Hayao Miyazaki creates some of the best movies for children in the world. My Neighbor Totoro is about a father and his two daughters who move to the country while their mother is in the hospital dealing with a life-threatening illness. The film deals with serious issues, but it also captures the innocence and wide-eyed wonder of childhood like no other movie I’ve ever seen. It’s difficult to explain the film’s appeal unless you can watch it with children, who are magically transfixed by the soot creatures, the cat bus, and, of course, the Totoros. It’s a simple, beautiful film, and one that should be enjoyed by kids of all ages.  

~ Evan Derrick