Just a note, if you've only seen the movie but not read the graphic novel it was based on, try to find a copy! The movie only covers about the first 1/4 of the novel, which is more expansive thematically as well as in plot. In particular, the ending of the novel is much more ambivalent than the mostly simplistic moral of the movie.

(If someone is in SF I could lend it to them.)

Thank you, I'll add that to my list of things-to-read.

I have the movie on DVD and on the bonus material it was said that Miyazaki wanted to make the movie first. At that time anime that wasn't based on a graphic novel (or novels) was practically impossible to get into wide distribution. Hence, no funding was available.

So they started by writing the story in a form of graphic novel and had it published first. After a moderate success in manga form it was easier to get the deals for making the anime too.

The bonus material went far enough to state that without the film there wouldn't be Studio Ghibli. Personally I love the film. Even among the Ghibli productions it stands out as a great work of art.

And now I want to read the whole story.