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となりのトトロ [Tonari no Totoro] #2

となりのトトロ 2 [Tonari no Totoro 2]

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Film comics from the animated film "My Neighbor Totoro" from Studio Ghibli.

145 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1988

9 people are currently reading
453 people want to read

About the author

Hayao Miyazaki

367 books3,512 followers
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.

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5 stars
309 (56%)
4 stars
156 (28%)
3 stars
66 (12%)
2 stars
10 (1%)
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5 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
Profile Image for Brooke.
278 reviews7 followers
May 25, 2017
My Neighbor Totoro just gets funnier and funnier.
Profile Image for Totoro.
26 reviews2 followers
February 3, 2024
2024 წელი ტოტოროთი გავხსენით
Profile Image for Nouru-éddine.
1,460 reviews279 followers
January 11, 2019
:: My Neighbor Totoro's Characters ::

Mr. Kusakabe

4




Mr. Kusakabe is Satsuki and Mei's Father. He loves his daughters very much and often takes part in the girls games and encourage their imaginations. He is a university professor.

***

Mrs. Kusakabe

5




Mrs. Kusakabe is Satsuki and Mei's mother. She is sick with tuberculosis and the reason why the family moved to the rural country side. She was admitted to the local hospital which offerd the best care for the illness and the family decided it would be best for her to recuperate in the countryside where the air is fresh and land healthy with the sun's rays. Having been away from her daughters for such a long time, Mrs. Kusakabe looks forward to the day when she can finally return home and give her daughters their much needed attention.

***
Profile Image for Emily.
2,290 reviews
May 29, 2017
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.
23 reviews
August 10, 2020
This was the first graphic novel that I have ever read in what I consider the backwards format. I probably read 10 pages wrong. I started at the back and turned the pages properly, but I was reading the word bubbles in the wrong order. It's hard to retrain a brain. Since this format produces unique challenges I would guess the target reader would be a middle school aged child that saw the movie as a kid.
The movie Totoro has been considered a classic in my household, so familiarity with the material made it easier to overcome my format adjustment issues. I also already know the characters. This allowed me to focus on the artwork. In this section of the story a father and his 2 daughters visit their sick mother. Then, after they get home the youngest, Mei, follows some curious creatures and meets Totoro, a large, friendly and magical beast.
Staring at and studying every beautiful page while remembering the film was incredible. In book form you can take your time and get lost in the pictures. The only problem is based once again on the format. There are a lot of chasing scenes as Mei tries to keep up with the spirits of the forest. They run from left to right but the book is right to left which messes with the flow.
Although it seems like I am complaining I am not. It all adds to the experience. I have no complaints. It is a great way of presenting a picture book. This book is awesome.
Profile Image for Crystal Rose.
135 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2023
This is very cute. In this volume we meet Totoro. The creatures and illustrations are really adorable. Mei's character is full of curiosity, innocence, and genuine fun. She's so sweet. 💖 I also love the dad's sense of humor and encouragement. Similar to the dad in Coraline. Very playful.
Profile Image for rilynn.
18 reviews
November 22, 2025
all of the totoros are my fav like i love that they can choose who sees them, they chose mei was so cute like they knew she would be careful with them. i do not understand how she wasnt scared of biggest totoro despite being so close to totoros mouth
Profile Image for zydecope♥.
100 reviews11 followers
December 29, 2018
“You must have met one of the spirits of the forest. That means you’re a very lucky girl”.
Profile Image for Jessica.
594 reviews3 followers
October 29, 2021
Unfortunatly, i'm reading this before volume 1, but so far it's a very sweet story. In this volume (2 of 4) Mei meets Totoro for the first time.
Profile Image for Robin Pelletier.
1,692 reviews11 followers
July 26, 2023
In this manga, Mei meets the totoros and finds out their names. At first, her family doesn't believe her, but they come around. The girls also get to visit their mom!
Profile Image for quinnster.
2,586 reviews27 followers
March 6, 2013
This was one series of books that I really didn't want to end. The art is so whimsical and fun and Mei & Satsuki are brave and sweet! The Totoros are incredibly cute, Cat Bus is both endearingly adorable and kind of creepy. But everything was so perfect.

I ached for their mother and for the girls without her with them. Granny was the perfect surrogate. I wanted to go visit the village and see the giant camphor tree. The sisters' love for each other and their parents made me smile throughout the whole four books.

I just enjoyed every single bit of these books!
Profile Image for Novelist.
44 reviews
July 14, 2008
Second one: My favorite one. When Mei saw the little Totoro, I saw the point of the whole series. The first one didn't really bring it out. This one brings all of the Totoros into the spotlight. The Medium Totoro was my favorite one.
Profile Image for Alisa Robles.
169 reviews
August 26, 2021
Ahh. This is adorable! This is where Mei meets Tortoro! I am really beginning to understand Satsuki. She is basically taking over as caregiver in the house. Taking care of others is something I relate to a lot. I am excited to picking up volume 3.
3 reviews
Want to read
August 18, 2009
Wow, I only watches the movie and, I watched it at least 10 times. I love it. The charecters are adventures and good hearted, I laghed until I cried while whatching the movie.
Profile Image for Maria.
361 reviews9 followers
January 20, 2012
Book 2 picks up the pace. Makes me want to keep reading. I do like the illustrations and I love comics in color.
5 reviews
October 1, 2013
The second was also very fun. It continue with the first one. Now Mie and Satsuki meet the Totoro.
Profile Image for Vicki Wang.
17 reviews
March 13, 2015
Like little Totoro more than others! The families personalities give me a familiarity and a bit warm while reading
Profile Image for R.
2,274 reviews6 followers
June 24, 2016
Beautifully done. Finally getting into more of the story!
Profile Image for Ryan.
4 reviews
November 27, 2016
this book was really amazing and the characters were expressed very well .i do recommend this book
Profile Image for Buns101.
3 reviews
Read
June 30, 2011
it was very good i finished it in 30min.-1hour.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews

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