10+ Midjourney Prompts to Create Stunning Studio Ghibli-Style Artworks

author - Abby Poole
Abby Poole

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Have you ever dreamed of stepping into the enchanting world of Studio Ghibli, where magic and wonder intertwine with everyday life? Imagine strolling through the lush forests of "My Neighbor Totoro," watching Totoro and his friends play among towering trees. Picture yourself standing beside Howl, battling dark forces in "Howl's Moving Castle." Or perhaps you envision following the spirited and adorable goldfish princess, Ponyo, on an unforgettable ocean adventure.

Midjourney makes all of this possible, transforming your Studio Ghibli Midjourney prompts into cartoon masterpieces inspired by the magical world of Studio Ghibli. No ink, no paint, just your imagination and a touch of Ghibli magic!

Quick Guide to Craft Midjourney Ghibli Art for Stunning Details

With the power of Midjourney, you can bring your own Ghibli-inspired visions to life! This quick guide will equip you with the essential tools and techniques to craft stunningly detailed Midjourney artwork that captures the essence of this beloved animation studio.

Step 1. Generate Ghibli-Style Artwork in Midjourney

Firstly, you need to write a Studio Ghibli Midjourney prompt, mentioning "Studio Ghibli" or "Hayao Miyazaki" for style reference, weaving elements of nature like lush forests or sparkling rivers, describe your scene in detail, including characters and emotions, and considering the "niji 5" setting for a hand-drawn aesthetic. Then put the prompt after /imagine to generate your Ghibli-style artwork.

Step 2. Upscale Your Studio Ghibli Dreamscapes for Maximum Impact

While you can certainly use Midjourney to upscale your images after generating them in the Miyazaki style, it has limitations. V5 can upscale by 4x, while V6 can only upscale by 2x at most. Additionally, according to some users, there are still blurriness issues with Midjourney's upscaled images.

Midjourney vs Aiarty Image Enhancer

However, Aiarty Image Enhancer is much more flexible. It can directly upscale images to 2x, 4x, 8x, or 4k, 8k, 16k, or even 32K, while maintaining clarity and generating more details.

  • Turn small Midjourney creations into stunning, high-resolution posters - upscale up to 4K, 8K, 16K, or even 32K!
  • Automatically removes noise and imperfections for crystal-clear visuals. Say goodbye to blurriness or pixelation.
  • 3 AI models adapted for any image, including the Studio Ghibli style ones.
  • Trained on millions of images, it delivers exceptional results on a variety of devices (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, and even CPUs).
Upscale Studio Ghibli images

What is the Art Style of Studio Ghibli?

The art style of Studio Ghibli is renowned for its unique blend of realism and fantasy, characterized by meticulous attention to detail, vibrant color palettes, and expressive character designs. At the heart of this distinctive style is the vision of Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary filmmaker and co-founder of Studio Ghibli.

Let's delve into the key characteristics that define this beloved studio's aesthetic:

  • Hand-drawn Animation: Studio Ghibli's films are meticulously crafted using traditional hand-drawn animation techniques, imbuing each frame with a sense of artistry and warmth.
  • Detailed Backgrounds: The studio's backgrounds are meticulously detailed, creating immersive and believable worlds that transport viewers into the narratives.
  • Expressive Characters: Studio Ghibli's characters are known for their emotive expressions and relatable personalities, drawing audiences into their stories and journeys.
  • Harmonious Color Palettes: The studio's color palettes are carefully curated, often utilizing soft, natural tones that evoke tranquility and nostalgia.
  • Nature as a Central Theme: Nature plays a pivotal role in Studio Ghibli's films, often serving as a source of magic, wonder, and connection for the characters.

How to Create Studio Ghibli Style Midjourney Prompts

Creating Studio Ghibli style prompts with Midjourney involves a few key steps to ensure your descriptions capture the essence of Ghibli's magical worlds. Here are some guidelines to help you craft the perfect prompts:

1. Use Niji model

Midjourney offers a captivating tool for artists and enthusiasts – the Niji model. This specialized model focuses specifically on generating artwork that reflects the vibrant and diverse styles of anime. Here's a breakdown of the two main versions of Niji currently available:

  • --niji 4: This version represents the earlier iteration of the Niji model. While still capable of producing impressive anime-style images, it may exhibit a slightly less refined and consistent aesthetic compared to its successor.
  • --niji 5: This is the latest and most advanced version of the Niji model. It boasts significant improvements in terms of detail, accuracy, and consistency in representing various anime styles. Whether you're aiming for the bold lines and dynamic action of classic shonen anime, the soft and expressive characters of shoujo, or anything in between, niji 5 offers enhanced capabilities to achieve your desired vision.

When using Midjourney, --niji 4 and --niji 5 option is essential for achieving the anime-inspired look that closely resembles the Ghibli style. This option enhances the overall aesthetic, adding a touch of the whimsical and fantastical elements characteristic of Studio Ghibli.

