My Neighbor Totoro Cards

The Japanese Studio Ghibli is a global brand in the field of animated films. It is often euphemistically referred to as the “Japanese Disney.” It was founded in 1985 as a joint project by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, who are the principal creators of its films. One of the studio’s most significant films from its early years is My Neighbor Totoro (1988). The main character, the forest spirit Totoro, has also become the company’s logo.

The film industry also involves the creation of themed promotional merchandise. Ghibli has partnered with Ensky Co., Ltd., a company specializing in the production of licensed products. According to information on the manufacturer’s website, the company was founded in 2005 as a spin-off from Amada Co., Ltd. In addition to a variety of Japanese brands, its portfolio also includes licensed Harry Potter and MBL products.

The movie cards come in a sturdy plastic box featuring a gold-embossed Ghibli logo on the front and a small Ensky Co., Ltd. label on the back.

My Neighbor Totoro movie playing cards produced for Studio Ghibli by Ensky Co Ltd, 52 cards + 2 jokers + 2 blank cads in sturdy plastic box, 2010.

The card design does not distinguish between court cards and pip cards. The entire surface of each card is used to display colorful scenes from the film, all oriented horizontally. Only the standard corner indices are provided for playing the cards. For those familiar with the film, the images from the story are arranged sequentially by rank and suit. This design allows the story to be reconstructed as it is told.

The deck also includes two JOKER cards, which feature the original promotional sketches for the film, and two blank replacement cards. The reverse side shows another graphic depiction of the film’s title character. The small text “© 1988 Nibariki .G” refers to the official name of Hayao Miyazaki’s personal studio and serves as the official copyright notice.

References

Ensky Co., Ltd. https://en.ensky.co.jp/ ►

My Neighbor Totoro at Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Neighbor_Totoro ►

Studio Ghibli at Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Ghibli ►