ThemaincharacterisDr.MaxHolst,asuccessfulneurosurgeon.OnedayanintenselittlemannamedSteinmetzshowsup,whohastherealabilitytocreateobjectsoutofthinair,usingonlyhismind.Asnoonebelieveshimatfirst,heisheldatawardformentalpatients,butmanifeststhekeytohisdoorandescapes.AshehasaspecialinterestinDr.Holst,SteinmetzsubsequentlyinvitesHolsttohislargemansion,whichisfullofexpensivepaintingsandsculptures,andprovestohimthathecaninfactmaterialiseobjects.Steinmetz’sabilitiesareevolvingbyleapsandbounds,andisprogressingfrombeingabletocreateobjectsonlytobeingabletocreatelivingthings.Hisultimateambitionistobeabletocreateahumanbeing.HetellsDr.Holstthatifhewillonlyperformacertainbrainoperationonhim,Steinmetzwillbecomeabletoattainhisgoal.He’sgotallthenecessaryequipmentsetupinhisbasement.Dr.Holst,however,istoospookedbythewholethingtoagreetothismadscheme,andrefuses.SteinmetzthensetsaboutmanipulatingHolst’slife,topressurehimintoperformingtheoperation.BythenSteinmetzhasbecomeabletocreateatemporaryhumanbeing,andinthehopethathecanperhapsmakehisowncreationperformtheoperation,hemanifestsadoppelgangerofDr.Holst.ThisdoubleproceedstotakeoverDr.Holst’slife,creatingchaosforhimprofessionallyandpersonally.AndthenDr.Holststartsfightingback.Theendinghasthedualvirtueofbeingbothunexpectedandsatisfying有些烦恼，丢掉了，才有云淡风轻的机会。——宫崎骏《龙猫》