 The character of Mei was modeled on Miyazaki's niece.After writing and filming "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" (1984) and "Castle in the Sky" (1986), Hayao Miyazaki began directing "My Neighbor Totoro" for Studio Ghibli.Miyazaki's production paralleled his colleague Isao Takahata's production of "Grave of the Fireflies".