Original artwork, not a still
Try laughing. Then whatever scares you will go away.
— My Neighbor Totoro · 1988
Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
It is a dad's whole parenting philosophy in one sentence: fear shrinks when you face it with a grin. In a film with no villain, the scariest thing is an old house and a sick mother in hospital, and the family's answer is warmth and noise. The line is a favourite on posters and in parenting posts, and a gentle reminder of why Ghibli's most comforting film still works on adults.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for My Neighbor TotoroShow the scene
Early in My Neighbor Totoro (Studio Ghibli, 1988), the Kusakabe family has just moved into a rickety country house in 1950s Japan, and Satsuki and Mei discover it is full of tiny soot sprites. The house creaks, the dark corners feel haunted, and the girls are nervous. Their father, Tatsuo, a university professor, has a simple remedy: laugh. The three of them laugh loudly together, and the soot sprites are shown drifting out of the house and away. Tatsuo is voiced by Shigesato Itoi in Japanese.
Sources (3)
- Studio Ghibli Wiki: Tatsuo Kusakabecharacter page, plot summaryReference checked
- Studio Ghibli Wiki: My Neighbor TotoroPlot, The Village in MayReference checked
- Wikipedia: My Neighbor TotoroPlot and Voice castReference checked
Context reviewed