This movie feels like a tribute to those who work behind the scenes of each creative project, as well as to why we value creativity in the first place. It's particularly captivating because of it's loveable characters, relatable themes, gorgeous artistic styles, and brilliant music. The character development of Gene Fini is particularly great to watch, as he goes from a lowly assistant to a passionate filmmaker. There are many ways that this movie could have wasted it's potential, but it does a better job than many films with the same thematic material. A fantastic feel-good anime that I will likely be re-watching over andover again.