Recreate magical movie moments with beloved characters on your fingertips.
When you become an adult you don’t always have to give up your childlike sense of fun and adventure, andStudio Ghibli is here to remind us of that fact with a new range of beautifully designed finger puppets.
Called My Neighbour Totoro Soft Vinyl Mascot Finger Puppets, this collection consists of 11 different puppets, starring eight characters from My Neighbour Totoro.
Released by Ghibli specialty retailer Donguri Kyowakoku, the collection is the newest addition to the chain’s popular Sofubi Mascot Finger Puppet series, with “Sofubi” (ソフビ) used to mean “soft vinyl”.
Each puppet measures approximately 3.8 × 4.9 × 2.2 centimetres (1.5 × 1.9 × 0.9 inches) and weighs just 12 grams (0.4 ounces), making them light and easy to use for both adults and children.
Taking a closer look at the range, we have two sets dedicated to the titular character and the smaller of its species.
▼ They’re as cute from behind as they are from the front.
The second set of Totoros recalls the magical night scene where they can be seen blowing into their musical ocarinas.
No collection from My Neighbour Totoro would truly be complete without an appearance from two members of the supporting cast, who are beautifully captured in miniature form.
▼ …and the Soot Sprites.
Rounding out the collection are three members from the human cast.
▼ … and Mei.
While all the characters above are ready to play out imaginative scenarios from the tips of your fingers, they’re so well sculpted that they make equally beautiful decorations.
Sure, the size discrepancies might mean that Mei has a harder time swatting the Soot Sprites between the palms of her hands…
▼… and the way she towers over the Catbus has it looking more like the Kittenbus…
▼ … but all these quirks can be reconciled with a little twist of the imagination.
A range this cute is likely to sell out fast, especially as each character puppet is reasonably priced at 770 yen (US$4.86). So be sure to hunt them down at your nearest branch of Donguri Kyowakoku in Japan, or keep your finger poised and ready to hit the purchase button when sales commence online at 10 a.m. on 8 August.
