Dark Totoro

ℹ️ Shinigami, or Death Gods, are figures in Japanese folklore responsible for guiding souls to the afterlife. The "Dark Totoro" fan theory reinterprets My Neighbor Totoro through this lens, suggesting that Totoro is actually a Shinigami. According to the theory, Mei drowns after going missing, and both she and Satsuki are dead, with Totoro guiding them to the afterlife. The Catbus is seen as a vehicle for transporting souls. Some fans point to the lack of shadows and connections to a real-life murder case (the Sayama Incident) as evidence. However, Studio Ghibli and creator Hayao Miyazaki have denied this theory, asserting the film’s intended theme of innocence and joy.