The Cartoon Art Museum proudly presents 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 artwork featured in the exhibition was inspired by Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic animated feature film My Neighbor Tororo. The artwork was auctioned at a fund raising event at Pixar Animation Studios on September 6, 2008, and raised over $200,000 for the Totoro no Furusato National Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of Japan's Sayama Forest.

The first installment of the Totoro Forest Project exhibition runs through January 18, 2009. The second installment runs from Saturday, December 6, 2008 through February 8, 2009, and visitors will be able to see the entire selection of artwork from December 6, 2008 through January 18, 2009.

The opening reception for the Totoro Forest Project will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2008, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. This reception is free and open to the public. Special guests include the Totoro Forest Project executive committee: Pixar Animation Studios artists Dice Tsutsumi, Enrico Casarosa and Ronnie Del Carmen, plus Yukino Pang of San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum. Several artists whose work is included in the exhibition, including many artists from Pixar Animation Studios, will also be in attendance.

Copies of the limited edition Totoro Forest Project auction catalog will be on sale the night of the event. Supplies will be limited to one purchase per customer, and are expected to sell out quickly.

Green tea for the reception will be provided courtesy of Samovar Tea Lounge http://www.samovartea.com/.

About The Totoro no Furusato National 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 legendary animated film 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 dollars and has over 1500 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, please visit http://www.totoroforestproject.org/