Mei Kusakabe is the 4-year-old sister of Satsuki in My Neighbor Totoro. She is incredibly lively and active as well as extremely curious. She is the first to meet Totoro and does so by falling down a hole in a tree root after following smaller Totoros excitedly. Mei isn't the least bit scared of the new creature she has found even when it open its huge mouth to yawn. Instead, she just opens her mouth back. Mei does have a caring side and decides to go to the hospital with the sweet corn she picked from Granny's garden. However, she ends up getting lost on the way and gets very upset.
Background[]
Personality[]
Mei's personality is just like that of any young girl, being bright, sweet, and innocent. Also like other children, she is extremely curious, following the smaller Totoros as soon as she sees them, as well as trying to get the dust creatures to come out of hiding. Upon finding Totoro, she is not the least bit afraid, only laughing happily and answering Totoro's roars and falling asleep on his stomach. She loves playing with her sister and is very eager to explore the house and its surroundings. In the Disney dub, Granny describes her as, "a little ball of energy" as she is racing around the house. She also cares deeply about her family, and becomes sad when she hears her mother still has to stay in the hospital. This emotion causes Mei to start crying, after Satsuki angrily snaps at her. At the end of the story, Mei, along with her sister, is overjoyed when her mother returns home.
Physical appearance[]
Mei Kusakabe is four years old. She has light brown hair and brown eyes. She wears a white blouse with a pink dress and yellow shoes and white bloomers, and carries a yellow bag, and end of the film she wears a light pink dress. Mei also wears a yellow nightdress at night and a sky blue night-dress at night in the sequel.
Role in the film[]
Mei is the little sister of Satsuki Kusakabe and daughter of Tatsuo Kusakabe and Yasuko Kusakabe. She was born in an unknown hospital in June 1943. Upon moving to the country, she and her sister Satsuki discover the home of Totoro, a giant anthropomorphic rabbit-like creature. Through a series of adventures, they become very close.
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