We have now understood the connection linking Totoro to Japanese spirits and legends, but regarding his appearance, what is he inspired by?
According to Cavallaro (2014), who references Miyazaki's description, “Totoros—a hybrid species combining characteristics of the cat, the raccoon and the owl—are Miyazaki’s own personal creations and the very epitome of his passion for fantastic bestiaries and zoologies.” (p.71)
This combination of animals makes Totoro a unique creature, solemn and imposing due to its size, yet at the same time clumsy, fun, and lazy. Its design interacts perfectly with that of the two girls, especially Mei. In the initial parts of the film, the hyperactive girl indeed uses Totoro's body almost like a playground, bouncing on his soft belly or playing with his face.
Miyazaki uses a pastel color palette and soft brushstrokes in the backgrounds, conveying a calm and playful atmosphere, ensuring the viewer never perceives Totoro as a dangerous creature, despite having long claws and a huge mouth. The design therefore appears simple yet effective, recognizable even from its silhouette, but at the same time composed of simple shapes and lines..
Finally, its design is characterized by iconic and unforgettable details. Totoro's smile is more human than animal, but this allows him to have better expressiveness in the eyes of the audience, besides providing his iconic grin. Even small objects like the leaf used for shelter from the rain and later the umbrella become iconic parts of Totoro's design that make him recognizable in every illustration. Not only that, but a peculiar sound was created for the largest Totoro, a roar so loud it shakes the entire forest.
In addition to an iconic design, the entire Totoro film is developed to center around this creature. Among the beautiful music, composed almost entirely by Joe Hisaishi, that accompanies the feature film, one cannot forget the closing theme sung by Azumi Inoue, where the name Totoro is repeated multiple times to definitively enter the viewer's heart.
Image Credit Totoro Look: Unraveling the Totoro Mystery: What Species Is This Iconic Character?
Images Credit Totoro Smile: Imdb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096283/?ref_=ttmi_ov