Japanese City Is Planning To Buy The Forest That Inspired Totoro To Preserve It

A Japanese city has launched an online campaign to save a particular area of forest that was the inspiration for the animator in the cult film “My Neighbor Totoro.”

Tokorozawa, a town outside of Tokyo, has decided to purchase the “Totoro Forest” for a massive sum of 2.6 Billion yen or (19 million yen). What’s more impressive is that some amount was also chipped in through crowdfunding. Crowdfunding will cover only a tiny portion of that amount, and an official informed AFP.

The co-founder of Studio Ghibli and the director, Hayao Miyazaki, took a stroll in the forest and got ideas for the movie ‘My Neighbour Totoro.’ The representative also mentioned their plans to convert the forest into a Natural reserve.

Studio Ghibli has released hit after hit movies, and it’s no wonder that Totoro, too, received a great response; it even got an IMDB score of 7.5, which is outstanding for an anime movie.

The woods that inspired his house is located approximately 30 kilometres north of Tokyo and is home to 7,700 oak trees.

Tokorozawa will solicit crowdfunding users to contribute the sum of 25,000 yen ($185), and, in return, they will receive prints of artwork of the background provided through Studio Ghibli.

According to an official, the first 1000 sets will be offered for donation to Japan; however, further rounds may be planned in the event of demand.
The campaign will only be able to cover a small amount of the property’s cost. The city hopes to draw interest in the forests and increase an environment of support for its protection.

Miyazaki founded Studio Ghibli with Isao Takahata and is known for his string of animated movies, including “Spirited Away,” though Totoro is among Studio Ghibli’s most popular characters.

Source: Gmanetwork

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