Long acknowledged as the preeminent animator and director in Japan, Hayao Miyazaki remained a cult figure to American devotees of "manga" (Japanese comic books) and "anime" (Japanese animated features) until the 1999 US release of his undisputed masterwork "Princess Mononoke" (1997). Acquired by Miramax and redubbed into English using a script by Neal Gaiman and the vocal talents of actors like Billy Bob Thornton, Claire Danes, Billy Crudup and Minnie Driver, "Princess Mononoke" introduced the richly crafted animation and superb storytelling to mainstream audiences. The film was deemed too
Hired to work as an in-betweener at Toei Douga; worked on the TV series "Okami Shonen Ken/Wolf Boy Ken" and the feature "Wan Wan Chushingura/Watchdog Bow Wow"
1965
Spent three years working on the animated feature "Prince of the Son", directed by Isao Takahata
1971
Left Toei Douga to join Takahata at A-Pro
Accompanied Yukata Fujioka to Sweden in vain attempt to secure rights to "Pippi Longstocking"
