Film

The National Museum of the American Indian, which is located in the stunning Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, is a great destination on any day, literally. It's one of only a few NYC museums that are open every day throughout the year (save Christmas) and admission is always free.

But this winter, there's a new reason to visit: The institution's first-ever Animation Celebration! Looking North. Instead of bundling up and listening to traditional tales around a fire, families are invited to experience the vibrant stories and culture of Native Americans from Canada’s Arctic and Subarctic regions in the museum's toasty second floor screening room.

Disney, Pixar and DreamWorks aren't the only film studios making amazing animated family flicks. Since 1984, Japan's Studio Ghibli has released 17 stunning anime movies, most the brainchild of writer, artist and director Hayao Miyazaki, who masterminded Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro and the Little Mermaid-inspired Ponyo. Unlike a lot of Hollywood family releases, Miyazaki's films are unpredictable, thought-provoking and nuanced, and address some really dark issues head on, like death, parental separation and unsettling adolescent fantasies. This isn't your average bland kid stuff. These films appeal to school-age kids, teens and grown-ups alike.

Through Thursday, December 20, GKIDS—the organization behind the annual New York International Children's Film Festival—is hosting a retrospective of Studio Ghibli movies at the IFC Center in Greenwich Village. Fifteen films will be shown in total, all brand-new 35mm prints. So whether you've seen these flicks on DVD or never watched them at all, this is your family's chance to experience them in their full big-screen glory.