Walt Disney Studios premiered an English-dubbed version of director Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed animated feature "My Neighbor Totoro" in an exclusive screening Sunday at the Hollywood Film Festival in Los Angeles.
Voice actors and production staff from the newly adapted film held a panel discussion after the screening.
"It was a real treat to take Miyazaki's great works and adapt them to U.S. audiences," said Rick Dempsey, producer and director of the English-dubbed "Totoro."
He has worked on English versions of other Studio Ghibli films, including Miyazaki's most recent feature, "Howl's Moving Castle."
For several years, Disney has had an agreement with Mitaka, Tokyo-based Studio Ghibli to adapt and distribute some of its most popular titles in the United States.
"When 'Spirited Away' won an Academy Award, everyone wanted to do a Miyazaki film," said Ned Lott, producer and casting director of the English-language "Totoro."