My Neighbor Totoro 1

となりのトトロ [Tonari no Totoro] #1

by Hayao Miyazaki

Spunky sisters Satsuki and Mei are adjusting to their fascinating new country home - and to life without their mother, who is recovering in a nearby hospital. Satsuki makes plenty of friends at her new school, but Mei, who is too young, has to stay behind. One afternoon, she follows a funny-looking creature to the trunk of an ancient camphor tree and enters the whimsical world of Totoro, a magical forest creature. Will Dad and Satsuki believe her story?

Genres: Manga, Graphic Novels, Fantasy, Comics, Japan, Fiction, Graphic Novels Manga

143 pages, Library Binding

First published June 30, 1988

About the author

Hayao Miyazaki (Japanese: 宮崎 駿) is a celebrated Japanese animator, filmmaker, screenwriter, and manga artist, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of animation. He is the co-founder of Studio Ghibli, the animation studio responsible for producing many of Japan’s most beloved and internationally acclaimed animated films. Over the course of a career spanning decades, Miyazaki has developed a reputation for creating visually rich, emotionally resonant stories that often explore themes such as nature, pacifism, flight, childhood, and the human condition.
Miyazaki was born in Tokyo and developed an early interest in drawing and animation. His father’s work in the aviation industry had a significant influence on him, particularly in fostering his fascination with aircraft and flight, motifs that would become prominent throughout his later works. After studying political science and economics at university, Miyazaki began his professional career in animation when he joined Toei Animation. There, he worked under the mentorship of directors like Isao Takahata, with whom he would later form a lifelong creative partnership.
In his early years at Toei and other studios, Miyazaki contributed to several television series and animated films. He worked as a key animator and storyboard artist, gradually gaining recognition for his storytelling abilities and attention to detail. Among his early projects were contributions to series such as Heidi, Girl of the Alps and Future Boy Conan. His directorial debut in feature films came with The Castle of Cagliostro, a film adaptation of the Lupin III manga series, which already showed signs of his distinctive style and sensibilities.
Miyazaki's breakthrough came with the film Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, based on his own manga. The success of that film prompted the establishment of Studio Ghibli, which he co-founded with Takahata and producer Toshio Suzuki. From that point forward, Miyazaki directed and wrote many of Ghibli’s most iconic works, including My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki’s Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, Princess Mononoke, and Howl’s Moving Castle. His films are known for their hand-drawn animation, strong character development, and philosophical underpinnings.
In 2001, Miyazaki directed Spirited Away, which became one of the most critically and commercially successful animated films of all time. The film received numerous awards and international recognition, including an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It also became the highest-grossing film in Japanese history at the time of its release. The film’s success further solidified Miyazaki’s reputation as a master storyteller and a visionary in global cinema.
Despite announcing his retirement several times, Miyazaki repeatedly returned to filmmaking. His later works, such as Ponyo and The Wind Rises, continued to showcase his evolving themes and storytelling maturity. His most recent project, The Boy and the Heron, marked a highly anticipated return to the director’s chair and once again captivated audiences with its dreamlike visuals and emotional depth.
Miyazaki’s films are often distinguished by their complex female protagonists, environmental messages, and moral ambiguity. Rather than presenting clear-cut villains and heroes, his stories explore the nuances of human behavior and often focus on characters finding their place in the world. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades and honors for his contributions to the arts, including lifetime achievement awards recognizing his impact on both Japanese and international cinema.
His legacy continues to influence generations of animators and filmmakers worldwide, and Studio Ghibli remains one of the most respected names in animation.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the full story of the film so be prepared before diving in. While I haven’t seen the movie yet, I think that this adaptation of it is cute an charming. I love just the casual relaxing feel of it even with the possibility of the house being haunted. The relationship between the sisters is great as well. It’s nice to see them spending so much time together in such a positive way. I’ll definitely be watching the movie soon because the artwork is also great!!!

[McKenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute. Read during library checkout because the students were being calm!

[★ray's bookshelf★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good manga it made me cry so much I'm literally in love with it, I love mangas and animes from the 90s the art style is so good and the stories are so relatable 🤧

[Jinghay (these.blank.pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a trip down memory lane!
I remember being so obsessed with this movie growing up that I watched the cd i owned daily, until the tragic day i broke part 1 (there were 2 discs).. So for the rest of my childhood i'd still watch the pt 2 cd occasionally but i couldn't remember what happened in the first half of the movie :D

That is to say i'll definitely be rewatching the film from the beginning soon (esp now that it's on Netflix)

The manga in itself was wonderful. The art comes straight from the movie and you can kind of see it all playing out scene by scene (like a film) rather than the format of your usual manga! The art is wonderful, and there's just such a nostalgia to ghibli movies.

