The Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco is presenting original works of art from the Totoro Forest Project Charity Auction, a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition featuring paintings, illustrations and sculptures from nearly 200 critically acclaimed animators, fine artists, cartoonists and illustrators.

All of the art for the exhibition was inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic animated feature film “My Neighbor Totoro” (Tonari no Totoro, 1988). The artwork was auctioned at a fundraising event at Pixar Animation Studios on Sept. 6 and then exhibited at the Cartoon Art Museum starting Sept. 20 and continuing through Feb. 8, 2009.

Proceeds from the auction will support the Totoro no Furusato National Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of Japan’s Sayama Forest.

Details regarding the December reception for this exhibition will be announced shortly.

Totoro no Furusato Fund

Sayama Forest is one of the most remarkable urban forests in Japan, located just outside of Tokyo. This forest is said to be the inspiration for “My Neighbor Totoro.” With Japan’s rapid urban development in the 1970s and 1980s, the forest has been diminished to a small fraction of its former self.

In 1990, Miyazaki helped set up a national trust, Totoro no Furusato National Fund, to preserve the park and promote awareness of environmental issues.

The foundation has successfully raised more than $3 million and has over 1,500 members. The fund’s primary purpose is to purchase forest land from the city, and its members have been involved with various nature preservation volunteer activities.

While successful on many levels, the foundation’s efforts continue to face many challenges and obstacles, including rising land values and real estate development.

For more information on this cause and how you can help, visit www.totoroforestproject.org/.

About Hayao Miyazaki

Anime is one of the most influential forms of contemporary art today. Among Japanese masters of animation, Miyazaki is one of the most popular and respected.

The storytelling, visual approach and philosophical depth of his films — including “Kiki’s Delivery Service” (Majo no Takkyubin, 1989), “Princess Mononoke” (Mononoke Hime, 1997), “Spirited Away” (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi, 2001) and “Howl’s Moving Castle” (Hauro no Ugoku Shiro, 2004) — have made a massive impact in the world of filmmaking.
His latest film, “Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea” (Gake no Ue no Ponyo), is currently playing in Japan.

Miyazaki has received numerous honors at home and abroad, including an Oscar for “Spirited Away” and an Oscar nomination for “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

At the Venice Film Festival, he received the Golden Lion for professional achievements in 2005, becoming the first Japanese and the first director of animated films to be so honored. Two of his films have also been nominated for the Golden Lion.

Many prominent animation and illustration artists in the world recognize Miyazaki’s strong influence on their own work. The Totoro Forest Project provides the artists involved with the opportunity to voice their appreciation for Miyazaki and the inspiration he has given them through the years.

Cartoon Art Museum

The Cartoon Art Museum — a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms — is located at 655 Mission St. between 3rd and New Montgomery in downtown San Francisco.

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The museum is closed Mondays.
Admission is $6 general, $4 for students and seniors, $2 for children 6 to 12, and free for members and children under 6.

For more information, call (415) CAR-TOON or visit www.cartoonart.org.