Award-winning My Neighbor Totoro cosplay draws applause and laughter

The friendly forest spirit that gave My Neighbor Totoro its name comes to life thanks to award-winning cosplay at the official World Cosplay Championship event.

Cosplayers Henrik Pilerud and Viktoria Christensen of Team Sweden wowed fans with their stunning portrayals of Totoro and Satsuki during the 2024 World Cosplay Championship, as seen in recent Twitter (formerly X) videos of the event and photos on the event’s own official account. In a video of the event’s awards ceremony, the audience can be heard clapping and good-natured laughter as Pireld’s Totoro fails to understand his award and the presenter attempts to give it to him through the costume’s giant toothy grin. These two won the runner-up trophy, losing out to Team Japan’s Sasuke and Naruto cosplayers.

Sweden’s My Neighbor Totoro cosplayer wins trophy at World Cosplay Championship

Written and directed by industry icon Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli, 1988’s My Neighbor Totoro features some of the studio’s most iconic characters. Set in 1950s Japan, the film follows two young sisters, Satsuki and Mei, who move with their father to an old, secluded house in the countryside to be closer to the hospital where their ailing mother is currently admitted. While relaxing and exploring the surrounding forest, the girls encounter various spirits. These include the film’s instantly recognizable soot spirit, or Suswatari, the unforgettable cat bus, and, of course, Totoro himself.

After its release, My Neighbor Totoro received praise from both critics and audiences. A year after its release, the film won the Kinema Junpo Award and the Mainichi Film Competition’s Best Picture Award. My Neighbor Totoro was a major turning point in director Miyazaki’s career, and at the same time was a milestone for Studio Ghibli as a whole. In the decades since, the film has inspired countless products, from special edition releases to clothing, apparel, school supplies, and home and garden decor. In late July, Studio Ghibli’s official store unveiled a miniature replica of the Kusakabe family that appears in the film. This has been recreated in incredible detail.

My Neighbor Totoro was the inspiration for a little-known official sequel movie

Beyond merchandise, My Neighbor Totoro has influenced many other media. In 2003, the Ghibli Museum released Mei and the Kitten Bus, a 13-minute animated sequel to My Neighbor Totoro. For more than a decade, Mae and the Kitty Bus was available only to museum visitors. However, in May, it was announced that the film would be screened during the Cannes Film Festival, along with three other rarely seen Studio Ghibli films.

My Neighbor Totoro is currently available to stream on Max for viewers in the United States.

Source: X (old Twitter)