But, if you have seen it, there alies in it yet a whole other interpretation to the story... I have to warn you: if you read on, your idea about this movie being a happy childrens movie will change dreadfully.
Maybe old news, i watched it last night first time in a long time and then stumbled across the below link, I had to watch the movie again today and jeese it's really really sad but pretty interesting (if you have nothing better to do).
http://my.opera.com/sukekomashi-gaijin/ ... -no-totoro
The story is far from a happy one. According to him, and apparently a popular urban legend in itself, Totoro and his magical friends are in fact Shinigami, that is to say the gods of death, the grim reaper. Pretty cute for a grim reaper, huh?