Re:The Man himself was in Toronto. . . (Score 2, Informative)

Interestingly enough, Roger Ebert interviewed Miyazaki when he attended the Toronto festival a couple of years ago before the production of this film. Miyazaki told him that Princess Mononoke would be his last major film. Last week, Ebert said that Miyazaki was so moved by Spirited Away's story that he decided he just had to make one more.

Incidentally, whether you like Ebert or not, he is a particularly big anime fan and has given this movie rave reviews.