In this episode, I talk about Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 film, "My Neighbor Totoro." It’s about two young girls who discover magical forest spirits after moving to a rural home with their father to be closer to their hospitalized mother. I recorded this episode in the wake of my own mother’s death, and I speak about how grief has shaped my experience of the film. I talk about watching the entire Studio Ghibli catalog and reflect on childhood, absence, and how nature and cinema offer solace when nothing else can.

All My Sources:

• Hayao Miyazaki, The Auteur of Anime
• 9 Facts About My Neighbor Totoro
• Defining the World of My Neighbor Totoro
• Everything You Need to Know About Japan's Iconic Studio Ghibli
• Studio Ghibli: The Japanese Animation Powerhouse That Conquered The World
• Hayao Miyazaki: The Life and Lasting Influence of the Studio Ghibli Auteur-Animator
• What is Hildegard's Viriditas?

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