💬 Prompt: A Studio Ghibli-inspired portrait of a young girl with big, expressive eyes, rosy cheeks, and a warm smile. Her hair is styled in a short bob with bangs, and she is wearing a simple, flowing dress. She is standing in a lush, green forest, surrounded by towering trees and vibrant wildflowers. The sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. --ar 3:2 --niji 5

Midjourney Studio Ghibli Niji prompt

2. Incorporate Studio Ghibli-Related Terms

To write effective Studio Ghibli Midjourney prompts, use terms directly related to the studio and its iconic works. For example, mentioning "Studio Ghibli," "Hayao Miyazaki," "Totoro," "Spirited Away," and other well-known Ghibli films and characters will help Midjourney understand the specific style you're aiming for.

💬 Prompt: Miyazaki style, a big pizza with Totoro sitting and eating it, she is smiling with joy. The scene is perfectly symmetrical in a Wes Anderson style. --ar 4:3 --niji 5

incorporated studio ghibli terms

3. Use Descriptive Adjectives

Enhance your prompts with descriptive adjectives that capture the mood and atmosphere of Studio Ghibli's worlds. Words like "whimsical," "enchanting," "lush," "magical," "nostalgic," and "dreamlike" can help convey the unique feel of Ghibli's art style. These adjectives will guide Midjourney in creating visuals that reflect the charm and wonder of Ghibli's films. Check more modifiers to add depth, style, and emotion to Midjourney studio ghibli prompts.

  • Cinematic: Spice up your prompt with "cinematic" for a grand, dramatic atmosphere that grabs attention.
  • Movie Still Magic: "Movie still" captures a perfect film scene, complete with mood, tone, and emotion. Ideal for recreating that iconic scene feeling.
  • As seen in: Use "as seen in [Movie Name]" to generate artwork that replicates the style of your favorite Ghibli films. For example, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, My Neighbor Totoro etc.
  • Retro: "Retro" injects a nostalgic vibe by channeling a specific era's design elements, adding a unique and nostalgic visual experience to your artwork.
  • Vibrant: "Vibrant" means bold, eye-catching visuals bursting with energy. Think bright colors, strong shapes, and dynamic compositions for artwork that demands attention.
  • Surreal: Blur the lines between reality and fantasy! "Surreal" incorporates dreamlike elements, creating unexpected combinations. Imagine melting clocks or landscapes morphing into creatures.
  • Hand Drawn: "Hand Drawn" creates artwork with a personal touch. Think textured lines, expressive brushstrokes, and a unique, heartfelt Hayao Miyazaki Midjourney style.
  • Emotional: The emotion adds a layer of sensory language and creative expression to your artwork. Use evocative language to evoke happiness, sadness, or awe.

💬 Prompt: A child stands on a vast grassland, extending a hand as a colorful airship materializes before them, surrounded by talking animals and fantastical plants. The scene is imbued with the dreamlike colors and details reminiscent of a Miyazaki film, highlighting the child's longing for endless possibilities and the power of imagination. Created Using: vibrant colors, detailed textures, soft lighting, whimsical creatures, dynamic composition, lush vegetation, imaginative aircraft, Miyazaki-inspired ambiance, X prompt, hd quality, natural look –ar 16:9

Midjourney Ghibli style prompt

4. Focus on Themes and Motifs

Incorporate common themes and motifs found in Studio Ghibli films into your prompts. Nature, adventure, friendship, and the clash between tradition and modernity are recurring themes in Ghibli's works. Mentioning these themes can add depth to your prompts and inspire Midjourney to create images that resonate with the Ghibli spirit.

💬 Prompt: by studio Ghibli, castle made of different scallop , a boy and a fat puffer fish run to the castle

midjourney studio ghibli themes

5. Be Specific with Details

Provide specific details about the scenes or characters you want to create. Describe the setting, the characters' appearances, and any notable features or elements. For example, if you want to create a scene reminiscent of "My Neighbor Totoro," you might describe a "lush, green forest with towering trees and a giant, friendly creature with a round belly and a wide, toothy grin."

More Midjourney Examples with the Studio Ghibli Style

A Photorealistic Building of Ghibli Style

💬 Prompt: A photorealistic computer-generated image of a building. Ghibli Style. The image should include wildlife such as birds, rabbits and deer. 16k –ar 7:3

A Photorealistic Building of Ghibli Style

This Studio Ghibli prompt aims to create a photorealistic scene with a touch of Ghibli magic. While "photorealistic" signifies a highly detailed and lifelike image, "Ghibli Style" introduces a layer of whimsy and natural harmony. The inclusion of wildlife like birds, rabbits, and deer further emphasizes the Ghibli connection by highlighting a connection with nature.

