LogFAQs > #985602128

It was one of the few major cinematic pushes for anime. I think Akira might be the only other one that I can think of. I don't remember any previous works from the studio having the same amount of weight behind it. The fact that it was pretty solid and had a basic coming of age story without all the anime cringe helps it age pretty good and helps it fit in with the Disney classics. I guess there was also Pokemon the Movie but that fad was nuclear hot at the time. It could have been made with sock puppets and filled theaters.