I just remembered a trip I took to Walt Disney 
World a few years ago, the week that "Tarzan" 
opened.

Anyway, I was on the Animation tour, and we had a 
Q&A session with one of the animators from Tarzan. 
 During a lull, I asked if Disney was becoming 
influenced by anime styles since the frantic 
action scenes, wild camera angles, and complicated 
shading seemed reminiscent of good anime.  The guy 
FREAKED!  This was obviously a question that he 
was schooled to give a very specific answer to.  
In short, he TOTALLY dismissed the idea that 
Disney had been influenced in ANY way by anime.  
None at all.  ZERO.  And he seemed miffed that I 
had even asked (even though I clearly stated it as 
a compliment).

Which to me, was totally damning, since how can an 
artist ignore such a huge segment of his art?!  
Claiming a small influence would have given this 
guy at least a SHRED of credibility.  (chuckle!)

JP