LittleBigPlanet team wants to work with Studio Ghibli

by Andrew Yoon { Sep 16th 2009 at 8:15PM }

Perhaps you've heard of Studio Ghibli, the studio behind some of Japan's most revered animations? (My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, etc.) Media Molecule's Siobhan Reddy spoke to Develop about the company's success of collaborating with Japanese developers to produce content in LittleBigPlanet, such as the Metal Gear Solid level pack, and the Final Fantasy VII costumes. "They have been amazing. In fact, when we were in the US late last year we were introduced to Kojima and he told one of the level designers that he loved the design of the Metal Gear Solid pack."

So what's next for the LBP team? Well, there's water -- but beyond that, the possibilities are endless. Reddy admitted that she would "definitely" like to work with "Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli." Imagine: a Princess Mononoke level pack, or a Totoro costume for Sackboy! While we're not sure if the LBP team will be able to get the attention of Miyazaki and company, we'd certainly like to see them try.

Tags: littlebigplanet, media-molecule, siobhan-reddy, studio-ghibli

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Apache15 @ Sep 16th 2009 8:25PM

I remember watching My Neighbor Totoro as a kid. That was one of the best movies ever.

Big_Lozbowski @ Sep 17th 2009 10:54AM

You are correct sir! Have you seen 'Ponyo' yet? I think it is still at the movies, it was very good!

Darkfocus @ Sep 16th 2009 8:27PM

anything media Media Molecule touch is Golden little Big Planet was just so good I can't wait for their next Project

Solace @ Sep 16th 2009 8:35PM

LBP + Level Pack = Never

den-69 @ Sep 16th 2009 8:40PM

Spirited Away...
You watch it and you just constantly ask yourself 'Why??'

It's worse than drugs.

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 16th 2009 9:27PM

What are you talking about? Spirited away was as close to a masterpiece as a cartoon can get.

eNrique @ Sep 16th 2009 10:48PM

Mary Jane + Spirited Away = Once in a lifetime

den-69 @ Sep 16th 2009 11:11PM

I'd go as far as to say it was the worst film I'd ever seen, did any of it even make sense to you?
I saw it twice and both times it was awful.

eNrique @ Sep 16th 2009 11:54PM

Maybe you need some extra IQ points, or some weed in your life.

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 17th 2009 8:01AM

"I'd go as far as to say it was the worst film I'd ever seen."

Either you're a troll, or you're a complete idiot. I'm not saying you can't dislike the movie and have your own opinion... But the worst movie ever? Surely you have seen any Uwe Boll movie.

But who knows, maybe the only movies you have seen are Spirited away and... ...The godfather? ...

den-69 @ Sep 17th 2009 10:34AM

Not a troll, have seen a lot of movies.
The plot was terrible, they don't even make an attempt to explain half of the stuff that happens.

SPOILERS
And the bit where that dragon/boy turns out to be a lake she fell in as a kid... Right that makes sense, we could all have easily guessed that because... NO WE COULDN'T HAVE.
It's just one ridiculous thing happening after another.
And then the ending where it turns out everything goes back to how it was before they even entered the place that they didn't need to enter.
Why was her dad driving so fast through the forest like a possessed madman anyway?
It's all just one big mindfuck.

The only bit of sensible plot there was in the film was that they were moving houses and then got out of the car, it goes crazy swayze after that.

den-69 @ Sep 17th 2009 10:35AM

Not a troll, have seen a lot of movies.
The plot was terrible, they don't even make an attempt to explain half of the stuff that happens.

SPOILERS
And the bit where that dragon/boy turns out to be a lake she fell in as a kid... Right that makes sense, we could all have easily guessed that because... NO WE COULDN'T HAVE.
It's just one ridiculous thing happening after another.
And then the ending where it turns out everything goes back to how it was before they even entered the place that they didn't need to enter.
Why was her dad driving so fast through the forest like a possessed madman anyway?
It's all just one big mindf*ck.

The only bit of sensible plot there was in the film was that they were moving houses and then got out of the car, it goes crazy swayze after that.

Big_Lozbowski @ Sep 17th 2009 11:15AM

*spoliers*

I don't understand your point. When they go back time has clearly passed in the 'real' world to the 'spirit' world.

I imagine that this film makes more 'sense' if you are Japanese since they believe that Spirits occupy objects (i.e. trees, rocks, rivers etc) Haku is a river spirt under a spell. See it makes perfect sense!!!!

