If your kids are all about cats – this one is where it’s at! The story centers on Kiki, a young witch who wants to be her own woman but is woefully ill-prepared for the rigors of daily life – my 3-year-old can relate. The beautiful depiction of rural Japan is captivating – but not as captivating as the nightly antics of Totoro and his magical friends, including a bus which is a cat. Got fans of the Little Mermaid in your house? Show them this first! My Neighbor Totoro (HBO Max)Ī classic for a reason! Two little girls meet an adorable rabbit-bear forest spirit named Totoro when their father relocates their home to be closer to the hospital where their mother is being treated for a long-term illness. Ponyo herself is enough to capture even the youngest viewers, with her ability to shift from goldfish to little girl in the blink of an eye. The story follows a sea princess named Ponyo, who leaves the sea to befriend a 5-year-old boy named Sosuke. This movie came out in 2008 and instantly became central to Miyazaki’s oeuvre, in my humble estimation. (And because as of this writing, one of the movies is on Netflix.) START HERE for the most kid-friendly Ponyo (HBO Max) In terms of how to stream these movies, the vast majority of Miyazaki films are on HBO Max, but we’ve included direct streaming links for each film just in case. A note! I’ve only included the films Miyazaki both wrote and directed! He’s got a lot of shorts and has collaborated with loads of folks over the years, those aren’t included here. To that end, I’ve made a list of Miyazaki’s films that grows with your growing family.

While there is a lot to be gained for the adult armchair film critic to watch Miyazaki’s films in the order in which they were made, that’s not necessarily the best way to introduce them to kids and inspire a lifelong love of them.

Movies like the cat returns