Video

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

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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