I'm a lil sad that we don't see Totoro in this volume (it mainly covers them moving in) but i'm happy to own this piece of ghibli <3

Rating: 4/5

[Totoro · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️everybody try laughing, then whatever scares you will go away❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Nouru-éddine · Rating 3 out of 5]

:: My Neighbor Totoro's Characters ::

Mei and Satsuki






Mei is a 5 year old girl. She has a very curious mind and not afraid of being adventurous. Although Mei is a very happy girl most of the time, there are times when the absence of her mother strikes her. Fortunately, Mei has her older sister Satsuki to whom she looks up to. Mei was the first to see Totoro and when she got lost while trying to go to her mother, it was only because of Totoro and Neko Bus' help that Satsuki was able to find her.
Although Satsuki is only a 11 years old girl, she has had to face greater responsibility ever since her mother was indefinitely admitted into the hospital for tuberculosis. She is a very open-minded person and possess the innocence of children as shown by her quick acceptance of Totoro and her ability to see it. Satsuki is a very outgoing and happy person and is able to make friends and adapt quickly to her surroundings. When she first arrived at her new home, Satsuki did not quite hit it off with Kanta right away. However, Satsuki soon learns Kanta is actually a very nice person and they eventually become good friends.

[Isaactotoro · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Neighbor Totoro is a story about two sisters, Satsuki and Mei, Who's family moves to a "haunted house" and encounter acorns falling from the ceiling, soot sprites, and a gigantic Camphor Tree to name a few. Best of all they encounter Totoro, which translates from Japanese to English as Spirit of the Forest. Satsuki and Mei go on many adventures with Totoro and discover the ways of a Totoro.
This comic book interpretation of My Neighbor Totoro takes the reader through the whole story of My Neighbor Totoro (in four volumes) with the text spoken in the film.
I would recommend My Neighbor Totoro to any Studio Ghibli fanatic, someone who likes Anime, or a cute story!

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the full movie in a book - a quarter of the movie. The dialogue was in English, but all of the noises and sound effects were in Japanese - the coolest part of this book was that there was an index at the back that translated what sounds the Japanese symbols made! We are excited to start book #2.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I bought this in Japan, I thought it was the whole movie. It wasn’t. This volume doesn’t have the first siting of Totoro. But the illustrations were great!

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourites.

[Yuna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I review about My Neighbor Totoro this book’s author is Miyazaki, Hayao. It’s genre is realistic fantasy. This book have many main characters, first main character is Totoro, Satsuki Kusakabe, she’s younger sister is Mei and their father’s works is maybe writer because he always write something like story, but It is just I think. And It’s main story is when Satsuki’s family moved the their house, it is very old house and satsuki went to the new school. During satsuki at school, that time Mei played at the back yard and she found small hole.

In the hole, there was very big place in the hole. Mei wonder to that place.
“What a mystical hole!” Mei said.
And the middle, there are very big animal. Mei called this big animal to Totoro because Totoro is main character of Mei’s story. But Totoro was deep slept now.
“Totoro!” Mei said.
Totoro open the eyes slowly and Surprised to see Mei. When Mei has slept, Totoro Disappeared away and Mei was alone at out the hole. When Mei came back at home, dad and Satsuki doesn’t trust Mei. At night Satsuki and Mei already to sleep. They see the window and find Totoro. So Satsuki trust Mei.

this is the simple story line. I’m not good at book review My Neighbor Totoro but Understanding me please.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read all of these because my friend really likes them and told one of our after-school kids at the library about them. She liked them so much that she read them twice. So I told her that I would read them and then we could talk about it. I did read them, but now that I think about it, we never talked about it. She wanted to start a book club, so we got sidetracked on that subject instead. Overall, My Neighbor Totoro wasn’t what I expected it to be, but I understand its appeal. It’s not my usual type of book, especially because I think that it was a novelization of the movie as opposed to being a book that inspired a movie. I’m glad that I read it anyway, and I might try some of the movies now.

[Emi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 of 7 book Reading Challenge - a book that you read in one day

This is such a cute little book and I only wish I had volume 2 or onward right now because I read it so quickly and didn’t even get to meet Totoro :( as always with Miyazaki though his storytelling takes you instantly back to the freedom and nostalgia of childhood and makes me want to go and buy an old house in the middle of the countryside. The artwork is beautiful and Mei remains to be the cutest character ever. The only criticism of this manga volume would be that a lot of pages had no English writing and only had kana and I would’ve liked a bit more writing rather than sounds on some pages. However the art does speak for itself and you become totally immersed in the world just by looking at it.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating and opinions based on all 4 books.

