Mei and the Kittenbus
めいとこねこバス
Mei and the Kittenbus
めいとこねこバス
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What this film brings
Content barometer
Violence
0/5
None
Fear
1/5
Mild
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
0/5
Simple
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This short animated film returns to the world of Totoro with a gentle, curious and dreamlike mood, clearly aimed at young children who are comfortable with fantasy. The only potentially sensitive material comes from a sudden living whirlwind, a secret nighttime outing, and the presence of forest spirits and unusual cat vehicles, which may unsettle very sensitive viewers who dislike darkness or strange creatures. Even so, the intensity is very low, with no real violence, no coarse language, and no sustained threat, and the overall feeling stays warm, brief and reassuring. For parents, the main question is whether their child enjoys magical nighttime adventures or prefers more grounded and predictable stories. Around age 4 is a reasonable minimum for many children, especially if they already respond well to calm fantasy such as My Neighbor Totoro.
Synopsis
Mei is eating a caramel on one very windy day, when suddenly a whirlwind appears and starts chasing her. The whirlwind turns out to be a baby cat bus. Mei offers the kitten a caramel and the two become friends. That night, the baby cat bus visits Mei. Letting Mei ride inside him, he leaps out into the sky. They head for the midnight forest full of ghosts. Other cat buses large and small have also gathered together.
Difficult scenes
Early on, Mei is startled by a strange whirlwind that seems to chase her into the house. The scene is not aggressive, but the sudden movement and the unexplained nature of the presence could unsettle a very young child or one who is sensitive to surprising magical events. During the night, the kitten bus takes Mei on a secret journey through the sky and into a dark forest. The sequence remains wondrous rather than threatening, but the idea of leaving home while everyone is asleep, along with nighttime spirits and unusual creatures, may cause a mild scare for some children.
Where to watch
No verified platform for the US market yet. We keep this section updated as availability changes.
Availability checked on Apr 01, 2026
About this title
- Format
- Short film
- Year
- 2002
- Runtime
- 14m
- Countries
- Japan
- Original language
- JA
- Directed by
- Hayao Miyazaki
- Main cast
- Chika Sakamoto, Hayao Miyazaki
- Studios
- Studio Ghibli
Content barometer
Violence
0/5
None
Fear
1/5
Mild
Sexuality
0/5
None
Language
0/5
None
Narrative complexity
0/5
Simple
Adult themes
0/5
None
Expert review
This short animated film returns to the world of Totoro with a gentle, curious and dreamlike mood, clearly aimed at young children who are comfortable with fantasy. The only potentially sensitive material comes from a sudden living whirlwind, a secret nighttime outing, and the presence of forest spirits and unusual cat vehicles, which may unsettle very sensitive viewers who dislike darkness or strange creatures. Even so, the intensity is very low, with no real violence, no coarse language, and no sustained threat, and the overall feeling stays warm, brief and reassuring. For parents, the main question is whether their child enjoys magical nighttime adventures or prefers more grounded and predictable stories. Around age 4 is a reasonable minimum for many children, especially if they already respond well to calm fantasy such as My Neighbor Totoro.
Synopsis
Mei is eating a caramel on one very windy day, when suddenly a whirlwind appears and starts chasing her. The whirlwind turns out to be a baby cat bus. Mei offers the kitten a caramel and the two become friends. That night, the baby cat bus visits Mei. Letting Mei ride inside him, he leaps out into the sky. They head for the midnight forest full of ghosts. Other cat buses large and small have also gathered together.
Difficult scenes
Early on, Mei is startled by a strange whirlwind that seems to chase her into the house. The scene is not aggressive, but the sudden movement and the unexplained nature of the presence could unsettle a very young child or one who is sensitive to surprising magical events. During the night, the kitten bus takes Mei on a secret journey through the sky and into a dark forest. The sequence remains wondrous rather than threatening, but the idea of leaving home while everyone is asleep, along with nighttime spirits and unusual creatures, may cause a mild scare for some children.