In the same way that Disney and its mascot Mickey Mouse are emblematic of excellence in American animation, Studio Ghibli and its cuddly character Totoro are synonymous with Japanese artistry. Founded in 1985 by visionaries Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, the studio has produced some of the finest hand-drawn features of the past 25 years, including the heartbreaking Grave Of The Fireflies, My Neighbor Toroto, Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, which won an Oscar. For his latest animated epic, Miyazaki turns to Hans Christian Andersen's fairy-tale The Little Mermaid for inspiration.
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