Creepy facts about Studio Ghibli movies

My Neighbor Totoro

Believe it or not, My Neighbor Totoro has a back story of a kidnapping/ murder that happened in 1963. It is called " The Sayama incident of 1963".

It all started on May 1st, 1963( NAHHHHHH, NOT 1963. IT'S NOT LIKE IT IN THE TITLE OF THE INCIDENT!!!!!) Now where was I? Oh yeah. On May 1st in Sayama city a 16 year old girl was kidnapped and left the older sister a note saying that he would give her back for 20,000 yen. The older sister later committed suicide and found the body of the younger sister( the 16 year old) raped and killed. 

Now how does this relate too the movie? Well, first of all the the older sister's name is Satsuki, or in Japanese, the month of May The younger sister's name is Mei; or pronounced May.

The model of the house in the movie is located in Sayama Kyuryo, which means Sayama Hills. The movies's location was inspired by Tokorozawa City, which is right next to Sayama Hill where the incident took place. This is why the movie is called "My NEIGHBOR Totoro".

 In the movie there was a scene where Mei is with an old lady at a tea shop and the old lady drops a box. Behind her you can see another box with a sticker that says translated, "Sayama tea". Some people say that a tea field was near the murder's house or near the crime scene. 

There is another scene where you see Mei near some statues in a cemetery. Some say you can see the name Mei in one of the statues. Which means she dead or there is another girl named Mei that died. I really don't know.

When the girls are about to get in the cat bus you can see a sign on top of the cats head that changes to "Grave Road".

At the end of the movie the girls are on a tree looking in the widow where their dying mother is. Nobody notices them except the mother (Sempi has noticed them! Sorry, had to do it). The mother says, " I felt Satuski and Mei just laughing near tree.", this suggests that the girls came to say goodbye to their mother before they go to Heaven.

In the ending scene, Mei and Satuski don't have shadows. Some people say that only dead people don't have shadows.

So, what do you think? Write your comments below and let me know your thoughts.