There is really no other creature that could take the number one spot on this list. Whether it is the mini-Totoro, the medium-sized Totoro or the giant Totoro that charms you the most, this singular creation gives simple magic to the world it is brought into. So many films choose to emphasise how scary and troubling it is to move to a new home (including Miyazaki's own Spirited Away), but My Neighbor Totoro finds the magic in the same situation - with the Totoros as charming guardians to Mei and Satsuki's new home. Despite being the title character of the films, Totoro does not have much screen time at all. Satsuki and Mei's exploration of their home are framed by their run-ins with these charming neighbors. Whether it is at a bus stop, in their backyard, or under the house, every scene they share brings something new and delightful. If you need any more convincing of the undeniable magic this character brings, look no farther than the iconic bus stop scene (pictured above). Since the release of My Neighbor Totoro in 1988, the image of King Totoro has been adopted by Studio Ghibli as their logo. This is a perfect choice, of course, for there is no character that so inherently sums up the charm of Studio Ghibli and the work of Hayao Miyazaki than Totoro. Like this article? Who have we missed? Let us know in the comments section below.
Self-evidently a man who writes for the Internet, Robert also writes films, plays, teleplays, and short stories when he's not working on a movie set somewhere. He lives somewhere behind the Hollywood sign.
