Studio Ghibli debunked this major theory about My Neighbor Totoro

Watching and re-watching every Studio Ghibli film ever created is an absolute must for all anime lovers everywhere. These films are absolute gems, filled with profound hidden messages, intriguing characters, and, of course, magical settings that everyone would love to visit once or twice in their lifetime. However, sometimes after rewatching these films, you may have picked up on a mystery or two that you don’t quite know how to explain.

For instance, while watching Spirited Away, many wondered if Chihiro forgot the mystical town that she visited by the end of the film given the fact that she uttered one sentence that put into question the legitimacy of her memory. The theory that Chihiro did not remember her journey was, fortunately, debunked, but there are still tons of mysteries that Studio Ghibli fans are begging to be explained thoroughly. In particular, a mystery found in the 1988 film, My Neighbor Totoro.

Similar to its predecessors and successors, the animated movie has tons of extraordinary and elaborate themes such as youthful innocence, respect for non-human life, and the unconditional love of a sibling. Even still, some believe that the film also had themes of death and afterlife which is completely contrary to the ambiance that the seemingly modest movie gives off.

Is My Neighbor Totoro actually filled with ghosts, or is this theory baseless? We debunk one of the biggest Studio Ghibli theories below.

Was Mei actually dead in My Neighbor Totoro?

For context, audiences believed that the film’s protagonist, Mei Kusakabe, was actually deceased, having passed away years ago from either drowning or other unfortunate causes. The signs that pointed to these beliefs included Mei’s sandal that was found in the pond and the fact that Mei and her sister Satsuki were often seen without shadows throughout the film.

In addition to these proofs, our presumably gentle giant was rumored to be the God of Death, a bad omen for those who so happened to encounter this creature.

Though these points are extremely convincing and were even backed by solid evidence, according to Mental Floss, the theory that Mei and Satsuki are dead is actually untrue.

“Everyone, do not worry”, Studio Ghibli animators retorted, “There’s absolutely no truth [to the theory] that Totoro is the God of Death or that Mei is dead in My Neighbor Totoro.”, and this seems to be the final say concerning the matter. However, there is still the question of the shadows and the sandals—what do they mean?

While there is not much known about whether the sandal is of immense significance, it has been reported that the shadows, or lack thereof, are something that should be disregarded as immaterial. Creators, at the time, simply decided that adding shadows were not necessary, and current animators are urging audiences to abstain from believing My Neighbor Totoro is a dark film simply because of its art that was made over 30 years ago.

If it was at all possible, animators would go back and change these small details, but being that this Hayao Miyazaki‘s masterpiece is perfect just the way it is, it would only be a travesty to change such a film, hence why it hasn’t be remade and most likely, will not be.

Whether you believe that Totoro was, indeed, a God of Death, or whether you view this story as a joyful one, one thing remains true, Studio Ghibli films’ elaborate hidden messages spark interesting conversations and inspire us all to think outside of the box.

What are some theories you have for a particular Studio Ghibli film? Let us know in the comments below.