Studio Ghibli: 7 Unforgettable Moments That Defined Their Films

3. Satsuki And Mei Wait For The Bus

Film: My Neighbor Totoro (1988) Totoro is without a doubt one of Studio Ghibli's most recognisable characters. From stuffed toys to crockery sets, the creature has become synonymous with the studio €“ he's even right there in the company logo. Aside from being a cute character, Totoro's ubiquity also pays homage to one of the company's most iconic films, in which two sisters try to overcome the challenges of acclimatising to a new home and waiting for their mother's return from hospital. The title of this entry seems innocuous enough, but that's the beauty of Studio Ghibli: they have an uncanny ability to squeeze magic out of even the most mundane of activities. Here, Miyazaki and co. demonstrate how to let the on-screen action breathe, supplementing it with little more than the steady patter of rain on the road beneath the characters' feet as Satsuki and Mei nervously find shelter from the downpour. And then, of course, there's the surreal moment that Totoro joins the sisters, gratefully accepting their extra umbrella before riding off in a giant bus-shaped cat. A lengthy scene, it's full of quiet tension that allows the audience to reflect on the girls' unsettled emotional state - specifically, the kids' unfamiliarity in their new home, their strange new friend, and the burgeoning uncertainty surrounding their hospital-bound mother. It all serves to transform the scene into one of those long, wordless interludes that have such a spellbinding effect in Studio Ghibli films.