> I know this question is going to get lost in the
> excitement over the movie, but just out of curiosity
> I was wondering about everyone's _second_ favorite 
> anime character designer/ manga artist.

Rumiko Takahashi - but ONLY for Maison Ikkoku. 

People ask me why I get so irate at parts of Ranma;
it's because I know how well she can write if she's
really _trying_...

For consistancy though I'd turn to the mighty Hayao
Miyazaki. Totoro is timeless and universal - that
movie will last as long as the music of the Beatles.

Sam the man