Sophie is a young hat maker and though less than satisfied with the life allotted to her she is resigned to her fate. When the wicked witch of the waste transforms her into an old woman however, the world Sophie had expected disappears forever. Finding refuge in the bizarre moving Castle of the wizard Howl, Sophie embarks on a fantastical adventure that will shape the destiny of the world. The latest film from the master animator Hayao Miyazaki Howl's moving Castle is a beautifully rendered flig find out more...

More Miyazaki magic (the creator of Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke and The Castle In The Sky) at last available for us Brits to indulge in. Once again, the world he creates is infused with a realism that borders on the photographic in its detail that makes the fantastical elements of the story strangely believable. Kiki is a young witch who has moved from the country to a seaside town as part of her supernatural work experience. She starts the eponymous delivery service and thus begins her edu find out more...

Set in rural Japan during the 1950s, Tatsuo Kusakabe and his two daughters, Mei and Satsuki, have moved to the country to be near their ailing mother who resides at a local hospital. As the girls explore their surroundings, the younger sibling, Mei, believes that the forest is inhabited by magical creatures, much to the amusement of her father and sister. However, one day Mei gets lost in the forest and discovers a group of Totoros - protectors of the forest. Eventually Mei convinces Satsuki to find out more...

Princess Mononoke was raised by wolves and sounds an awful lot like Baz Luhrmann's ill-fated Juliet. Critically acclaimed, this is one of the biggest manga films of recent years. When a young warrior sets out to find the cure to an illness that is threatening his life he comes across a host of characters that must all fight against gods present in the forests. Mononoke leads the animal gods and the film is clearly an allegory demonstrating the struggle between man and nature through stunning find out more...

Chihiro is moving to the country with her family, and she's not happy, but before they even reach their new home they come to a dark and foreboding tunnel gateway. Victim to her father's curiosity Chihiro finds herself in a fantastical world, a bath house for the Gods ruled by a sinister sorceress. Chipper, brave and resourceful Chihiro must begin a journey to save those dearest to her and return to the land which she knows. Spirited Away is mesmerising, the imagination and uniqueness of the sto find out more...