Priscilla Ahn wrote "Fine on the Outside" in 2005. However, she never released it as it felt too personal. After the film was announced, she read the book the film is based on and strongly identified with the lead character, Anna. She decided to submit "Fine on the Outside," which was chosen by producer Yoshiaki Nishimura and Studio Ghibli as the theme song for the film.
Studio Ghibli's final film before taking their longest break from film-making.
'Sheeta' from 'Laputa, Castle in the Sky' makes a cameo appearance behind Anna and Nobuko during the light party.
Based on the book of the same name by Joan G. Robinson.
After Hayao Miyazaki's departure in late 2013 and the declarations made in mid-2014 by Toshio Suzuki (then Studio Ghibli's General Manager), according to which the studio would take a "brief pause" to re-evaluate and restructure, the public opinion has exaggerated the facts - as is often the case - till the current consensus (as of August 2015) that says that after this one the studio will never produce another feature film again. Suzuki expressed some concerns about where the company would go in the future. On the other hand, Miyazaki stated, by the end of 2014, that it was not his intention to let people believe that Ghibli would shut down after his departure: "All I did was announce that I would be retiring and not making any more features" However, the subject is open to speculation.