This is a very light and enjoyable read. There is nice artwork for sure, though in its reduced size it's not as grand as the film or even video would be.

I didn't use the sound effects translation glossary. So some of the atmosphere may have been lost on me.

I do like how delicate tensions are built then gently released throughout the story.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not incredibly impressed but this is only volume 1 of 4. I'll read on.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny scenes in there!

[Alexander Curran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted : 8 years, 4 months ago on 10 December 2009 06:50 (A review of My Neighbor Totoro)

''I bet you're Totoro.''

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wonderous forest spirits who live nearby.

Noriko Hidaka: Satsuki

Tonari no Totoro(My Neighbour Totorro)(1988) is probably the film that introduced many western audiences to the work of esteemed Japanese animator/director Hayao Miyazaki and his celebrated production house Studio Ghibli.

The decision to re-release all of the Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli productions as a collection of re-mastered DVD editions, including everything from his Lupin III instalment The Castle of Cagliostro to the more recent epic fantasy adventure, Howl's Moving Castle(2004) is a blessing.
Similarly to almost everything that Miyazaki has been involved with before; the piece offers us a series of intricate story lines, breathtaking visuals, memorable characters and a general approach to bold, imaginative, unique and utterly compelling family entertainment that will almost certainly appeal to anyone, at any age. My Neighbour Totoro remains, perhaps, the definitive Studio Ghibli production; Miyazaki here perfecting the visual style that would subsequently become his signature move, as well as developing variations of thematic devices that would be further explored in later projects Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso and of course Spirited Away.

The story takes place in the rural Japan of the 1950's, where two young girls and their father move into an old house near the forest in an attempt to distract the girls from the absence of their mother; whom is recovering from tuberculosis in a nearby convalescence home. Whilst exploring the forest, the two girls discover a family of forest spirits, the biggest of which they christened Totoro(a mispronunciation of tororu, the Japanese word for troll); whom allows the two girls to partake in their nightly adventures. With the film, Miyazaki and his team create a depiction of the perfect summer and the power of imagination, as they use the two children to act as a representation for the audience. Mei, the younger of the two sisters, comes to represent the youngsters within the audience, as she approaches the Totoro characters with wide eyes and enthusiasm and generally accepts each of their adventures to be a continuation of her imagined child-like sense of fabrication. Satsuki, the older of the two girls, straddles the line between childhood and pre-teen adolescence. Her character is often more cynical and level-headed than her younger sister, and therefore she is the perfect representation for an adult audience who may need to put aside their own sense of scepticism when approaching a film that is so shameless magical.

The story is fantastical, with Miyazaki allowing the action to unfold gently; bringing the girls (and us the audience) into the world of Totoro slowly.
The introductions of the soot spirits and the mythical king of the forest doesn't seem too unestablished when placed into a tale that evokes such plausible and believable depictions of reality(as with all the films of Studio Ghibli; Totoro has a keen obsessive attention to detail; with the texture of the locations and the use of light and shadow drawing you further and further into this world). The atmosphere throughout is perfect, whilst the characters (both in design and portrayal) are exquisite, with the two young girls setting the template for Miyazaki's aforementioned later films, Kiki's Delivery Service and Spirited Away, whilst the design of the mythical Totoro would become an important piece of iconography within Japanese animation (he's the chief mascot, as the Studio Ghibli logo, and is available in a range of plush-toy figurines).

The majority of Miyazaki's work explore deeper themes lurking beneath the surface of the story... Here, it is the idea of childhood and imagination being worn down by the creeping approach of adolescence. It has also been seen as a metaphorical study; with the relationship between the girls and Totoro being an imagined one in order to take their minds off the temporary loss of their mother relating to their concerns over her health. Whether or not you choose to interpret the story on such a level is entirely a personal venture, with the film working just fine as a lovely piece of family entertainment, with a warm and ultimately uplifting story being elevated by that gorgeous design/animation, the larger than life characters, and the story.

Tonari no Totoro is an exceptional film... one that has the power to entrance children and adults alike; with its evocative story, memorable characters and study of life and imagination. If you've never seen a Hayao Miyazaki film before, then this is a great place to start, and is really an essential piece of art alongside Spirited Away, and Howl's Moving Castle.
Only qualms would be the ending of it all but only because we wanted more; another masterpiece from Hayao Miyazaki.

