Related But Not in Class- "My Neighbor Totoro"


A film that I would tie into the religious themes found within our Religion and Film class would be “My Neighbor Totoro” this film is a Ghibli film like that of spirited away and gives the audience representation for mysterium and tremendum through the presentation of a forest spirit called Totoro. When a small family moves into a rural house in the country the young children find themselves captivated by the natural world around them that seems to hold more magic than what meets the adult eye. Totoro is found by the children within a few nights of inhabiting their new rural house and is found to be helpful when it comes to growing plants and protecting his giant tree. The mysterium of this character is represented when it comes to the fact that only children are able to see Totoro and the fact that after he aids the children he is thought to be just a dream until one day, May the younger sister goes missing and the big sister must run and pray to Totoro for his help. When Saski the older sister finds Totoro, he calls upon his spiritual aids to help him help Saski, this can arguably represent the tremendum. Once May is found, the sisters ride home in Totoros Cat Bus. 

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