Kotaku: Studio Ghibli

How an Old Japanese Anime Broke a Twitter Record

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:00:00 EST

Japan loves anime. It also loves Twitter. And this past weekend, the country showed what it could do when it combined both: set a world record. More »

Ni No Kuni Isn't Miyazaki/Ghibli's First Video Game Appearance

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

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Much has been made, and rightly so, of the involvement of Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli with Level-5's PS3 RPG Ni No Kuni (out this week in Japan). It's helped the game look amazing. While it's a welcome partnership, though, it's not the first time the animation legend, or his studio, have turned up in a video game. More »

Make a Live-Action Ni No Kuni Movie, Please?

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:30:00 EST

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Considering how game developer Level-5 collaborated with anime studio Studio Ghibli, I guess the logical thing would be to ask for an animated Ni No Kuni. Screw that. More »

In Korea, Ni no Kuni Is Rated for Adults

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:30:00 EST

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As far as PS3 role-playing games go, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one family friendly game. In Japan, it's rated all ages and promoted with one of the country's most popular child stars. In South Korea, it's a different story. More »

Ni No Kuni's Cutscenes are a Gorgeous Way to Start your Monday

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:30:00 EST

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I'm quite taken by Level-5's upcoming RPG Ni No Kuni. A big reason for that is the helping hand the developers have had from animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli. So watching three of the game's cutscenes is definitely something I can recommend. More »

Does Studio Ghibli Have the Best Beer Label? Yes, Yes It Does.

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 04:00:00 EDT

Studio Ghibli, known for classic anime like My Neighbor Totoro and now PS3 game Ni no Kuni, has a museum. And at that museum, there is beer. And that beer is awesome. More »

Over Thirteen Minutes of Gameplay Footage from the PS3's Best-Looking Game

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 06:30:00 EDT

Level-5's Ni No Kuni was easily my "game of the show" for 2011's Tokyo Game Show. It's the first game I ran to on opening day, and it's the only game I went and played twice. More »

I Think I Just Played the Prettiest Game On the PS3

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 06:00:00 EDT

What determines somebody's "best-looking" game on a system is a subjective thing. Some will prefer clean lines, others copious effects. Me, I can do without either if a game just has great art. More »

Ni No Kuni Is Looking Beautiful In This New Trailer

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 01:30:00 EDT

Ni No Kuni Is Looking Beautiful In This New Trailer" alt="Click here to read Ni No Kuni Is Looking Beautiful In This New Trailer" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/09/small_qbbv7zvtocg.jpg"/>

Here's a new trailer for the upcoming Ni No Kuni for the PS3. The more I see of this game, the more I clench my fists, grind my teeth and try and will it into already being out. And in English. More »

Meet The Most Beautiful PS3 Of Them All

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 23:39:00 EDT

Level-5 and Studio Ghibli's Ni no Kuni may well be one of the prettiest games on the PS3 when it's released, so it's only fitting that its special edition console is just as easy on the eyes. More »

More Painfully Pretty Screens From Studio Ghibli's PlayStation 3 Game

Mike Fahey — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:40:00 EDT

Now that the PlayStation 3 installment of Level-5's Ni No Kuni has a release date, Japanese gamers know exactly how long they have to drool over the gorgeous visuals before diving into Studio Ghibli's video game adventure. More »

That Studio Ghibli Game Is Finally Coming to the PS3 (But It's Expensive!)

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 03:00:00 EDT

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About a thousand years ago, Fukuoka-based game developer revealed it was working on a PlayStation 3 version of Ni no Kuni, its collaboration with venerated anime house Studio Ghibli. More »

Did Pokémon Beat Ghibli?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:50:00 EDT

In its first weekend, anime Pocket Monsters Best Wishes! The Movie placed second at the Japanese box office, behind the new Harry Potter. Ghibli's Kokurikozaka kara, co-written by Hayao Miyazaki and directed by his son, placed third. [Eiga.com via ANN] More »

Among Rumored Blacklists, Studio Ghibli Makes Its Voice Heard

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 02:00:00 EDT

Protests don't get any more polite than this. Late last week, a banner appeared on a Studio Ghibli building outside Tokyo's city center. The banner read: "Studio Ghibli wants to make movies with electricity that's not from nuclear power plants." More »

Where Studio Ghibli Meets Minecraft

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 16 May 2011 05:45:00 EDT

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The modders at Oz Workshop have achieved something remarkable: recreated something in Minecraft that is not mildly amusing, but genuinely awe-inspiring. More »

Ni No Kuni's First Fifteen Minutes Translated For Your Listening Pleasure

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 07:00:00 EST

Ni No Kuni, the Nintendo DS title from animator Studio Ghibli and Professor Layton developer Level-5, is out in Japan. Those outside The Land of the Rising Sun are out in the cold. This video might make things all better. More »

Studio Ghibli Game Will Animate Japanese Sales

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 03:00:00 EST

Today, the Nintendo DS game from Professor Layton developer Level-5 and My Neighbor Totoro creator Studio Ghibli goes on sale in Japan. How's it going to do? Well, how do you think it's gonna do? More »

The Last, Adorable Breakthrough For The Nintendo DS

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 01:30:00 EST

With a touch screen and microphone, the DS has seen some pretty unique games over the years. But wielding the handheld and a giant book at the same time? That's new! More »

Hail To The King Of DS Box Art

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 04:30:00 EDT

This is one of the biggest - and most beautiful - boxes for a Nintendo DS game you will ever see. More »

