Totoro Forest Project: Built by volunteers

That's Noelle, front row, second from left. Zoe, same row, framing me, Dice and Enrico. Our bookends, keeping us from toppling over.

Noelle & Zoe. The plain truth of the matter is that that event at Pixar would not have happened without these ladies. Noelle had been part of many of our other auctions and galleries so we don't hesitate to ask. Actually, we barely get a proposition out and she's already signing up. Zoe had impressed us throughout the whole process that if there was something to ask about the process it would be a safe bet that she'd know the answer. And all that was donated time and energy. Mind you they both have day jobs and lives outside of this project.

After the event we all took time to recuperate and some of us deserve it more than others. Zoe and Noelle went back to their lives, as did all the volunteers. We've tried but we've yet to get together again and mark the event for the monumental effort of faith and goodwill it was. It might point to how everyone did this to contribute to the cause and what it means--with no need to focus on their part in it. I figure that has a lot to do with it.


The tireless crew who put that show on the Pixar Atrium floor.

This past Saturday we finished the second half of packaging the artwork from the auction in preparation for their rightful new owners to send for them. It marks, effectively, the end of the entire arc of these amazing works of art. From artists donating them to the wonderful people who bid and won these beauties and finally the trip to their respective new caretakers.


The last look at these amazing works of art before their final journey. Still more donated time. Dice was sick but there he was ready with supplies and lunch!

To the volunteers: We thank you with the most heartfelt of emotions for all your time, energy and heart. It would not have happened without your part in it. These things are not easy to stage, we hoped you all would show up and that you did. For that a part of a forest somewhere outside of Tokyo will remain untouched and you should know that it's because of your contribution to this project.


That very night after the event we struck the show. Cleaned up after, took down the exhibit and re-wrapped the entire lot and stowed them. All that after being dead tired from putting on the show. The very next day, there's Noelle and Zoe dealing with the details of what we had wrought. We can't love or thank these ladies enough.

Be well and hope to see you all again soon.

Noelle Page
Zoe Boxer

For more details of what the project has accomplished please head on to the Totoro Forest Blog.

Photo credits: Carlos Baena, Boon Heng Pang and yours truly.

Totoro Forest--Forest Heroes gets one of these!

Gouache and watercolor on cold press watercolor board, approximately 6" x 8". Nina appears care of Paper Biscuit Industries.

A little Sumpin' sumpin'. The Forest Hero level tickets ($500) not only gets you into the auction and entitles you to the wondrous catalog of images of all the art it also means that you get a bookplate to come along with it. That bookplate will be especially made, original art--actual media, people--created by our artist friends: Enrico Casarosa, Dice Tsutsumi, Bill Presing, Scott Morse and yours truly.

Above is my first contribution to this pool. I hope to do at least two more. Check out the others made by the guys on our Totoro Forest Blog. Just our way of showing our appreciation to our Forest Heroes for supporting this cause.

See you all soon.

Totoro Forest Project auction tickets
Totoro Forest Project

Totoro Forest Project Blog

Totoro Forest Tickets

First sale of tickets. They are going up for grabs for the September 6, 2008 auction event on Monday starting at 10 a.m.

Monday, August 11, 2008. Each ticket includes admission to the catered event and a perfect bound book (french fold) about the auction and the Totoro Forest initiative. By buying this ticket you will be registered for the auction, and may use your unique ID to bid on items. Please follow the link here.

The mock-up of the book. Spot varnish over every image, making them pop off the page. Dice spared no expense.

With the admission price you get a copy of the auction's very posh catalogue ($40.00) featuring all the magnificent art available that day. We just saw the proofs for the pages of this book and you are getting a very special printed edition of this celebration. Check out all the other tiers of prices and accompanying perks and privileges.


Dice is as unstoppable and determined as anybody I've ever met. Nice guy to boot. Enrico has a way of making any spare moment produce results on anything he sets his mind to. I'm the slug of the team by comparison. Great team of people all around us who are spot on and dedicated. We will feature them on later posts.

Check out the Totoro Forest Project website for more information and a look at all work up for auction.


Link to buy tickets for Totoro Forest Project auction
Totoro Forest Project

Totoro Forest Project

A thank you for inspiring us. This has got to be the auction/fund raiser to beat all. Hayao Miyazaki has been the singular filmmaker who's movies continue to amaze and inspire me over the years. In an animation world that's gone 3D specific (and even going 3D, as in glasses necessary) Miyazaki's movies connect with audiences around the world and holds up even after decades and styles move onward.

The singular, most loved movie of his oeuvre is "My Neighbor Totoro." The forest creatures of all our childhoods come alive in this one simple tale. Miyazaki had an actual forest in Tokyo to serve as his inspiration: Sayama Forest. Today all is not well in this real life forest.

Sayama Forest (approx 8750 acres) is located right outside Tokyo. Urban developement over the last three decades means the forest is losing its land. In 1990 Hayao Miyazaki set up the national trust,Totoro Forest Foundation to preserve the environment in the forest.

To help this cause we have The Totoro Forest Project, a fund raising/auction to suppport the foundation involving donated original art from over 200 internationally acclaimed artists, designers and storytellers from across studios, disciplines and media. All the proceeds will go to help the foundation in preserving Sayama Forest.



The event will be held at Pixar on September 6, 2008 where all the artwork will be on display for a silent auction and live auction following. We expect this to be an amazing day to celebrate and show our gratitude to master Hayao Miyazaki as well as come together to support a cause that can help avert an environmental tragedy.

A high-end catalogue featuring all the amazing artwork in the show is currently being prepared to be available for this night. Along with that the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco will host a special exhibit of this show running from September to December. Watch this blog for further details.


The work-up to the finished piece. More relaxed with this one than the first painting I did. The finished work is 15"x 20" and can be seen on the Totoro Forest website roster. Or click on the image above.

A monumental effort to bring this all to fruition by Dice Tsutsumi, who had the spark of the idea to help the forest after a visit to his home in Japan and hearing of the forest's plight, dedicating all his spare time (and then some) to make this all real for us. My thanks to Yukino Pang of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco's tireless efforts to realize this dream as well my partner in studio, book and art crimes Enrico "No slow button" Casarosa.

Please check out the official Totoro Forest website to take a gander at the donated wonders from a roster of great names in art, illustration and animation.


Totoro Forest Fund

Totoro forest Project
Dice Tsutsumi
Yukino Pang
Enrico Casarosa
Cartoon Art Museum