Considered ‘proto-Ghibli’ for Isao Takahata’s direction hence lots of visual similarity. The story (originally written by Kenji Miyazawa) follows a struggling cellist who indirectly learns the skills he needs for his concert through encounters with talking animals.
See also: Fairy Florence
Masami Hata’s Fairy Florence AKA A Journey Into Fairyland (1985) is a Fantasia-inspired film combining classical music with alluring hand-painted scenery. It was animated by Sanrio Films with entirely traditional methods – an ambitious task that took four years to complete.
Moons And Melodies 