This issue of the Animation Obsessive newsletter is all about Pippi Longstocking — as interpreted by Isao Takahata, Hayao Miyazaki and Yoichi Kotabe.

That’s quite a lineup. In the ‘80s, Takahata and Miyazaki built Studio Ghibli into a creative powerhouse, and Yoichi Kotabe joined Nintendo — defining the designs for Mario, Bowser and more. The trio’s work got known around the world.

Before the fame, though, there was the Pippi series.