A Hot Spring Town with a Red Bridge

💬 Prompt: Scenery of a hot spring town in a Ghibli-esque style, featuring a red bridge –ar 16:9

A Hot Spring Town with a Red Bridge in Ghibli Style

This Ghibli-inspired prompt aims for a hand-drawn scene of a charming hot spring town. Soft colors, detailed backgrounds, and a red bridge as the focal point capture the essence of a Ghibli location.

A Train Running in Spring

💬 Prompt: a train running in spring, with clear blue sky adorned by big fluffy white clouds. On one side, there is a shimmering lake reflecting the light, and on the other side, a green meadow adorned with blooming flowers, by Makoto Shinkai, in a realistic hyper detailed render style, glow, realistic oil –ar 16:9 –stylize 1000

A Train running in spring of Ghibli Style

This Studio Ghibli prompt attempts to blend elements from two distinct styles: Ghibli and Makoto Shinkai. Ghibli elements focus on a train journey in springtime with a clear blue sky and fluffy clouds evokes a sense of wonder and a connection with nature, often seen in Ghibli films. The hyper-detailed, realistic render style with a "glow" and "realistic oil" aesthetic is more characteristic of Shinkai's work. You can find such elements on the mountains, green meadow, and blooming flowers.

Bird’s eye view of a steampunk ship

💬 Prompt: studio ghibli style. Bird’s eye view of a steampunk ship sailing over a dense green forest canopy at midday. Big white clouds in blue sky. Windy. Leaves blowing. –stylize 250

Bird’s eye view of a steampunk ship

This Studio Ghibli Midjourney prompt focuses on a dynamic scene with a touch of fantasy, aiming to capture the essence of the studio's style. The "bird's eye view" offers a unique perspective, showcasing a steampunk ship soaring above a lush green forest. Elements like the blue sky with white clouds and the windy condition further enhance the sense of adventure. While "steampunk" isn't necessarily a typical Ghibli theme, the focus on nature, a sense of wonder, and the fantastical element of the ship aligns with the studio's spirit.

A Ghibli-inspired YouTube Channel Icon

💬 Prompt: Happy magical animal cooking, hayao miyazaki anime style, flat color background, picture for channel icon on youtube, simple form graphic

A Ghibli-inspired YouTube Channel Icon

This Studio Ghibli-inspired prompt crafts a delightful YouTube channel icon. Featuring a happy, magical animal cooking in Hayao Miyazaki's signature hand-drawn style, it captures the studio's charm with vibrant colors and a touch of magic. The flat color background and simple form graphic ensure clarity and recognizability at small sizes, making it ideal for a visually appealing YouTube presence.

Create a Character in the Fantastical Ghibli-esque World

💬 Prompt: In the whimsical world of Studio Ghibli, Rosa the Mystical Wanderer, makes her way, her garments fluttering like the pages of an ancient tome, each pattern a chapter of her saga. Her hair, a wild cascade adorned with the treasures of the earth, tells of her untamed journey. Her bracelets and necklaces, each a talisman of mystical lore, gleam with the promise of hidden powers. In her possession, a small music box, as enchanted as the tales she weaves, its melody a key to the mysteries she embraces. Her eyes, alight with the fire of curiosity and wisdom, invite you to join her in exploring the unseen corners of the world, in true Ghibli fashion. Created Using: Studio Ghibli-inspired exploration, vibrant and mystical wanderer attire, detailed accessories, enchanted music box with ancient allure, hd quality, natural look –ar 16:9

Create a Character in the Fantastical Ghibli-esque World

This prompt meticulously crafts a captivating character inspired by Studio Ghibli. It delves into the world-building aspect often seen in Ghibli films, describing Rosa, the "Mystical Wanderer," not just visually but also narratively. Her clothing becomes a testament to her journey, her accessories imbued with mystical power, and the music box a key to further exploration. The prompt specifies a "Studio Ghibli-inspired exploration" aesthetic, emphasizing vibrant colors and a connection to nature. Overall, this prompt goes beyond just an image, creating a rich character within a fantastical Ghibli-esque world.

Conclusion

The enchanting worlds of Studio Ghibli, known for their unique blend of realism and fantasy, continue to captivate audiences worldwide. Through Midjourney, you can bring these magical realms to life by crafting well-designed prompts that capture Ghibli's detailed artistry, vibrant color palettes, and expressive characters. By understanding and incorporating the key elements of the Ghibli style—such as the whimsical, the magical, and the nostalgic—you can create stunning visual narratives reminiscent of beloved films like "My Neighbor Totoro," "Spirited Away," and "Howl's Moving Castle." With just your imagination and a touch of Ghibli magic, Midjourney transforms your ideas into vivid cartoon masterpieces, allowing you to step into and share these enchanting worlds with others.

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Abby Poole is a seasoned AI enthusiast, with years of experience in the generative AI field. She has become a proficient user of AI tools like Midjourney. Abby’s expertise in crafting intricate prompts has led to the creation of countless stunning visuals. Her in-depth knowledge of AI and her passion for sharing it make her a valuable asset to the Aiarty team.

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