A Story's Structure: My Neighbor Totoro
by Adam W. Parker
Each scene has been broken down as follows:
Scene # (Duration)
-Premise
-Problem
-Dilemma
-Paradox
For all the musings about the sense of atmosphere, make no mistake, “My Neighbor Totoro” stands on a rock solid structural foundation, with ~20 minute acts and ~5 minute scenes – never failing to tell a story at any moment.
(CREDITS 0:00 – 2:15)
ACT ONE (18:15)
SCENE 1 (3:45)
Two sisters and dad moving
A man is on the road – sisters hide – not police, they wave “hi”
Meet boy, tells new neighbors to stop by
Excited about how creepy new house is – maybe haunted!
SCENE 2 (3:30)
Huge tree, what is it?
Walk on knees in house, acorns
acorns are falling from ceiling – squirrels or rats?
little creatures – soot gremlins or ghosts
SCENE 3 (6:00)
Dad tells girls to find stairs and open window, they do, but it's dark
Go upstairs, gremlins scurry, Satsuki opens window & leaves
Mei stays, stares, finger in hole – burst! catches one!
Granny is downstairs, Mei's catch vanished! – they're 'soot sprites'
SCENE 4 (5:00)
Fetches water to clean house – cleaning montage
Nervous boy delivers package – “your house is haunted!”
It's cake, harsh winds, prepares dinner, storm moves in
Satsuki's scared, Dad laughs loudly, it makes scary things go away
ACT TWO (20:30)
SCENE 5 (3:30)
Wash clothes, done with chores – time to see mom
Bike ride to hospital, boy sticks tongue out
They travel, get lost, take a break, arrive
Tell mom about haunted house, Mei sleep with mom / not scared
SCENE 6 (5:00)
Dad oversleeps, Satsuki makes lunch for everyone
Satsuki has school friend already, Mei runs “errands”
Mei – “Lunch time yet?” – Dad “We just ate”, Mei explores
“Ghost Rabbit” appears, Mei follows, it disappears, under house
SCENE 7 (6:00)
Ghost Rabbits try to sneak past Mei, she catches them, chases
They run into a secret tunnel, Mei follows, falls into tree hole
Encounters big animal, it's asleep, she tries to wake it
Mei introduces herself and names Totoro, falls asleep on him
SCENE 8 (6:00)
Satsuki gets home, Dad lost track of time, Mei's missing
Search, finds hat, tunnel, and Mei lying down
She wakes up – “Where's Totoro”, was she dreaming?
Finds tree – no opening, trees and humans – friends, Letter to mom
ACT THREE (20:30)
SCENE 9 (5:00)
Mei left with Granny, Boy admires Satsuki, teacher catches him
Mei appears at school with Granny, demanded to see Satsuki
Mei's in classroom – drawing Totoro, dark clouds
Heavy rain, Boy shoves umbrella to Satsuki runs away – smiles
SCENE 10 (4:00)
Satsuki wants to take umbrella to Dad, returns boy's umbrella
Sisters wait at stop, Dad's not on the bus, next one for sure
Getting late, Mei's sleepy, sleeps on Satsuki
Totoro shows up to wait at the bus stop
SCENE 11 (5:00)
Leaf on head – too small, rain hits his nose
Satsuki offers him umbrella, he uses it
Enjoys umbrella, stomps so ran patters on it. Catbus arrives
Gives Satsuki a gift, takes umbrella, leaves on catbus, Dad arrives
SCENE 12 (6:30)
Letter to mom, Totoro gifted acorns, planted but won't grow
During the night Totoro shows up, performs ritual, sprout appears
Seeds continue to grow to form one huge tree
Totoro spins top, takes Sisters on ride high in the sky
ACT FOUR (22:30)
SCENE 13 (4:30)
Dad is out, Sisters & Granny pick vegetables, garden's like a market
Mom is visiting home, plan to give her veggies to heal her
Telegram – Dad won't be home til later, opens, hospital – bad news?
Go to find phone, Mei runs after but gets lost
SCENE 14 (4:00)
Satsuki manages to call dad, he calms her and says he'll call back
Mei catches up with Satsuki, Mom isn't doing well, no visit
Mei refuses to accept, Satsuki – “You want her to die, Mei?”
Granny says “just a cold”, Satsuki “...dead already?”, cries
SCENE 15 (6:00)
Mei runs away towards hospital alone, they can't find her
No passersby have scene Mei
Boy says everyone's looking but no luck, found sandal in the pond
Rescue searchers probe pond, Satsuki arrives, not Mei's sandal
SCENE 16 (8:00)
Satsuki runs to big tree, asks to see Totoro, in tunnel
Trips and falls on Totoro, asks for help, he calls catbus
Satsuki boards catbus, trees part as the scamper
Finds Mei, to hospital, Mom is OK, girls spy from tree
END
Thank you.
Examine the story structures of the following breakdowns:
A Story's Structure (Overview)
12 Angry Men
Blade Runner 2049
Fake Scenes vs. Real Scenes
more coming soon