''To-to-ro? You're Totoro!.''

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

wasnt as interesting as book 2 and 3 but the book was still good

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looks like a printing of the movie itself, in color. I'm not sure if its the paper quality or what but it is rather muted and dull but that is minor. My bigger complaint is this is about half the size of a normal manga for no reason I can see.

I have a fondness of My Neighbor Totoro which was one of the holy grail's back in the 80s because it wasn't shown anywhere in the States and you had to hunt it down, usually see it shown at a con and like many of us, I fell in love with it there.

Satsuki and Mei and their father have moved to a rural, old and 'haunted' house and this whole volume is that moment. It's the kids running around looking at their new home and opening it. We get our first hints of the paranormal with the soot sprites all over the place. Also there are acorns everywhere and yes it could be a squirrel or something but you know it isn't.

And literally that's all that happens. If I didn't know I loved this story I would have rated this lower because it's a bit slow. It's all set up. In the movie it doesn't feel slow because it's only a few minutes but when the entirety of a manga is two girls running around opening doors, it's not that engage. There a few other characters popping in, Kanta, a shy boy and Granny who is there for soot sprite exposition. The weirdest thing (to someone from outside Japanese culture) is dad taking a bath with his two daughters.

[TinySalutations · Rating 3 out of 5]

The overall book size was too small, so oftentimes the frame size made it difficult to see what was happening. Most manga I have read leaves the untranslated characters for sounds (like grumble, creak, etc.) in the image, but also inserts a translation next to it. The majority of this book is just sounds which are left as just untranslated characters, so if you can’t read what I assume is Japanese kanji, then you just have to guess what is happening based on the images. There is an index in the back, but it isn’t something that’s easy to use as you read, and being at end I didn’t even see it until I was done. There is a some dialogue, but just so little it feels almost like a wordless story sometimes. This wouldn’t be so bad if it was bigger so that I could see what was going on easier.

This is only a small section of the movie (I think 1 of 4 books). My son wanted to read these first, then watch the movie if he liked them. Maybe it’s easier to identify what is happening if you’ve already seen the movie?

That being said, it does a great job of evoking the magic of childhood, especially childhood summers. I really want to live in that amazing house. It’s pretty incredible with its unique design elements and overgrown sprawling grounds. The art, like all Studio Ghibli, is a masterpiece.

[Pilar Benito Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

Puedo decir con certeza que no he visto la película y me la han recomendado bastante; así que, le he dado una oportunidad antes de que todos los librillos se vayan a mi tienda.

La historia de Satsuki, quien recién se muda a una nueva casa junto a su papá y su hermana Mei. Al llegar, todos son bien amables, pero un pequeño vecino, llamado Kanta, le advierte que la casa está embrujada y por eso, Satsuki comienza a encontrar unos pequeños espiritus y a escuchar cosas raras en la noche. Y su papá tiene una solución que calma los sonidos y los deja dormir placidamente en la noche.

Este no es el manga original, sino que es la secuencia escrita de la película. Me hubiera gustado más comenzar con el manga.

3 de 5 :)

[Dil Nawaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Everybody Try Laughing, Then whatever scares you will go away”

This is my first Studio Ghibli Comic book. I like Hayao Miyazaki drawing style. I loved detailed drawings, Landscapes, watercolors.

This is a short read part 1 which out of 4. This a fictional story based on a novel My Neighbour Totoro. Beautiful landscapes. Amazing comic.

Dil Nawaz
The Lion Studios
www.thelionstudios.com
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Whatsapp +923472058390

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim just because I adore the movie.

It doesn’t get more wholesome than this, does it? The art is just as precious as expected, but seeing it in the manga format is a welcome difference. I will definitely be picking up the other 3 volumes as soon as I can.

[nova &#x1f577;️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

my neighbor totoro is my absolute fav studio ghibli movie, so when my boyfriend got me this book for valentines day i was so so excited!!! i loved it so much i can’t wait to read the others, it’s so cute how it’s the exact movie :,)))

[rilynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

i would lowkey love their house like despite it being “haunted” also like the fact that the soot sprites deciding they want to move our or not just by whether they like the person who moved into the house is iconic in my opinion

[Ariel Hess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Appropriate for young children or adults who are children at heart.

[Ashley Beane · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Gwyneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

always a charming read

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous images. Highly recommended.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edie and Jim read this and loved it just as much as we loved the movie.