Post by: Bandan Preet

How to Make Ghibli-Style Art: Simple Tips & Technique

If you’ve ever been enchanted by the breathtaking visuals of My Neighbor Totoro or the dreamlike scenery in Spirited Away, you’ve already experienced the beauty of Ghibli-Style Art. Studio Ghibli, the Japanese animation powerhouse founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, is renowned for its mesmerizing landscapes, whimsical characters, and painterly aesthetics.

The good news? You don’t need to be a master artist to create your own Ghibli-Style Art. With the right techniques, a sprinkle of imagination, and a few creative tools, you can bring that magic to your own illustrations. Let’s dive into the key tips and techniques that will help you capture the Ghibli essence in your art.

1. Use Soft, Dreamy Color Palettes

One of the hallmarks of Ghibli-Style Art is its enchanting use of colors. Ghibli films often feature soft, pastel-like palettes that evoke a sense of warmth and nostalgia.

Tips for Ghibli Colors:

• Nature-Inspired Tones: Use earthy greens, warm yellows, and soft blues to depict forests, meadows, and skies.

• Gradient Backgrounds: Blend colors softly to create dreamy skies and backgrounds. Ghibli skies often transition smoothly from orange-pink sunsets to lavender-blue nights.

• Subtle Highlights: Add gentle highlights on foliage, water, and fabric to give a sunlit glow.

Pro Tip: Use watercolor brushes in digital art programs like Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, or Photoshop to achieve a soft, painted look.

2. Create Whimsical, Lush Landscapes

The landscapes in Ghibli-Style Art are often just as important as the characters. Lush forests, rolling hills, and quaint villages add a magical and inviting atmosphere.

Key Techniques for Landscapes:

• Details Matter: Add small details like scattered flowers, tiny cottages, or winding paths to make the scene feel alive.

• Layering for Depth: Use atmospheric perspective by gradually lightening the colors in the background. This creates a sense of depth and distance.

• Movement in Nature: Make foliage and grass look dynamic with gentle curves or swaying lines.

Pro Tip: Study real-life scenery and Ghibli film stills to observe how they depict nature’s richness and softness.

3. Add Quirky, Expressive Characters

No Ghibli-Style Art is complete without charming, expressive characters. Ghibli characters often have exaggerated yet subtle features, making them both simple and emotionally rich.

Tips for Drawing Characters:

• Soft, Round Features: Draw round faces, large expressive eyes, and small noses for a soft, innocent look.

• Flowing Hair & Clothing: Add gentle curves and flowing lines to give movement to hair and garments.

• Subtle Facial Expressions: Ghibli characters often convey emotions through subtle glances, gentle smiles, or wide-eyed wonder.

Pro Tip: Use thin, delicate linework for faces and bolder, slightly textured lines for hair and clothing to create visual contrast.

4. Master the Use of Light and Shadow

Ghibli films are known for their stunning lighting effects, which create depth and atmosphere. To capture this in your Ghibli-Style Art, focus on soft, diffused lighting.

Lighting Tips:

• Golden Hour Glow: Use warm orange-pink hues for sunset lighting. Add soft shadows with a hint of purple for contrast.

• Ambient Light: Create subtle rim lighting around characters and objects to give them a gentle glow.

• Moonlit and Night Scenes: Use cool blues and purples for night settings, with faint, glowing highlights.

Pro Tip: Apply a subtle overlay of light textures to add a hand-painted feel, making your art look more Ghibli-esque.

5. Add Playful, Fantastical Details

What makes Ghibli-Style Art so unique is the whimsical and often surreal elements. From floating islands to cat buses, Ghibli worlds are full of creative surprises.

How to Add Whimsy:

• Unexpected Elements: Include magical creatures or floating objects to add fantasy.

• Tiny Hidden Details: Add hidden creatures in the background, like forest spirits peeking from behind trees.

• Charming Architecture: Use curved, organic shapes for houses and buildings to give them a fairy-tale feel.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment with unusual color combinations or dreamy lighting effects.

6. Use Painterly Brushes & Textures

To replicate the hand-painted look of Ghibli-Style Art, use textured brushes in your digital program.

Best Brushes for Ghibli Art:

• Watercolor and Gouache Brushes: Perfect for creating soft, blended strokes.

• Chalk and Oil Brushes: Great for adding rough, painterly textures.

• Cloud and Grass Brushes: To quickly fill in backgrounds with realistic foliage or clouds.

Pro Tip: Reduce the opacity of your brush strokes for a softer, layered effect.

7. Stay Inspired by Studio Ghibli

To truly master Ghibli-Style Art, immerse yourself in the works of Studio Ghibli. Watch their films, pause scenes, and study the color palettes, compositions, and lighting.

Great Films for Reference:

• Spirited Away – For magical creatures and glowing night scenes.

• My Neighbor Totoro – For lush, vibrant nature settings.

• Howl's Moving Castle – For dreamy skies and fantastical architecture.

Pro Tip: Take screenshots of your favorite Ghibli scenes and use them as color references or compositional guides.

Summary:

This article explores how to create Ghibli-Style Art by capturing the magic of Studio Ghibli’s iconic visuals. It covers essential techniques, including using soft, dreamy color palettes, creating whimsical landscapes, and drawing expressive characters. The article also highlights the importance of lighting, playful details, and painterly textures to achieve the signature Ghibli aesthetic. With practical tips and creative insights, readers can bring their own Ghibli-inspired illustrations to life.

Disclaimer:

The content provided in this article is for informational and creative purposes only. DXB News Network does not claim any affiliation with or endorsement from Studio Ghibli or its creators. The techniques and references mentioned are inspired by Ghibli-style art and are intended for educational and artistic exploration. All rights and trademarks related to Studio Ghibli are the property of their respective owners.

Photo: Instagram/@realtoghibli

#trending #latest #ghiblistyleart #studioghibli #ghibliinspired #digitalart #arttips #ghibliillustration #fantasyart #ghibliaesthetic #ghiblistyle #illustrationtips #headlines #topstories #globalUpdate #dxbnewsnetwork #dxbnews #dxbdnn #dxbnewsnetworkdnn #bestnewschanneldubai #bestnewschannelUAE #bestnewschannelabudhabi #bestnewschannelajman #bestnewschannelofdubai #popularnewschanneldubai