My first Hayao Miyazaki experience was watching Future Boy Conan, or Adnan wa Lina as it’s known to most Middle Eastern children who grew up in the late 70s. We all watched lots of Arabic-dubbed Japanese animation but Adnan wa Lina was amazingly popular.

Fast forward to 2003 in London and I stumble across Princess Mononoke on DVD. The characters seemed strangely familiar, and then it all clicks… the style, animation and message are all the same as Future Boy Conan! I was hooked and I bought all the Miyazaki DVDs I could get my hands on. My Neighbour Totoro, followed by Porco Rosso, followed by Castle in the Sky, followed by Nausicaa, followed by Kiki’s Delivery Service, followed by Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle.

Two weeks ago I managed to get my hands on Future Boy Conan in the original Japanese with English subtitles and we’re watching it from episode one. For a series that was first broadcast in the late 70s/early 80s in Bahrain, it hasn’t aged at all. It’s still as exciting, enthralling and magical as it was in my formative years.

Oh yes, the next few weekends are going to be fun!