Hayao Miyazaki’s second film for Studio Ghibli, My Neighbour Totoro was one of the first to draw international attention to Japanese animation, and is now generally considered one of the best in the genre. Its appeal is not hard to recognise; the visuals are beautifully hand-crafted, and it is, as Roger Ebert wrote, “a children’s film for the world we should live in, rather than the one we occupy”.

When sisters Satsuki and Mei move to an old house to be closer to their ailing mother, they discover a magical world in the nearby forest, populated by benign, playful spirits and trolls. Befriended by these creatures, the girls are comforted in their time of need. Effortlessly adding fantastical elements to a story grounded in reality, Miyazaki tells a tale that is simple, wonderful, and utterly unforgettable. (Notes by Kevin Coyne.)

IFI Age Recommendation: PG

This film will be shown in a dubbed version on May 25th and 26th. All other screenings will be subtitled.

Between May 24th – 30th we will also be screening Isao Takahata’s Grave of the Fireflies. 

See also our IFI Family screening, The Adventures of Robin Hood, the classic adventure from Warner Bros. which is showing on the 90th anniversary of the famed Hollywood studio (May 26th at 11.00).