Studio Ghibli is a pretty beloved animation studio, but you wouldn’t know that when logging in to social media. Plenty of people have decided to use AI art to replicate their style, proving that they have no respect for the hard work these artists have put in over the years. It’s a shame this has become a popular meme.
Considering how disrespectful these users have been, fans should show the studio some love. Aside from watching their movies and sharing new screening dates for them, they should also play Bandai Namco’s Ni No Kuni video games.
The Ni No Kuni games will immediately catch anyone’s attention, thanks to a striking art style created by Studio Ghibli. It’s hard to believe that the first game came from the PlayStation 3, as Ni No Kuni: Curse of the White Witch still looks amazing to this day. Whether you’re playing the remaster on PS4 and PC or the direct port on Switch, this game will still look great.
For fans unaware of the first game, Curse of the White Witch follows a young man named Oliver who travels to a fantasy land to bring back a loved one who died. Throughout this adventure, he makes new friends, summons Pokémon-like creatures to battle, and learns about life after loss. With direct help from Studio Ghibli, fans can enjoy the charm that comes with their art and the game itself.
Ghibli wasn’t credited in Ni No Kuni 2, as the studio had lost money and was seemingly closing down. However, the game did have one of the studio’s character designers and composers working on it, so that Ghibli charm is still there. The story is appropriately weird, as the President of the United States (no, really) is reincarnated into a fantasy world where he helps a child become king.
Unlike the first game, Ni No Kuni 2 is an action RPG similar to Star Ocean or Bandai Namco’s Tales series. This game is a bit more ambitious than the first, not only having real-time combat but also including town-building and a variety of side quests. While this game doesn’t have those Ghibli cutscenes, it’s still a great game heavily influenced by the studio’s work.
Both games are readily available on modern consoles, so fans can pick them up now or even wait for a sale. Considering how plenty of people are disrespecting their work, fans should consider picking these games up to appreciate what real art is. They can also rewatch The Boy and the Heron for an extra amount of care.