Catbus
Large magical bus in the shape of a cat, Totoro's friend
A giant, magical vehicle shaped like a cat that appears in Studio Ghibli's film 'My Neighbor Totoro'. It is Totoro's companion and has the role of safely transporting children to their destinations.
Quotes
- “Waryaa!” (soot sprite cry)
- “The Catbus is a bus just for you kids” (original image)
- Destination signs like “To Mei”, “Shichikoku Mountain Hospital”, “Su” change according to situation
Trivia
- Catbus can achieve incredible speeds with its 12 legs.
- An object of aspiration, visible only to children.
- Setting that it once disguised as a palanquin.
- Solo appearance in Ghibli Museum short 'Mei and the Catbus'.
- Catbus cries and sound effects sampled from wild animal sounds.
Alternate names
Catbus
Neko Bus
Catbus
Profile
- Species
- Giant magical creature (cat-shaped bus)
Appearance
- Overall appearance
- Large bus shaped like a cat. Yellow fur with brown stripes, face is a cat's face. The body is hollow inside with rows of seats. Has 12 legs and can move at high speeds.
- Height
- Approximately 10m in length
- Eye color
- Yellow
- Hair color
- Yellow
- Distinguishing features
-
- Giant creature with a cat's face
- Hollow body cavity on the back
- Red lamp-like eyes on forehead and tail
- 12 legs
- Tiger-striped yellow and brown fur
- Iconic items
-
- Destination display
- Leaf umbrella
- Tiger-patterned body fur
- Headlight eyes
- Tail taillight
- Forehead marker lamp
Personality and abilities
- Core personality
- Kind
- Detailed personality
- A mysterious being visible only to children, it gently and safely transports them to their destinations. Agile and capable of high-speed movement, it acts as a reliable companion.
- Keywords
-
- Kind
- Reliable
- High-speed
- Magical
- Mysterious
- Likes children
- Mysterious
- Trustworthy
- Talents
-
- High-speed movement
- Aerial movement (runs faster than Totoro flying on a spinning top)
- Environmental adaptation (can run on power lines)
- Safely transporting people
- Skills
-
- Freely navigating through the forest
- Heart-to-heart connection with children
- Various functional features (headlights, taillights)
- Motivation
- To happily and safely deliver children to their destinations
- Habits
- Destination display changes depending on the situation. Visible only to children.
History
- Backstory
- In the past, it disguised itself as a palanquin, but as times progressed and buses appeared, it changed form to a bus and now runs through the forest. Companion of the Totoros, a special being visible only to children.
- Debut date
- April 16, 1988
- Work title
- My Neighbor Totoro
- Media type
- Movie
Movie release
- Significant event
- Movie release
- Description
- Released on April 16, 1988, becoming a beloved character not only in Japan but around the world.
Stage adaptation
- Significant event
- Stage adaptation
- Description
- Stage version performed in London, England from 2022, receiving high acclaim.
Ghibli Museum short film appearance
- Significant event
- Ghibli Museum short film appearance
- Description
- Appears in the museum short 'Mei and the Catbus' from 2002.
Relationships
Totoro
Close companion and friend. If Totoro is the lord of this forest, Catbus is like its servant.
Satsuki Kusakabe
Teammate
Deepened trust by carrying Satsuki and her sister Mei to their mother's hospital.
Mei Kusakabe
Best friend
Found Mei when lost and safely delivered her.
Totoro and friends
Totoro and friends: unknown
Media appearances
My Neighbor Totoro
Movie / Supporting
Theatrical release April 16, 1988
Mei and the Catbus
Short / Protagonist
Ghibli Museum limited screening from 2002
My Neighbor Totoro stage
Stage play / Supporting
From 2022, London Barbican Theatre
Voice cast and creators
Naoki Tatsuta
- Voice actor
- Naoki Tatsuta
- Language
- Japanese
- Version or series
- Theatrical version
Frank Welker
- Voice actor
- Frank Welker
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Disney version
Karl Macek
- Voice actor
- Karl Macek
- Language
- English
- Version or series
- Streamline version
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
Catbus plush
- Item name
- Catbus plush
- Category
- Plush or doll
- Availability
- Regular
Catbus figure
- Item name
- Catbus figure
- Category
- Figure
- Availability
- Regular
Catbus bus stop figure
- Item name
- Catbus bus stop figure
- Category
- Figure
- Availability
- Limited