Tights

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

The Two Towers

The Return of the King

Jumanji: The Next Level

Ice Age

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Aladdin (2019)

Cheaper by the Dozen

The Dark Crystal

Downton Abbey the Movie

Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Dragon Ball Super: Broly

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Flintstones: Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby

Ghostbusters (2016)

Good Boys

Happy Feet

Happy Feet Two

The Grinch

Isle of Dogs

Jurassic Park

The Lost World: Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park 3

Jurassic World

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Kung Fu Panda

Kung Fu Panda 2

Kung Fu Panda 3

The Little Mermaid 2: Return to the Sea

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning

Man of Steel

Mickey, Donald, and Goofy: The Three Musketeers

Mulan (2020)

The New Mutants

Planes: Fire and Rescue

The Santa Clause

The Santa Clause 2: The Mrs. Clause

The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island

Son of Batman

Sonic the Hedgehog

Suicide Squad

Trolls

Trolls World Tour

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Yours Mine and Ours 

Rio

Rio 2

Ferdinand

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Addams Family (Animated)

Tokyo Godfathers

The Secret Life of Pets

The Secret Life of Pets 2

The Addams Family

The Addams Family Values

The Secret of Kells

Fantasia

Fantasia 2000

The Fox and the Hound

The Fox and the Hound 2

Turbo

The Bee Movie

Antz

Batman Gotham Knight

Batman Year One

Batman: Under the Red Hood

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 1

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns Part 2

Batman: Mask of the Phantasm

Batman Beyond: The Movie

Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker

Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman

Atlantis: The Lost Empire

Atlantis: Milo’s Return

Brother Bear 2

The Parent Trap

The Wizard of Oz

Charlotte’s Web (Animated)

Charlotte’s Web (Live Action)

Scooby-Doo and the Witch’s Ghost 

Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders

The Rugrats Movie

Rugrats in Paris: The Movie

Rugrats Go Wild

Madeline

Annie

Matilda

A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Snoopy, Come Home

Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown

Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown (And Don’t Come Back!)

The Land Before Time

The Great Valley Adventure

Time of the Great Giving

Journey Through the Mists

ET: The Extra-Terrestrial 

South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut

In the Heights

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Beetlejuice

Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure

Corpse Bride

Boss Baby: Family Business

Black Widow

Twilight

Twilight: New Moon

Twilight: Eclipse

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 1

Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2

Small Foot

Legally Blonde

Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde

Pokemon: Jirachi Wish Maker

Pokemon Heroes

The Man Called Flintstone

I Yabba-Dabba Do

Cruella

Luca

Hotel Transylvania

Tales from the Crib: Snow White

Tales from the Crib: Three Jacks and a Beanstalk

Lucario and the Mystery of Mew

Zoroark - Master of Illusion

My Hero Academia: Heroes Rising

Raya and the Last Dragon

To Grandmother’s House We Go

Our Lips are Sealed

It Takes Two

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil

Star Wars: A New Hope

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith

Zack Snyder’s Justice League

Spies in Disguise

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace

Onward

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

Batman vs. Robin

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Dear Evan Hansen

Wonder

Mitchells vs. The Machines

Disney’s Christmas Carol

Porco Rosso

Mickey’s Magical Christmas: Snowed in at the House of Mouse

Twelve Angry Men

The Amazing Spider-Man

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Encanto

Freedom Writers

Eternals

Balto II: Wolf Quest

Balto III: Wings of Change

Detective Pikachu

The Book of Life

Ender’s Game

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Belle

Turning Red

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Pompo the Cinephile

The Batman

5 Centimeters Per Second

The Place Promised in Our Younger Years

[trilingual-girl-carol]

My Neighbor Totoro inspired vocabulary

Spanish → Polish → English

Mi vecino Totoro - Mój sąsiad Totoro - My Neighbor Totoro

el vecino - sąsiad - neighbor

la mudanza - przeprowadzka - move (as in, moving to another house)

la madera podrida - spróchniałe drewno - rotten wood

mudarse - przeprowadzić się - to move

una casa embrujada - nawiedzony dom - haunted house

el alcanforero - kamforowiec - camphor tree

la bellota - żołądź - acorn

el hollín - sadza - soot

el duende - chochlik - fairy/elf/goblin

el fantasma - duch/zjawa - ghost

el renacuajo - kijanka - tadpole

el trol - trol - troll

peludo - włochaty - hairy

el rey del bosque - król lasu - king of the forest

portarse bien - dobrze się zachowywać - to behave

el arrozal - pole ryżowe - rice field

el espíritu guardián - duch opiekun/strażnik - guardian spirit

el santuario - kaplica - shrine

las semillas mágicas - magiczne nasiona - magic seeds

el estanque - staw - pond

el paraguas - parasol - umbrella

la búsqueda - poszukiwanie - search

el telegrama - telegram - telegram

plantar - sadzić - to plant

germinar - kiełkować - to sprout

la campiña - wieś - countryside

[irradiate-space]

