My Neighbor Totoro | Film Club #30

Studio Ghibli is a Japanese animation company responsible for some of the most renowned and beloved animated films of all time. Founded in 1985, it has produced hand-drawn animated classics like “Spirited Away,” “Princess Mononoke,”  “Grave of the Fireflies,” and many more.

This year, many of the films from the studio’s co-founder Hayao Miyasaki are getting a theatrical re-release in the U.S. So we thought we would revisit his works as they are coming back to the big screen. 

Miyazaki’s first film to screen was his 1988 feature “My Neighbor Totoro.” It tells the story of Mei and Satsuki, sisters who move with their father to a new home in the countryside, while their mother is sick in the hospital. As the sisters begin to explore their new surroundings, and long to be reunited with their mother, they meet Totoro, a massive, furry spirit creature in the forest. 

ATMI producers Zinn Rogers and Madison Knutson sat down to discuss the movie, how its narrative style compares to American films, and its legacy among the Studio Ghibli collection.

Hosted by Jordan Kehl.

Music by Kendrick Whiteman and Devin Shreckengost.

Alaska Teen Media Institute is based in Anchorage, Alaska. We would like to acknowledge the Dena’ina people, whose land we work on.

Many thanks to supporters of our podcast, including The Alaska Community Foundation through the 2022 Healthy Communities: Arts, Culture, Play Grant.

The views expressed in this program do not necessarily represent the views of our sponsors.