From Charon Comeau

This face can make anyone smile!
Nikon Z8 -600mm with a teleconverter and Heavily cropped!
Taken from a friends second floor deck a few houses away! (Thanks Eric)

  • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
    2·
    2 months ago

    I went looking to see if there were any Ghibli owls, and I saw a number of references saying Totoro’s design was based off a Great Horned Owl.

    I always took him as a more rodent type design, but if you ignore the appendages, it checks out.

    • tired_lemming
      2·
      2 months ago

      I always saw Totoro as an owl so I guess I got it right!

      Because the most common artwork I see of Totoro is the standing/sitting position, staring straight ahead posture with the ears. So it always reminded me of an owl.

      • anon6789@lemmy.worldOP
        2·
        2 months ago

        Looking at him today and considering an owl as the inspiration I can see it more. Having hands and forward facing feet and more pronounced whiskers throws me off from seeing it initially, but I take it that’s to make him seem a little more human or at least mammalian and to allow him to hold things like the umbrella he couldn’t do with wings.