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