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Studio Ghibli’s Totoro and the Catbus forever preserved together in new statue 【Pics & Video】

Oona McGee Nov 6, 2020
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Monument unveiled by children yelling “Totoro!” plays out like a scene from a Ghibli anime film.

One of the most popular films ever created by Japan’s world-renowned anime company Studio Ghibli is the 1988 hit My Neighbour Totoro. The animated feature follows the story of two young sisters who move to a house in the countryside, but it’s the magical characters they encounter in the forest who truly steal the show.

One of those characters is the giant Totoro, who makes a memorable appearance alongside the sisters, standing next to them at a bus stop in the rain. During that scene, they’re waiting for a bus, which turns out to be the giant Catbus, who takes the girls on board as passengers before bounding across hills in the night.

The sense of child-like wonder and carefree optimism at this moment of the film is so beloved it’s now been preserved forever, in the form of a statue that was unveiled yesterday. In charge of the unveiling was a group of local children, who yelled “Totoro!” as they pulled the sheet away from the monument to reveal the Ghibli figures.

所沢駅東口、トトロのモニュメント除幕の瞬間！ pic.twitter.com/Y8qWframK9

— カナタT【V埼玉県民】 (@kanata_stm) November 4, 2020

The bronze monument has been beautifully crafted, showing Totoro with its giant leaf umbrella and the grinning, multi-footed Catbus curled around it.

トトロのモニュメントが登場！！ pic.twitter.com/jCZfAFPaz1

— カナタT【V埼玉県民】 (@kanata_stm) November 4, 2020

駅前にトトロのモニュメント - 倉敷経済新聞 https://t.co/VL5gPUxQhu https://t.co/0Gqa4FKNDs #倉敷 #kurashiki pic.twitter.com/9cYSq15Iuo

— シティポータル倉敷 (@kurashiki_in) November 5, 2020

Inside the Catbus are sisters Mei and Satsuki, seen with huge smiles on their faces as they live out every child’s dream of riding inside a furry Catbus.

駅前に素敵なものができていました。 pic.twitter.com/IPekLFoBME

— シフォン (@G5NIr04zbc9BPsC) November 5, 2020

Looking closely, you can see a touching addition to the Catbus — written on the destination sign above its head, and in between the two mouse lights, is “ところざわ” (“Tokorozawa”).

所沢市制施行70周年記念事業
｢となりのトトロ｣のモニュメント除幕式
サツキとメイが乗っています。
行き先が｢ところざわ｣なのもいいですね。#所沢市 #となりのトトロ pic.twitter.com/krDfs2QUne

— もふもふ ꒰ ´͈ω`͈꒱ (@mofumofu0817) November 4, 2020

Tokorozawa, in Tokyo’s neighbouring Saitama Prefecture, is home to Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki, and is also known as the birthplace of Totoro, serving as the real-life inspiration for the character. This monument has been erected outside Tokorozawa Station, suggesting that these characters have arrived at their destination — home.

The new statue can be found at the East Entrance to the station, and on the station platforms themselves Totoro jingles can now be heard playing every time a train — or Cattrain if your imagination allows it — leaves the station.

Source: NHK News
Featured image © SoraNews24
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