“My Neighbor Totoro” (となりのトトロ), Original Japanese Commercial Promotional Poster c.1991, B2 Size (51 × 73 cm) Q130
This is an original Japanese B2 commercial promotional poster issued c.1991 for My Neighbor Totoro (となりのトトロ), written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, animated by Studio Ghibli, and featuring key voice performances by Noriko Hidaka, Chika Sakamoto, Hitoshi Takagi, and Shigesato Itoi.
This is not the standard 1988 theatrical B2 poster (this design was only produced in a B1 size for the theatrical release), but a later c.1991 commercial promotional poster created during the early 1990s boom in Totoro’s popularity. After the film’s original theatrical run, My Neighbor Totoro gradually became a cultural phenomenon through repeated Japanese television broadcasts and the rapidly expanding demand for Totoro character goods, especially plush toys and merchandise.
Authenticity
Important note: many official (and unofficial) modern reproductions of this design circulate (often sold inexpensively in Ghibli shops). This design was not produced in a B2 size for the theatrical release of Totoro. The example offered here is 100% an original promotional poster from c.1991 —not a modern shop reprint—so you can buy with confidence.
Why this example matters
By around 1991, Totoro had moved from acclaimed Studio Ghibli feature to a major commercial icon. The character’s popularity accelerated through television exposure and merchandising, leading to a strong demand for standalone Totoro imagery that fans could purchase and display.
This B2 poster belongs to that important early commercial period, when Studio Ghibli-licensed Totoro imagery began circulating through bookshops, hobby shops, and retail outlets rather than only through cinemas. It captures the moment when Totoro became more than a film character: a defining image of modern Japanese popular culture.
Poster design
This design uses the celebrated rain-soaked bus-stop image, one of the most recognisable compositions in all of Studio Ghibli collecting. Mei stands beneath a bright red umbrella beside Totoro, who towers over her with wide-eyed stillness in the darkness of the forest. The surrounding rain, bus-stop sign, and deep night-time palette give the image its extraordinary atmosphere.
The vertical text — often translated as “These strange creatures may still be in Japan. Probably.” — reinforces the film’s delicate balance between childhood realism, folklore, and quiet mystery. The top line, “忘れものを、届けにきました。”, adds a poetic promotional phrase that heightens the nostalgic tone of the image.
For many collectors, this bus-stop design is the definitive Totoro image: immediately recognisable, emotionally resonant, and central to the film’s long afterlife as one of Studio Ghibli’s most beloved works.
Condition
Excellent / Near Mint. Please review the photos—they show the exact poster for sale. The poster presents beautifully overall, with rich colour, strong contrast, clean borders, and excellent display impact.
It is over 35 years old!
It is not a reproduction or a modern reprint.
Certificate of Authenticity included.
