My Neighbor Totoro/Characters

Characters from My Neighbor Totoro include:

Forest Spirits

Tropes exhibited by these characters include:

Invisible to Adults: The nature spirits including Totoro and Catbus.
Theme Naming: The three Totoros themselves, named for their sizes. The littlest one is called "Chibi Totoro" ("chibi" meaning "little"), the blue middle-sized one is "Chū Totoro" ("chū" meaning "middle"), and the biggest one is "Ō Totoro" ("ō" meaning "large").
Youkai: The Totoros are nature spirits centered around the great tree near the Kusakabes' home, which bears Shinto ropes.

A fluffy and lazy forest spirit.

Tropes exhibited by Totoro include:

Advertised Extra: Despite featuring in the title and poster, Totoro only appears for a handful of scenes. Instead, the film chooses to focus on Mei and Satsuki.
All Trolls Are Different: Mei mistakes Totoro for a troll. In fact, "Totoro" is a mispronunciation of the Japanese word for troll, "Torōru".
Cheshire Cat Grin: Suberted in that the trope is has no malicious intent.
Cute but Cacophonic: Note to those watching the movie on their computers or portable DVD players - please take your headphones off whenever it looks like he's going to roar. Your ears will thank you.
Gentle Giant: Of course. While it is true that Totoro is much larger than both of the girls, with a deafening roar, the creature is still kind and supportive. Totoro takes care around Mei and Satsuki, being careful to never hurt them.
Pokémon-Speak: Totoro is only ever heard growling, roaring and saying his own name.
Ridiculously Cute Critter: C'mon, just try to say you don't wanna give the big fuzzy critter a hug, too.

A cat that can be summoned by Totoro, with seats to accommodate people for transport.

Tropes exhibited by Catbus include:

Cheshire Cat Grin: Just like the Totoro who called the creature.
Electric Slide: The Catbus did it.
Mega Neko: The Catbus. As its name suggests, it's the size of a bus. It's fast, like the wind, and the trees in the forst part for its journey. The catbus is Invisible to Adults.

Tropes exhibited by these characters include:

Children Are Innocent: Mei and Satsuki like running around their house and playing with the neighbouring spirits, enjoying the simple pleasures of life without having to worry about taxes or work.
GASP: The girls does this frequently in the film, like when Mei finds an acorn that fell from the roof when they move into the house.
Theme Naming: "Satsuki" is the old Japanese term for the month of May, and "Mei" sounds like the English name for the month. Originally Mei was only going to be the only girl until Miyazaki realized that a four-year old wouldn't have the independence necessary to drive the story.

The oldest daughter in the Kusakabe family.

Tropes exhibited by Satsuki include:

Determinator: Satsuki literally runs for kilometers in her search for Mei.
Terrible Artist: Averted with Satsuki's cute drawing of Mei as the crab who waited over a persimmon seed to grow.

Satsuki's four year old sister.

Tropes exhibited by Mei include:

Break the Cutie: She is cheerful and happy... until she hears that her mother won't be coming home and will be staying in the hospital for longer. This causes her to run away to the hospital, but she gets lost, requiring Satsuki to find her.
Follow the White Rabbit: Mei does this, following the small Chibi-Totoro, to find King Totoro.
Girlish Pigtails: Although they are absent from her older sister Satsuki.

A boy who goes to Satsuki's school.

Satsuki and Mei's father.

Tropes exhibited by Tatsuo include:

Good Parents: He's caring towards his children, offering to take them to the hospital where their mother is, being kind and understanding.

Satsuku and Mei's mother.

Tropes exhibited by Yasuko include:

Good Parents: Just like her husband. Being in the hospital doesn't stop her from loving her kids.

An elderly person who lives nearby, occasionally visiting Satsuki and Mei.

Tropes exhibited by Granny include:

Cool Old Lady: Just like every other character, she's nice towards Satsuki and Mei

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