Fans of Studio Ghibli may be surprised to learn that famed anime director Hayao Miyazaki faced a difficult decision when it came time to direct his final film. He had two competing ideas, and one of them was a sequel to one of Ghibli's best-known films ever: My Neighbor Totoro.

My Neighbor Totoro was one of Ghibli's earlier films, released in 1988, but its titular creature, the iconic Totoro, has continued to be a major fixture of Ghibli since, becoming the studio's mascot. Totoro is full of incredibly recognizable shots, such as the famous bus stop scene, and it's known for its peaceful, rural vibes and environmental themes. The film gives a wonderful taste of Japanese culture, and helped a great many people to fall in love with anime. It was designed from the beginning to be a film that stays with people long after they watch it, and Totoro definitely accomplished that.

Hayao Miyazaki Considered Making My Neighbor Totoro 2

The Filmmaker Ultimately Decided to Go With the Boy and the Heron

In the soon-to-be-released artbook, "The Art of the Boy and the Heron," several documents from the film's early planning stages are included, such as a memo from Miyazaki to Ghibli staff about whether to produce one more movie after his 2013 retirement. This 2016 memo whittled the options down to two basic choices. The first was a film that would be "very peaceful. Something like My Neighbor Totoro. My Neighbor Totoro 2? It's a possibility." The second was a film set during wartime, about change and tumultuous times. Miyazaki doesn't decide which in the memo.

It's certainly interesting that Miyazaki was considering a follow-up to Totoro nearly 30 years later. For Ghibli fans, the imagination surely ignites at the thought of a continued story. Would it be set not long after the original, and star the same characters? Or would it be set 30 years later, with the previous characters as adults? Miyazaki was confident that they could "create something interesting," although no specific ideas are given as to what this sequel might have been about. It's also not clear how long Totoro 2 was being considered. Could they have developed a plot that went unused?

My Neighbor Totoro 2 would definitely have been a popular film at the box office, with so many people having positive memories of the first movie. However, making a sequel is always a risky proposition, and Ghibli has rarely even dabbled in the realm of sequels. A bad sequel can tarnish the reputation of the original film by association, which is absolutely not something anyone would want to see. With his age and limitations on his mind, it's possible that Miyazaki decided it was safer not to involve any of his prior works and make an original film instead.

What Led to The Boy and The Heron Being Chosen?

Miyazaki Wanted a Movie to Reflect the Times

One thing that's clear from this memo is that Miyazaki knew it was important to make the right movie that fit the times. He was concerned about what state the world might be in when the film was completed, and whether war would have arisen, or perhaps even something worse. The idea behind using a wartime setting for an original film was definitely one that was meant to reach people going through their own difficult times, and the film's release after COVID meant that change and difficult periods had become a fact of life for most audiences.

Ultimately, making The Boy and the Heron may have been the right call, although Miyazaki had no way of knowing that at the time. Despite this, though, fans of Studio Ghibli can't help but wonder whether My Neighbor Totoro 2 would have been a great film as well, perhaps even elevating the reputation of its predecessor through its own success. Alas, the world may never know.

Fans can obtain "The Art of The Boy and the Heron" for themselves when it releases on May 27th from Viz Media.