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...

Anders Ronnow-Klarlund has pulled off something of a coup here. Billed as the first 'fully integrated' puppet feature, though the seminal Team America must have come a close second. Strings treads a very different terrain to the Parker/Stone collaboration though. The tone is more evocative of classical myth from one of the ancient civilisations. It deals with suicide, piety, long burning grudges, hidden identity, political corruption, greed, sexual desire and destiny. The style is reminscent of find out more...