Home anime: Ghibli producer offers Totoro lesson online

May 13, 2020 | News On Japan

May 13, 2020 (Japan Today) - Time on your hands and a love of anime? A producer from Japan's Studio Ghibli is offering an online tutorial for drawing one of its most beloved characters: Totoro.

Toshio Suzuki, former president of the Tokyo-based studio, contributed the video to a website intended to support children stuck at home during the coronavirus outbreak.

"Hi everyone. I will teach you how to draw Totoro," a grinning Suzuki says in the brief lesson, first painting the outline of the rotund character, which resembles something between a cat, an owl and a raccoon.

Using a ink brush, he advises that "the most important" element of illustrating the creature is to draw its rounded eyes set far apart.

"This is something you can do at home. Everyone, please draw pictures," Suzuki says.

The lovable Totoro is the star of Studio Ghibli's popular film "My Neighbor Totoro", which tells the story of two sisters and their friendships with forest creatures.

It was released in 1988 and became an instant classic, remaining popular both in Japan and abroad, even hitting Chinese cinemas for the first time in 2018.

Suzuki produced the movie, along with other major Studio Ghibli animations such as "Kiki's Delivery Service," "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited Away."

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