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The great question at the center of Hayao Miyazaki's amazing classic film "My Neighbor Totoro" is the reason Totoro and his forest-spirit-friends reveal themselves to the film's two protagonists, Satsuki and Mei Kusakabe. We are told early on that Totoro doesn't reveal himself to everyone; and we discover over the course of the movie that he doesn't reavl himself to *any* of the other local villagers, including the children. So why Satsuki and Mei? That's the question I answer in this video.

My answer draws on an idea that the forest in which Totoro lives has special healing powers. This, after all, was the reason why Satsuki and Mei have come to live in the forest. Their mother has tuberculosis, and she was moved to a hospital in the forest because it was believed that the forest air has special properties that can facilitate the treatment of tuberculosis patients. I think that we should understand Totoro and his friends as living embodiments of these healing properties; and the reason why Totoro reveals himself to Satsuki and Mei in particular is because the forest has determined that these two girls are in need of healing no less than their mother. For their souls are sick with the pain of worry and loss.

Check out the video for a deeper explanation! And consider subscribing if you enjoy detailed analysis on anime! I will be making more videos on Miyazaki's movies in the future, and I have loads of videos on my channel right now!