“May and the Kitten Bus” is certainly about sunshine, but it is also about the magic of the forest at night, when all the Cat Buses and Totoros come out and go, well…wherever it is they go to create whatever it is they create—which I think is just a belief in the power of imagination and nature itself. (No Spoilers Here.) In the opening scene little May from the original movie is out and about in the forest, opening a caramel candy wrapper. A little wind immediately winds up and rushes around her, turning into a little Kitten Bus who wants some sweets. May, of course, obliges and thus begins a friendship that includes a journey to a nighttime meeting of forest creatures. As is her way, May makes friends with even the most unlikely of characters through her charm and generous desire to share her good tasting treats.
I hope all of you can see this special short some time. In future posts I’ll tell you how to get into the museum. It’s not like most venues; you can’t just show up. Although tickets are booked months in advance, obtaining entry is possible through certain websites and tour groups. I’ve done a pretty pathetic scan of the hang-tag off my Kitten Bus plush, but at least it gives you an idea of the artwork from the film.