The Pokemon franchise has split its attention between video games and the tie-in anime series for over two decades now. With Pokemon Legends: Arceus now approaching launch, many fans are looking forward to the anime miniseries adapting it. However, at least two fans of Pokemon Legends: Arceus are not content to wait--instead, they've created their own anime-style cinematic trailer for the game with a Studio Ghibli flair.
Studio Ghibli is an anime studio that is very well-known for producing a number of classic fantasy and science fiction shows and films. The studio was co-founded by the iconic Japanese animator, director, producer, screenwriter, author, and manga artist Hayao Miyazaki, who helped shape the direction of the medium.
The YouTube channel Channy and Kimberly recently shared a short video imagining Pokemon Legends: Arceus as an 80s anime taking inspiration from Studio Ghibli's work. In the video, a number of pastel landscape scenes are shown while an arrangement of the Pokemon theme plays. After about 15 seconds of build-up, the male player character from Pokemon Legends: Arceus rides quickly past on the back of a Wyrdeer, the Hisuian evolution of Stantler. The characters are clearly animated on top of a pre-rendered background.
The next scene shows a close-up of the female player character's hand, holding a Poke Ball in the style of Pokemon Legends: Arceus. After that, the video showcases a trio of Hisuian Voltorbs rolling through the grassland. They appear to be a family--two babies and a parent. Then, a close-up of the female player character's face shows her cradling the head of a fluffy Hisuian Growlithe. Her facial features are clearly modeled after the cute and expressive way that Studio Ghibli heroines are drawn. In the next scene, another Wyrdeer is shown watching a group of Snorunt toddle through the snow toward it.
In the final scenes of the video, an adorable Hisuian Zorua sends off sparks at the camera before the view switches to show a Darkrai. The Mythical Pokemon appears to attack the viewer before the view suddenly shifts again, this time to a serene view of the Hisui region. The female player character can be seen in the corner of the screen, standing with her back to the viewer. She is accompanied by a small Oshawott that flaps its tail up and down, seemingly mimicking the waving of its trainer's scarf. The video serves as a strong reminder of both the magic of Studio Ghibli films and of how wondrous the world of Pokemon can be with a bit of imagination.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus launches on January 28 for Nintendo Switch.