Hayao Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro' (1988)

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? You can follow me on Instagram , Letterboxd , and Tumblr . My email is herheadinfilms@gmail.com.

You can listen to Hayao Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro' (1988) online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Hayao Miyazaki's 'My Neighbor Totoro' (1988) is an episode from Her Head in Films by Caitlin.

This episode is 01:10:05 long.

This episode was published on Aug 5, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Her Head in Films when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.