Scott Morse is a force of nature. He’s the most prolific artist I know, hands down. In the time I’m trying to put one book out he’s just finished publishing three wonderful books. Really amazing. I can’t wait for one of his upcoming projects, an autobiographical comic I’ve seen him hard at work on in the last few months: Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!

“TOTORO wasn’t the first Miyazaki film I’d seen.  In high school, a friend gave me a copy of NAUSICAA and I fell in love with it, carrying around a cassette tape of the haunting soundtrack.  Joe Hisaichi’s music continued to haunt me, and the soundtrack to TOTORO has worked its way into the life of my 3 year old son.  We pull out our ukuleles and play together, embracing the spirit and message of TOTORO, refusing to grow up and become blind to the magic of the world around us.  This feeling inspired the OTTORO piece I did for the auction.  The quiet pace and reflective, atmospheric world of TOTORO, the forest, the surrounding fields, the mysterious bus stop and ruined temple, all creeped into the inspiration of the second piece I contributed, URSALO, a bear who stands stoic and proud atop her chopped down home as it’s carted off to help build a nearby village.  You’ve got to give a little in life, and Ursalo somehow knows that.  But to give a whole forest does more harm than good.  I hope TOTORO’s forest stands, and stands proudly.” — Scott Morse