Princess Budou, Amano's elaborately illustrated rendition of the classical tale of royal love from Tales of 1001 Nights, was published in 1996- the conclusion of more than three years of work on the project.

Even before the book was bound, a copy found its way to California, where it came to the attention of Hollywood composer David Newman. He had just been commissioned by Los Angels Philharmonic director Esa-Pekka Salonen to collaborate on the first in a new series of "Filmharmonic" concert. movies-short films that would be accompanied by original scores, performed live by a full orchestra. A film version of Amano's Princess Budou, Newman decided, would make the perfect companion for his score.

"Ifound his work musically evocative", Newman says. "It's interesting for me to write music to." In April 1998, the 20-minute product of their collabaration premiered at the Philharmonic. New technology allowed the music and animation to be perfectly synchronized- creating what Newman describes as a "visual ballet". And by employing the latest 3-D technology and other experimental techniques, Amano and animation director, Mike Smith raised the prevailing standards in animation with the "Filmharmonic" project.

In the original book, Amano worked spontaneously on the highly-patterned, color-drenched illustrations. Creating a world "without up or down, left or right-just free-floarting space", Amano sent Princess Budou and Prince Kamal on a magic carpet ride of adventure until they finally were united by love. Their lyrical, gravity-free world was activated by themes of fantasy, love, longing, eroticism and loneliness -themes.