Ok thanks
Well it was a great inspiration, for sure. But in the end, I think you made a very unique series / universe : and it's probably the most important.

Mark's right. We all owe a huge debt to Miyazaki. In fact, the day that Art Vitello was brought in to direct Gummi Bears, exec Michael Webster basically shoved us at one another and said, "Here, get to know each other - you'll be working together for the next year." Art had been in animation for years, I had never done a single show. So Art said, "I want you to watch two movies before we even talk. Then you'll know what is possible." He showed me Nausicaa and La Puta... in Japanese! I didn't have a clue what was going on, but I couldn't get over the aerial scenes! I was an instant convert.

Then when I hired Mark a year or two later, I did the same thing - showed him Miyazaki. He was blown away, as well. Obviously it influenced us when it came time to create Tale Spin.

I will say, however, that I think Mr. Miyazaki saw Tale Spin at some point, cuz the likenesses are striking. The narrow gorge entrance to an inland bay. A sea plane. A fat mammal main character. Air pirates. Hmmmmm........ Maybe that was his way of honoring us (or more likely payback for ripping off his great aerial stuff!)
JM

I'd always felt that Hayao was lookin' at our stuff (I remember coming up with the inlet to the island, city on the inside drawing... and I can't draw); God knows we were looking at his. I think the contrail/heaven scene is one of the great moments in movies (not just animation) - it ranks with Lawrence of Arabia blowing out the match, cut to sunrise moment in my opinion. One of the things that Miyazaki can do (that we could only nod to) was character subtlety and plot sophistication. Plunder & Lightning was fine and dandy, but a middle-aged pig that feels guilt for living through the war when his companions did not... that's just wonder.

My two cents,

Mark Zaslove

Well I have seen it, and even though I usually like Miyazaki's films, I almost found it boring - considering it's veeeeery slow.
I think that Plunder & lightning with the same animation quality / budget as Porco Rosso would have beaten it all the way (and probably would be one of the most famous Disney films, IF it would have been released in theaters)

But I guess it's better to make your own opinion

not sure.. but I've been wanting to see the film myself for a while ..

at least the film doesn't have a humanoid bear in it