The image represents Mei and Satsuki’s acquaintance with Totoro when waiting for their father at the bus stop in a dark and rainy night. From the image, the setting is a somewhat scary scene without knowing its light and humorous tone. Rain is heavily pouring from the sky while Totoro only has a leaf atop his head. It seems that Totoro isn’t bothered standing in the rain and even somehow enjoys it in contrast to the two girls holding low so that the umbrella covers both Mei and Satsuki completely. Here lies one of the themes in My Neighbor Totoro and among many other Miyazaki’s films- the good and evil are all in a state of balance. Traditional western films depict what is good and what is evil with an insurmountable barrier.
