How to Make Ghibli-Style Videos and Art in 2025 – Tools, Aesthetic & Strategy Guide

How to Create Ghibli-Style Videos and Art: A Complete 2025 Guide for Creators

The timeless, emotional charm of Studio Ghibli-style visuals is captivating content creators across the world. From Instagram wedding reels to AI-powered animation and brand storytelling—Ghibli-inspired content is becoming a defining visual trend in 2025.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to create Ghibli-style content, the best tools to use, and how to apply it across formats like short-form video, digital art, and storytelling.

What Is the Ghibli Style?

The Ghibli aesthetic is drawn from the iconic works of Studio Ghibli, known for films like Spirited Away, My Neighbor Totoro, and Howl’s Moving Castle. Key traits include:

• Soft pastel palettes and dreamy backgrounds

• Nature-infused environments

• Slow, emotional movement and storytelling

• Focus on innocence, wonder, and peaceful living

• Detailed, hand-drawn animation with painterly textures

This unique visual identity evokes nostalgia and emotional connection—making it perfect for digital creators in 2025.

Why Ghibli-Style Content Is Trending in 2025

• Short-form platforms like Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok reward emotionally resonant content

• AI-powered tools now allow non-artists to create Ghibli-style animations

• Audiences prefer story-driven content over overt commercial messaging

• Wedding, lifestyle, and brand videos increasingly adopt this emotional visual language

How to Create Ghibli-Style Visuals – Step-by-Step

Step 1: Understand the Aesthetic

Before you start designing, study:

• Background landscapes from Ghibli films

• Soft brushwork and analog textures

• Emotional lighting—golden hour, dusk, foggy scenes

• Slow pacing and quiet detail

Use references from original Studio Ghibli works and trending Ghibli-style creators on Instagram or Behance.

Step 2: Choose the Right Tools

For AI-Generated Art or Animation:

• MidJourney or DALL·E – for AI-styled Ghibli scenes

• Runway ML – for video-to-animation workflows

• Kaiber AI – for turning videos into Ghibli-style animations

• CapCut / VN / After Effects – for reel editing with dreamy effects

For Manual Drawing and Animation:

• Procreate (iPad) – perfect for frame-by-frame digital art

• Toon Boom Harmony – professional animation software

• Photoshop + Animation Plugins – for detailed keyframe work

Step 3: Style Your Storyboard

Whether it’s a wedding video or a brand reel, apply:

• Natural elements like trees, birds, grass fields, clouds

• Light flares, subtle grain, and floating particles

• Warm color tones (peach, lavender, teal)

• Slow zooms, panning, and fade transitions

• Piano or lo-fi soundtracks

Keep it slow, sentimental, and narrative-focused.

Where to Use Ghibli-Style Content

• Wedding reels and romantic story edits

• Travel montages and nature vlogs

• Brand intros for wellness, finance, education, and storytelling-based marketing

• Short films or narrative posts on YouTube or Instagram

• Portfolio pieces for visual designers or animators

SEO Advantages of Creating Ghibli-Style Content

• Higher engagement and watch time on social platforms

• Better reach using trending hashtags like #ghiblistyle #ghibliaesthetic

• Increased organic shares and saves

• Opportunity to rank on Pinterest, Behance, and Instagram Explore

• Ghibli-themed searches on Google are growing, especially in visual niches

Final Thoughts

The Ghibli trend is more than an aesthetic—it’s a storytelling philosophy. It encourages creators to slow down, connect emotionally, and design visuals that resonate deeply. With the rise of AI tools and the demand for narrative content, 2025 is the perfect year to embrace this movement.

If you’re a creator, designer, or marketer—Ghibli-style visuals can elevate your brand voice and content visibility.