MovieChat Forums > Tonari no Totoro (1990) Discussion > does anyone know if Mei is...

does anyone know if Mei is...

posted 11 years ago by jordathan
2 replies | jump to latest

...adopted?

she looks different than everyone else in the family and even exhibits some traits that are common in adopted children.

i know Miyazaki originally intended the two girls as one girl and split the character in two for dramatic reasons, but i still have to wonder. adoption isn't common in Japan, so maybe i'm over-thinking, but i'd be interested in others' thoughts on it.

[–] marax-4 11 years ago

Hmm I dont see any reason to think she's adopted.

She is histerical as much as her older sister, and cant really see those traits you mentioned that are common in adopted childen - perhaps care to demonstrate further?

[–] ejs8882000 8 years ago

Not everyone has to look exactly like their family to be blood related to them. For all we know she might physically take after a grandparent or great-grandparent or something like that.