Maybe you guys have heard about this My Neighbor Totoro rumor... But I just found out about it the other day and it shocked me, but then also made me very impressed as well. I thought I'd make a post about it here^^
If you have not seen Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro, please do not click the links below as they contain spoilers.
If you Have seen Studio Ghibli's My Neighbor Totoro, please do not click the links below to refrain from seeing the dark side of this beloved fairytale.
If you don't care either way or are too curious, please click the links below. x3
Google "Totoro and the Sayama Incident" or click Here for a good article (scroll to the bottom and check out the translated video too).
Its good to note that Studio Ghibli put out an article themselves trying to debunk this theory and also saying the Sayama incident was totally unrelated..
My thoughts on the theory (please only read if you have clicked the links above):
I think there are too many coincidences for the Sayama incident and Totoro to not be related in some way. I believe Miyazaki was inspired by facts from the murder in which he put into Totoro. And despite people being creeped out by this theory, now that I've gotten over the initial shock (xD) I think it actually adds lots of depth to the movie and makes it even more interesting, whether it was purposely done or not... Totoro being the 'grim reaper', the CatBus being the 'carriage to the afterlife', and having Mei and Satsuki actually die in the movie is so sad but so incredibly done! And its definitely something Miyazaki would do in his films, right?? I now about the theories behind Spirited Away as well. Miyazaki's films always have a hidden underlying meaning to them. ;P
What I do disagree with are the various artworks/posters going around that now depict Totoro as an evil death god. I think thats not right... Even if you do watch the movie now and see Totoro as a bringer of death, its actually as if death is made to be less scary. Totoro is a pretty cute grim reaper! even tho I'm bummed that I had to find this out right when I was making my Totoro hoodie! =_=
That being said... There's also enough evidence to disprove this theory all together. Mei's sandals are different then the one found in the pond. (by the way, a sandal was used for evidence in the Sayama case too tho!) And some thing about the dates in the hospital don't line up as well as many other little details, not to mention that Miyazaki told everyone this was not intended ;P... So it gives breathing room, to allow viewers to believe what they want to believe.
But Miyazki has also been noted for saying that My Neighbor Totoro was about the liberation of Mei and Satsuki's spirits.
So to cap off my opinion, yes I think the similarities between the Sayama case and Totoro are too close together. I like to think that death maybe did come to both girls, but maybe when the CatBus dropped them off at their house, they were given life again (seeing that in the end credits, they are supposedly shown wearing Totoro merchandise and their mother has a baby xD I can't remember tho.. but that would mean it happened after and not before their mother when to the hospital). Or I'll probably rewatch this movie with the thoughts of its all fun and magic still. Totoro is supposedly a forest spirit/creature and he's still a good guy even IF he was depicted as death. I just really love when a totally different perspective is brought up for stuff like this ^U^ Things are definitely not what they seem, thats for sure.
What do you guys think or want to believe? Let me know in the comments!
Also check out this storybook by Miyazaki!
I'll be back later! Have a nice day!
-MK
