There's a real 'Totoro Forest' outside Tokyo, and this city wants to preserve it

The 1988 animation film 'My Neighbour Totoro' from Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli features the cuddly but mysterious forest spirit character Totoro, who has become an instantly recognisable figure for fans around the world. Photo: AFP

A Japanese city is launching a crowdfunding campaign to help preserve a special spot of woodland: the forest that inspired the animator of beloved movie My Neighbour Totoro.

The city of Tokorozawa outside Tokyo plans to buy the 3.5ha "Totoro Forest" for US$19mil (RM84mil), with crowdfunding covering just a small portion of that, a city official said.