How to draw a Studio Ghibli movie – with the… | Little White Lies

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How to draw a Stu­dio Ghi­b­li movie – with the direc­tor of The Red Turtle

26 May 2017

Words by Jack Godwin

Michaël Dudok de Wit reveals how tra­di­tion­al ani­ma­tion comes to life.

Gor­geous art­work and mov­ing nar­ra­tives are what we’ve come to expect from Stu­dio Ghi­b­li. Through films such as My Neigh­bor Totoro and Spir­it­ed Away, the Japan­ese ani­ma­tion giants have built a rep­u­ta­tion as one of the world’s most beloved pro­duc­tion hous­es, whose films tack­le life, death and every­thing in between.

The studio’s lat­est film, direct­ed by Dutch ani­ma­tor Michaël Dudok de Wit, is The Red Tur­tle. It’s a med­i­ta­tive reflec­tion on exis­tence and the human con­di­tion which takes a cast­away on a desert island as its nar­ra­tive focus.

In this behind-the-scenes look at the film’s pro­duc­tion, de Wit’s artis­tic craft and atten­tion to detail demon­strates the same skil­ful flair that has made Stu­dio Ghi­b­li such a famous insti­tu­tion, and show­cas­es the clear cre­ative sym­bio­sis present between de Wit and the ani­ma­tion giants.

Check out some exclu­sive con­cept sketch­es below, and grab a copy LWLies 70 to read our inter­view with Michaël Dudok de Wit.

Mountainous landscape with a figure jumping across a gap between two cliffs. Black and white sketch-like illustration showing rocky formations and birds in the sky.
Monochrome illustration depicting a person walking alone through a dense, wooded forest.
Monochrome illustration of lone figure standing amongst tall thin structures resembling tree trunks or pillars.
Abstract sketch of densely packed, jagged black and white shapes representing a chaotic, turbulent sky or cloud formation.
A black and white illustration depicting a person sitting in a grassy field with a landscape of hills and scattered trees in the background.
Sketch of two nude figures, one embracing the other, on a rocky slope.
Sketch of a person sitting in a forest clearing, surrounded by tall, slender trees. Monochrome lines depict the scene.
Black-and-white sketched figures of young children in various poses and activities.
Two illustrated book covers depicting a smiling Black man wearing a hat and tie, with a city skyline in the background

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