A Pokémon region based on North America

(Previously: anime, space colonization, changes, )

Pokémon is a science-fiction settings, transparently. They can turn living matter into digital data and upload it from one computer terminal, and then download it later at a different terminal. This is a setting with uploading of sentient beings.

Pokémon is also a fantasy setting. There are “god” Pokémon to whom are attributed the creation of the universe, and manipulation of time and space, which are friends with preteen children.

Pokémon is a game marketed for children but sold for all audiences, with complexity that is aimed at adults. Yet these games are often linear, with surprisingly on-rails limitations of the player character’s movements. Many times, paths that are closed off to the player are “under construction”, which is a key setting innovation that I will reference later.

The settings of the Pokémon games are also settings which are somehow dynamic. A recurring core conflict is of humanity vs nature, with “nature” often taking the form of a force of nature personified via a Pokémon that represents a force of nature that is being meddled with. Like how Totoro represents the forest, the island guardian Pokémon represent the islands of Alola, Lugia and Ho-oh represent the sea and skies respectively, the legendary bird trio represents the seasons, the legendary beasts represent a disaster at a tower, the weather trio and Heatran represent the air water and sea of Earth, the lake guardians represent lakes, and so on. Beyond the swarms of generic rats and sparrows and onions and rocks, there are Pokémon who represent the essence of a region’s spirits.

So the approximate setting of this Pokémon region based on North America:

The planet is truly terra nullis, a habitable but uninhabited planet with a few continents, accessed through the Ultra Wormholes of Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon

The planet is gradually being terraformed through the introduction  of plant and Pokémon species from the home planet of Pokémon.

The player character’s early game includes missions to plant Berries and Apricorns according to the instructions of the Professors, who are shaping the biological environment according to what they think is safe.

Mid-game missions change from planting to weeding improper plants,

Factions include 1) resource extractionists, possibly a Silph Co. subsidiary or competitor, who value the planet only for its mineral wealth and land value, a la Terra Ignota’s Mitsubishis, 2) conservationists who value the planet for its potential new biodiversity, and wish to see it preserved for future balanced human-Pokémon partnerships (The Pokémon Professors), 3) human exclusionists/extinctionists who wish this planet to be free from the menace of humans, letting Pokémon live free from human exploitation

Oh yeah the Officers Jenny are all androids now, and the bad guys subvert the Officer Jenny system when their plan is coming to fruition. The Pokémon Ride system is subverted, so that people can’t call on a Charizard to Fly them to places, so trainers start using HMs or Pokémon abilities to fly from place to place, giving players forewarning so that they can still move around the map once the Ride Pokémon network is down and the Officers Jenny are blocking movement across the land. The player character can battle the Officers Jenny (who can use Aura!) or can simply Fly and Surf places.

The extractionists need a way to transport their resources back, yet the Professors have a hold on the Ultra Wormhole transit system, which relies on a member of the Light Trio or an Ultra Beast to pull the sledges, and that member of the Light Trio doesn’t like them, so they hook up a machine to brainwash it, and the Player Character must fight the Pokémon to free it, as the last item of the boss battle against the extractionists

The extinctionists want to deny the planet to humans, through gengineered plague laboratories and reaction bombs, but it’s fortunate that the Player Character always notices something shady and investigates.

The conservationist plot’s climax is a subtler thing: at some point, the rate of weeding/relocation jobs becomes faster than the Player Character can keep up with, so the game has the Professors throw in the towel: We’ve built this ecology and it’s running on its own; we can no longer force it to our needs but must learn to grow with it. Shortly afterwards, one major settlement is relocated to a place with better harmony.

If it is timed right, the plot climaxes can happen at about the same time.

On Christmas a Delibird arrives to give you a present: a Master Ball. The Professors tell you that you should capture it next year, because it’s an invasive species, but there’s never a mission for it, and it runs away.

16 Pokémon types: 8 Gyms with Gym Leaders, 8 Gym Leaders on sabbatical tending lighthouses or doing other important work. Maybe the Rock Type and Ground Type Gym Leaders are working together to blast a new Panama Canal, trading work and Gym days.