I grew up believing my sister was from the planet Neptune and had been sent down to Earth to kill me. I believed this because my sister Emily convinced me of it when I was a toddler. I think she'd seen Invasion of the Body Snatchers and her imagination ran away with her. There's a part of me that still believes it.

In this quote, Zooey Deschanel humorously reflects on her childhood belief that her sister was from the planet Neptune and had been sent to Earth to kill her. Deschanel attributes this belief to her sister, Emily, who convinced her of it when they were young. The origin of this fantastical idea comes from Emily’s imagination, likely fueled by her viewing of the film Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which likely inspired the idea of extraterrestrial beings infiltrating Earth.

Deschanel's statement highlights the powerful influence of imagination on a young mind, where fantasy and reality often blur. As a toddler, she believed the outlandish story her sister told her, demonstrating how children’s understanding of the world can be shaped by creative ideas. The idea that her sister was an alien intent on harm reflects a vivid use of imagination, one that seemed very real to young Zooey at the time.

The phrase "there's a part of me that still believes it" shows how deeply these childhood beliefs can stay with a person. Even though Deschanel has long outgrown the belief, the idea still lingers in her memory, illustrating how powerful childhood experiences and imaginative stories can be. This lingering belief emphasizes the emotional and psychological impact of early experiences on one’s perception of the world.

Ultimately, Deschanel's quote is a lighthearted reflection on how imagination shapes childhood and how easily we can be convinced of fantastical ideas. It also highlights the strong bonds between siblings, with Emily's creativity leaving a lasting, if amusing, mark on Zooey’s childhood. The quote serves as both a humorous anecdote and a reminder of how imaginative storytelling can shape the way we view the world.