Aubusson Unveils Giant Tapestry Based on Miyazaki's My Neighbor Totoro

On July 17, 2026, the Cité internationale de la tapisserie in Aubusson revealed the penultimate work in its monumental cycle dedicated to Hayao Miyazaki, created in partnership with Studio Ghibli. The tapestry, titled La sieste de Mei et Totoro, depicts a scene from the 1988 film My Neighbor Totoro, showing the character Mei sleeping peacefully on Totoro's belly in a lush underground grotto. This project began in 2020, following a previous Tolkien-themed cycle in 2017, and comprises six monumental tapestries inspired by Miyazaki's most iconic films, including Spirited Away, Howl's Moving Castle, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro. The adaptation process involves a technical challenge: translating the movement and detail of animation into static woven form. A weaving committee of cartoonists, weavers, and dyers conducts extensive sampling to determine exact colors and threads. The Cité aims to preserve and disseminate tapestry art by engaging new audiences through popular culture, offering guided tours, meetings with weavers, and behind-the-scenes content. The final tapestry in the series will be based on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), with weaving start and completion dates yet to be announced.