In Japan, Studio Ghibli is committed to preserving the forest that inspired My Neighbor Totoro

A Japanese city wants to preserve the forest that inspired Hayao Miyazaki’s popular cartoon My Neighbor Totoro through a crowdfunding campaign backed by Studio Ghibli, a spokesperson said Tuesday. about thirty kilometers northwest of Tokyo, plans to acquire this 3.5-hectare forest for around 2.6 billion yen (18.3 million euros). “This area is one of the places where director (Hayao) Miyazaki drew his inspiration for Totoro while walking around,” Tokorozawa’s spokesperson told AFP, adding that the city wanted to turn this forest of some 7,000 trees into a nature reserve. Totoro, spirit of the forest and huge plump gray creature star of the animated film released in 1988, is one of the most famous characters of Studio Ghibli, at the origin of many other animated successes such as Spirited Away or Princess Mononoke of the same director. Call for x donationsIn exchange for a donation of 25,000 yen (175 euros), participants in the campaign targeting a Japanese audience will receive a set of five prints of drawings produced by the animation studio. Initially, 1,000 lots will be available, and more could be added later, the spokesperson said. but the city hopes, through this campaign, to draw attention and create momentum of support for its preservation.