I actually enjoy watching movies that are made by different cultures, you have to relaise that customs/attitudes and humour will be completely different. for example most old Jackie Chan films have an 'odd' sense of humour, but I completely appreciate that. I'm British and i'll be the first to admit that British comedy is a lot different to American comedy and some Americans don't 'get' our humour.

If you want to 'guess what happens' in movies I suggest you stick to predictable romantic comedies

sUKi @ Sep 16th 2009 8:44PM

Studio Ghibli is too busy to work on little side sticker projects.

Phil @ Sep 16th 2009 8:45PM

Do I see a Totoro costume in the future?

No Kill Tayler @ Sep 16th 2009 8:46PM

I love spirited away.

Extinction @ Sep 16th 2009 8:54PM

Wait, the Final Fantasy costumes are out? I've been waiting for Sackiroth for ages

Ashitaka @ Sep 16th 2009 8:57PM

Unfortunately, I won't happen. Hayao Miyazaki loathes technology (as you can see in his films) and hates (video)games even more. He doesn't even have television, internet and the telephone he has is an old dial disk phone...

Well, if that's the price he pays for producing masterpieces such as Princess Mononoke then so be it.

Luke @ Sep 16th 2009 9:21PM

Yet he makes movies.

Video games are, like movies, a form of entertainment. If he enjoys making movies, I don't see him 'loathing' the possibility of a video game.

Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Sep 16th 2009 9:28PM

I see both of your points, however all of Hayao Miyazaki's films are all hand drawn.

bVork @ Sep 16th 2009 9:47PM

This completely fails to explain why Studio Ghibli is already collaborating with a developer on a video game: http://nintendo.joystiq.com/2009/05/21/ghibli-discusses-the-another-world-in-latest-famitsu/

Ashitaka @ Sep 16th 2009 9:51PM

But you see Luke, he does. I don't know why, I know it doesn't make sense, but it's the truth, I know I've read an interview where he said it but I can't seam to find it. This is the closest to what I read before that I could find:

Mr. Miyazaki said children should spend more time "experiencing nature than getting engrossed in video games and TV."
It's a bit of an ironic statement coming from the world renown animator best known for his iconic feature films such as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Howl's Moving Castle.
His recurrent themes, however, do feature humanity's relationship to nature and technology, as it struggles to maintain a conscientious set of values.
Mr. Miyazaki advocates children learning practical skills like lighting fires and using knives before learning how to read or count--as a backlash to "virtual reality: television, video games, e-mail, mobile phones and manga."
"I think this saps children of their strength," he said, admitting that there is a bit of a paradox to his opinion given his choice of vocation.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/691138/Hayao_Miyazaki_Criticizes_Manga_Mad_Prime_Minister.html

Ashitaka @ Sep 16th 2009 9:55PM

Wow, I didn't know that. But this says it all.

"Studio Ghibli tends to shy away from video games and Level-5 seems to be very lucky to have the chance to work with the animators on The Another World."

They are REALLY lucky to have been given that chance. Perhaps Myazaki is softening up?

manmanpotty @ Sep 16th 2009 8:59PM

The thought of this gives me a boner

dave @ Sep 16th 2009 9:33PM

I'm sure Miyazaki would love to know his work brings out this sort of reaction.

Josh @ Sep 16th 2009 10:03PM

Hahaha, Miyazaki doesn't play games.

Or use the Internet or watch TV or anything 'modern'/electronic, really.

ecco6t9 @ Sep 16th 2009 10:19PM

Best joke of the day right here.

Sasuke Uchiha @ Sep 17th 2009 12:33AM

We still haven't gotten the Final Fantasy VII costumes.

Sayed @ Sep 17th 2009 3:32AM

LOL Totoro, his smile is so creepy :)

taurus82 (PSN ID: taurus82) @ Sep 17th 2009 4:32AM

Ghibli's movies would probably work best as point & click adventures, thanks to they're easy going pace.

taurus82 (PSN ID: taurus82) @ Sep 17th 2009 4:42AM

Ghibli's movies would probably work best as point & click/graphic adventures, thanks to they're easy going pace

killdash9 @ Sep 17th 2009 6:20AM

A Totoro costume pack would be great, but I think a level pack with elements from Ghibli films would be absolutely awesome. The giant insects from Nausicaa, the robots from Laputa (or heck, the island itself), the planes from Porco Rosso, all populating a level where you can catch arrows like Ashitaka and eat people like No-Face. Or hey, maybe you can turn other Sackboys into pigs. Don't think anything like that would happen, though. For one, I don't think Ghibli would approve of the properties all being mixed, as it would dilute the individual works.