The film tells the story of little Mei and her older sister Satsuki who accompany their father to their new home to be closer to the hospital where their mother is. The two girls gradually learn to discover this world, and meet the protective spirit of the forest.

Tonari no Totoro (My Neighbour Totoro) is a modern fable, a learning tale and an ode to nature, the flagship work of Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli.