Summary
Studio Ghiblihas no lack of strange and original creatures in its animated films. Many of them are based on real animals, or creatures from Japanese folklore. But some are original creations from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki and his team, and these creatures are particularly special. They are unique toStudio Ghiblifilms, and part of what makes the movies so magical to viewers.
One of the most well-known and popular of these creatures is soot sprites. They appear in not just one Studio Ghibli film, too, but in a few. What exactly are soot sprites? Which movies do they feature in, and what do soot sprites do? Where did soot sprites come from? And are soot sprites inspired by something else?
What Exactly are Soot Sprites?
“Soot Sprite” is the common English name given to these creatures, but their name is a little bit different in Japanese. In the original Japanese, they are called “Susuwatari,” which means “Traveling Soot,” and also “Makkuro-Kurosuke,” which means “Pitch Black.” However, they have been given the much cuter name “soot sprite” in the English versions of Studio Ghibli films, which retains the original “soot” but shows more of their magical quality as a kind of tiny spirit by using the word “sprite.” They are also called “dust bunnies” in the dubbed version ofMy Neighbor Totoro.
Understanding their name helps us to understand what soot sprites are. They are tiny living creatures made of soot, as shown when they are crushed and return to soot again (though they can even come back from that!). They areclearly something magicalas well, perhaps either conjured from soot by magic, or spirits that are made of soot, as they are unable to die. They are only found in places that are touched by magic, and are connected to a fantasy world beyond our own.
Interestingly, soot sprites are original creations in the Studio Ghibli world. They do not come from any other story or folklore, and while they have a bit of folklore within the films themselves, it is not based on anything from reality (but more on that soon). Instead, they are from thewonderful imagination of Hayao Miyazaki, and thus unique and special to the Studio Ghibli films where they appear. They have gone on to be a fan-favorite creature whose motif can often be seen on merchandise, and who many associate Studio Ghibli with instantly when they are soon.
What Studio Ghibli Movies Feature Soot Sprites?
Soot sprites appear in two full-length Studio Ghibli films, and one more recent short. They first made their appearance inMy Neighbor Totoroin 1988, where they show up early in the film in the new house that themain characters move to in the Japanese countryside. The soot sprites tease Mei as she tries to chase them through the house, and eventually are driven away from the old house by the family’s loud antics and laughter. The father in the movie explains that the soot sprites were living in the house because it was old and unoccupied, but once they see that new and friendly people have moved in, they will leave.
The soot sprites returned to another Studio Ghibli film in 2001, 13 years later -Spirited Away. They show up several times in that movie, living and working alongside the boilerman Kamaji. While inMy Neighbor Totorothe soot sprites move around by simply hovering,Spirited Awayshows that they also have long, spindly arms and legs. They help Kamaji load coal into the furnace that heats the hot baths above in return for star-shaped candies, which are likely the traditional Japanese sweet konpeito.
Most recently, the soot sprites appeared in a short made exclusively for the streaming service Disney+ calledZen - Grogu and the Dust Bunnies, which was released in 2022. It was the first time in 30 years for the soot sprites to be called “dust bunnies” again. The short was a collaboration between Studio Ghibli andStar Wars, riding on the back of the success ofThe Mandalorian. In the short,the main character, Grogu, interacts with the soot sprites and eventually is given a flower by them.
What is the Purpose of Soot Sprites?
Soot sprites are never shown to be something negative, and rather show the presence of magic. InMy Neighbor Totoro, while they may seem at first like ghosts haunting the house, they do try to be kind to little Mei by giving her acorns. They serve an even greater purpose though, by foreshadowing the magic that is to come. The soot sprites are simply the first little bit of magic that Mei sees and experiences after moving to the new house, paving the way for her to later meetTotoro, the Cat Bus, and moreon her adventure. The soot sprites are the start, but certainly not the end!
InSpirited Away, the soot sprites show that everyone in the bathhouse has a role to play, and can make a living in return. Even though they are just small spirits, especially compared to the others who live there, they still work hard and play their role inhelping the bathhouse be successful. And in return, they get the candy that they want! The soot sprites also help Chihiro when she needs it, hiding her shoes and keeping them safe until she needs them, and supporting her when she leaves on an important journey to help save her parents.
Above all else, though, the role of soot sprites is to be cute and make us smile. And that is exactly what they do inZen - Grogu and the Dust Bunnies. These are soot sprites at their finest,simply making us feel happy. They are simple and cute, kind and helpful to others, a little mischievous, and magical. Soot sprites were born of Hayao Miyazaki’s imagination over 30 years ago and, thanks to their popularity, they continue to show up inStudio Ghibliproperties and continue to bring smiles to all of our faces when we see them.
