The little heroine Mimiko bears a superficial resemblance to Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking, who was a model for the character. Back in 1971 (a year before this film's release), Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata planned on doing an animated film adaptation of Lindgren's character. Both Miyazaki and Takahata went to Sweden to not only do location scouting, but personally discuss the production with Lindgren. Unfortunately, after their meeting, the rights were refused and the proposed project was canceled. (Watercolored storyboards by Miyazaki are among what remain of the project.)