Makkuro Kurosuke
Small soot-like creatures living in the Kusakabe house
True black, small soot-like creatures living in the Kusakabe house. They dirty the house with soot and dust, but are harmless and only visible to children.
Trivia
- Makkuro Kurosuke are small creatures like lumps of soot that cover the house in soot.
- Touching it makes hands pitch black, so people dislike it, but it does no harm.
- Samples voices of African Pygmies.
- Susuwatari appear in Spirited Away but have arms and legs.
- While only children can see Totoro, Makkuro Kurosuke are also only visible to children.
Alternate names
Susuwatari
Susuwatari
Soot Sprites
Profile
- Species
- Soot-like creature
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Black round body with two small white eyes, resembling a clump of soot in the shape of a chestnut burr.
- Height
- Several centimeters
- Eye color
- Black
- Hair color
- Black
- Distinguishing features
-
- Black round body
- Shape like a chestnut burr
- Small white eyes
- Iconic items
-
- None
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Mischievous
- Detailed personality
- They dirty the house with soot and dust but do no harm. If children are not scared, they keep their mischief in check. Extremely timid, with the habit of disappearing when people begin living in the house.
- Keywords
-
- Small and black
- Visible only to children
- Mischievous
- Soot
- Timid
- Soot
- Dirties the house
- Talents
-
- Small and easy to hide
- Moves by sticking to objects
- Dirties the house with soot
- Skills
-
- Hard for humans to see
- Does no harm
- Hides quickly
- Motivation
- To live peacefully in a safe place
- Habits
- Touching it turns hands pitch black, so people stay away
- Disliked situations
- People starting to live in the house, Bright places
History
- Backstory
- Small black soot-like fairies inhabiting the old Kusakabe house. When people move in, they mysteriously disappear somewhere.
- Debut date
- April 16, 1988
- Work title
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Media type
- Movie
Movie Release
- Significant event
- Movie Release
- Description
- First appearance in Studio Ghibli's 'My Neighbor Totoro' directed by Hayao Miyazaki.
Gained Popularity
- Significant event
- Gained Popularity
- Description
- Beloved by the work's fans, later appeared as Susuwatari in other Ghibli works.
Official Release in China
- Significant event
- Official Release in China
- Description
- 30 years after release, first official theatrical screening in mainland China realized in December 2018.
Relationships
Mei Kusakabe
Friend
Mei discovered and chased it for the first time
Satsuki Kusakabe
Friend
Recognized as a being living in the house
Creatures of Totoro's Forest
Creatures of Totoro's Forest: unknown
Media appearances
My Neighbor Totoro
Movie / Supporting
Released April 16, 1988
Spirited Away
Movie / Supporting
2001
Voice cast and creators
Hayao Miyazaki
- Creator name
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Role
- Original author
Hayao Miyazaki
- Creator name
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Role
- Character designer
Studio Ghibli
- Creator name
- Studio Ghibli
- Role
- Animation studio
Tokuma Shoten
- Creator name
- Tokuma Shoten
- Role
- Publisher
Related goods
Makkuro Kurosuke Plush
- Item name
- Makkuro Kurosuke Plush
- Category
- Plush or doll
- Availability
- Regular