Studio Ghibli’s gentlest forest spirit gets his own quiet coloring collection here: 32 free My Neighbor Totoro coloring pages spanning Totoro portraits, the rainy bus stop scene, Catbus in motion, Mei and Satsuki’s forest adventures, small Totoros, and soot sprites. Every page downloads as a print-ready PDF or opens in the online coloring tool.
About My Neighbor Totoro
My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 animated film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli, premiering in Japan on April 16, 1988, as a double feature with Grave of the Fireflies. Set in post-war rural Japan, it follows sisters Satsuki and Mei Kusakabe as they settle into a new home near an old forest and discover Totoro, a giant, silent forest spirit, along with his companions the soot sprites and the grinning, many-legged Catbus. The film won the Animage Anime Grand Prix and the Mainichi Film Award for Best Film in 1988, and Totoro himself went on to become the mascot of Studio Ghibli, appearing in the studio’s own logo.
What’s Inside This Collection
Totoro Portraits and Close-Ups
A large group presents Totoro on his own, his rounded body, oversized ears, wide eyes, and the small, repeated belly markings that keep him instantly recognizable, in poses ranging from standing quietly to jumping with joy.
Rainy Bus Stop and Umbrella Scenes
The collection’s signature image appears across several pages: Totoro standing beside Satsuki at a rainy bus stop, holding a giant leaf as an umbrella, or waiting quietly beside a bus stop sign in the rain.
Catbus Pages
A dedicated set covers Catbus, part cat and part vehicle, from a simple front-facing design for younger colorists to a detailed night scene with its glowing windows and full, many-legged body.
Mei and Satsuki Story Pages
These pages center the human half of the story: Mei meeting or chasing the small Totoros, both sisters together with Totoro in the forest, and a page of Satsuki and Mei hugging Totoro.
Small Totoros, Acorns, and Soot Sprites
Smaller forest details fill out the collection: a small Totoro carrying acorns, three Totoros stacked together, soot sprites gathered inside the old house, and Totoro shown together with the tiny forest spirits.
Forest Scenes and Group Portraits
The remaining pages place Totoro in his natural setting, resting on a branch, standing among the trees, eating an acorn, or appearing in a detailed full forest scene, alongside family-style group pages showing the whole cast together.
What These Pages Do
Totoro’s design is built from a small number of large, soft shapes, which gives younger colorists a forgiving place to start, while the belly markings, Catbus stripes, and forest layers give older colorists real detail to work through. The American Academy of Pediatrics draws attention to fine motor skill development as a genuine benefit of structured coloring for children ages 2 through 7, and this collection’s range, from a simple portrait to a detailed night forest scene, scales to practice with a child’s ability.
A 2005 Art Therapy Journal study observed lower anxiety among participants after structured coloring sessions, and the film’s own unhurried, quiet mood carries straight into these pages, the rainy bus stop, a resting Totoro, a hidden soot sprite, all suited to a slow, calm coloring session rather than a fast one.
How to Color My Neighbor Totoro Pages Well
- Totoro: a soft gray or muted blue-gray body with a cream or white belly kept clean and light, since the small dark belly markings are his most identifying detail and disappear if the gray spreads too far.
- Catbus: warm yellow, orange, and tan for the body with darker stripes, and pale yellow or cream for the glowing windows, especially in night scenes, where a dark blue or purple background helps him stand out.
- Mei and Satsuki: keep hair black or dark brown and clothing in simple, clear colors so the sisters stay readable against the forest rather than blending into it.
- Small Totoros and soot sprites: pale cream or blue-gray for the small Totoros, and black or charcoal for the soot sprites, always against a lighter background so their bright eyes stay visible.
- Forest scenes: layer several shades of green and brown rather than one flat color, lighter in the distance and deeper up close, to give the forest real depth without losing Totoro against it.
5 Creative Craft Ideas With My Neighbor Totoro Coloring Pages
1. Rainy Bus Stop Mood Card
Color a Totoro umbrella or bus stop page in soft, quiet colors, mount it on a backing card, and write a short line describing the scene’s stillness underneath.
2. Catbus Night Journey Scene
Color a Catbus page in warm yellow and orange with glowing windows, then add a hand-drawn night forest with stars around it on a larger sheet.
3. Small Totoro Acorn Collection
Color a small Totoro and acorn page, then draw a few extra acorns on the backing card and label each one as a seed, a gift, or a forest clue.
4. Soot Sprite Hidden House Display
Color a soot sprite page, keeping the sprites dark against a light background, then add hand-drawn floorboards and corners where more sprites might be hiding.
5. Forest Story Page
Color a forest scene featuring Totoro, Catbus, or the sisters, mount it on a larger sheet, and add a short set of writing prompts underneath asking where Totoro is and what happens next.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed My Neighbor Totoro, and when was it released?
Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed the film for Studio Ghibli, and it premiered in Japan on April 16, 1988, as a double feature with Grave of the Fireflies.
How many My Neighbor Totoro coloring pages are in this collection?
32 pages, covering Totoro portraits, the rainy bus stop scene, Catbus, Mei and Satsuki, small Totoros, soot sprites, and full forest scenes.
What colors should I use for Totoro?
A soft gray or blue-gray body with a light cream or white belly, keeping the small belly markings clearly visible rather than covered by heavy shading.
What colors work best for Catbus?
Warm yellow, orange, and tan for the body, darker stripes, and pale yellow or cream windows, with a dark background in night scenes to help him stand out.
Do these pages include Catbus, Mei, Satsuki, and the soot sprites?
Yes, the collection includes Totoro, Catbus, Mei, Satsuki, soot sprites, small Totoros, acorns, and forest scenes alongside the main character.
Are there easy pages suitable for preschoolers?
Yes, several portrait and simple Catbus pages use large shapes and minimal background detail, making them a good starting point for younger children.
Do children need to have seen the film to enjoy these pages?
No, Totoro is round and friendly enough to recognize on its own, and the forest, rain, and small-creature themes work as gentle nature coloring subjects regardless.
Can these Totoro pages be colored without printing?
Yes, the online coloring tool lets a page be finished quietly on a screen, which suits the collection’s calm mood just as well as printing does.
Every page here can be downloaded for free with a single click, no account required, and each one also works directly inside the online coloring tool for anyone who prefers to stay on screen. A finished page can be shared through the Facebook and Pinterest icons on each design.