Ni No Kuni Gets The Handcraft Treatment

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 05:30:00 EDT

Ever wonder what the name of that weird little lantern-nosed guy from upcoming DS/PS3 role-playing game Ni No Kuni is called? His name's Shizuku. And he is adorable. More »

Ni No Kuni Looks Just As Good On DS

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:30:00 EDT

It would be silly to spend all our time showing off the PS3 version of Ni No Kuni, when the game will also be turning up on DS. More »

Ni No Kuni's TGS Trailer Is The Most Delightful Thing We'll See All Week

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 07:30:00 EDT

All those colours...all those Studio Ghibli-designed characters...Level 5 running things under the hood...2011 can't come soon enough for the PS3 version of Ni No Kuni. More »

Ni No Kuni PS3 Hands-On Impressions

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Studio Ghibli, Japan's beloved animation studio, is teaming up with Level-5, one of the country's most popular game makers, for a new adventure called "Ni no Kuni". A high definition version is coming to the PS3. It is beautiful. More »

First Ni no Kuni Commercials Look Like This

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:00:00 EDT

This winter, role-playing game Ni no Kuni will be released on the Nintendo DS. Know what that means? Marketing blitz! More »

Ghibli Has A Dissolution Plan (Long Live Ni No Kuni!)

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:00:00 EDT

Studio Ghibli, currently at work on role-playing game Ni no Kuni with developer Level-5, is famous for its films created by Hayao Miyazaki. Not to be morbid, but Miyazaki won't be making movies forever. What does that mean for Ghibli? More »

Hayao Miyazaki Compares iPad Use To Masturbation

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 08:30:00 EDT

Hayao Miyazaki is the greatest animator alive. And he does not like the iPad. More »

Studio Ghibli's Game Getting A Western Release

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:30:00 EDT

Ni no Kuni, a joint project being worked on by Level 5 and animation legends Studio Ghibli, will be released in Western markets, Level 5's CEO has confirmed. More »

Studio Ghibli's DS Game Also Looking Beautiful

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 EDT

Ni no Kuni, a collaboration between Japanese developer Level 5 and animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli, wowed us yesterday with the PS3 version's glorious trailer. Don't forget, though, that the game is also coming to the DS. More »

See The Trailer For Ghibli's PS3 Game

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 06:30:00 EDT

Famed animation company Studio Ghibli is collaborating with Fukoka-based game developer Level-5 on the upcoming Ni no Kuni. It is now coming to the PS3. We've posted screens of the game. Would you like to see it in motion? More »

Studio Ghibli's PS3 Game Is Breath-Taking

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 03:30:00 EDT

Ni no Kuni, the collaboration between famed anime company Studio Ghibli (My Neighbor Totoro, Kiki's Delivery Service) and Professor Layton developer Level-5, is not only coming to the Nintendo DS, but also the PS3. It will knock your socks off. More »

Studio Ghibli's DS Game Moves To PlayStation 3

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 23:30:00 EDT

One of the best-looking games due for the Nintendo DS is now one of the best-looking games due for the PS3, with this weeks' Famitsu reporting that Level 5's Ninokuni is getting a major facelift for a home console. More »

Japanese Man Arrested For Fake...Stickers

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:00:00 EDT

Daisuke Yamashita, 33 years-old, has been arrested for two counterfeit stickers in an online auction for ¥3,160 (US$36). That's right two. More »

This Studio Ghibli Game Continues To Dazzle

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EDT

Studio Ghibli, the animation studio behind classic anime like My Neighbor Totoro and Kiki's Delivery Service, is making a Nintendo DS game title Ni no Kuni with Fukuoka-based developer Level-5. It is Studio Ghibli's first venture into video games. More »

A Couple Of Ghibli/Level 5 RPG Clips

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:30:00 EDT

Ni no Kuni, an RPG collaboration between Level 5 and animation powerhouse Studio Ghibli, looks great on paper. But how does it look in motion, while you take turns whacking monsters? More »

First Look At Studio Ghibli, Level-5 DS Game Screens

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT

Next Spring, Professor Layton developer Level-5 is releasing Ni no Kuni: The Another World. The DS and still-unannounced-console-platform title is a single player role-playing-game that features the art and animation of Studio Ghibli. More »

Bomberman's Castle In The Sky

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:30:00 EDT

Bomberman does Laputa, by Sakkan, as seen on Tiny Cartridge. More »

Studio Ghibli RPG Looking Good

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 25 May 2009 20:00:00 EDT

Last we heard, Studio Ghibli were taking their sweet time providing the art and animation for Level 5's RPG Ninokuni. One look at these new screens will have you understanding why. More »

Studio Ghibli Taking Their Time On DS Game

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 21 May 2009 08:30:00 EDT

Ninokuni is a dream collaboration between Japanese developers Level 5 and anime craftsmen Studio Ghibli. And, because they are craftsmen, Ghibli are taking their sweet time on the game. More »

Level 5 Studio Ghibli Game Maybe 20% Done

AJ Glasser — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:40:00 EDT

The secret to Level 5's success, says CEO/President Akihiro Hino, is having a really awesome trailer with lots of visual images that target the game's core audience. Said trailer's gameplay footage is "not final." More »

Studio Ghibli/Level 5 Game: The Debut Trailer

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:30:00 EDT

Or, as it's officially known as, Ninokuni. This clip was shown off during TGS, but for some reason didn't form the cornerstone of Level 5's display. Which is strange, considering it looks like a DS game from my dreams. More »