Kendal Cronkhite is a production designer at PDI Dreamworks and was another big name talent in animation who generously contributed to Totoro Forest Project. She is the one responsible for the distinct design of the blockbuster animated film, Madagascar.
I won’t say much because her comment below says it all so nicely. I just love all 3 beautiful paintings. Thank you Kendal!
“I was a young girl with a strong need for imaginary creatures in my life. I saw them everywhere. Interacting with them filled my days.
I had an imaginary albino monkey named “Snowflake” that walked with me to school. I found “Sparkle Creatures” inside rocks that I’d cracked open. And Fairies flying on the fluff of dead dandelions. Dew drops on spider webs, were to me, water creatures that appeared at night and disappeared during the day. There were even little people in the toaster, painting my toast brown. Infact, there were creatures everywhere when I was growing up. Then slowly, as I grew, they disappeared.
It was the movie, My Neighbor Totoro, that brought all those memories back to life for me. I related to Mei’s imagination, and to having the responsibility of the oldest child, like Satsuki.
The beautiful spirit of the film and the gorgeous images were heart stopping. And even though it was situated in a land and culture very different from my own, it still felt like me, like my experiences as a child.
This is why I felt so honored to be able to create my own Totoro for this great cause, the Totoro Forest Project.
I’ve come to learn during this experience that there are many, many adults and artists out there, that were children just like myself. Children who imagine another world at work.
Children and creatures who need Forests to live.” ———–Kendal Cronkhite