 Miyazaki had previously directed films for small children and teenagers such as "My Neighbor Totoro" and "Kiki's Delivery Service", but he had not created a film for 10-year-old girls.For inspiration, he read shōjo manga magazines like "Nakayoshi" and "Ribon" the girls had left at the cabin, but felt they only offered subjects on "crushes" and romance.When looking at his young friends, Miyazaki felt this was not what they "held dear in their hearts" and decided to produce the film about a young heroine whom they could look up to instead.