Miyazaki Hayao Studio Ghibli Concept Art/Storyboard Watercolor Rough Sketch Style

Trained on 43 of Hayo Miyazaki's fabulous watercolor rough sketches, mostly conceptual artworks for his Studio Ghibli films.

Miyazaki Sensei needs no introduction. Arguably the greatest animation director of all time, people around the world have enjoyed his imaginative and high quality films from Studio Ghibli, and T.V. series such as Future Boy Conan and Sherlock Hound.

There are plenty of LoRAs for Studio Ghibli anime style, but there are none for his watercolor rough sketch style, so I decided to train one.

Known problems:

• Eyes can look a bit odd for small faces viewed from a distance (his original rough sketches uses a very economical style sometimes😅). You can try a different seed, lower the weight, or try one of the earlier, more undertrained epochs, such as epoch 6.

• Hands can be rendered poorly. Again, this is a rough sketch style and some training images have roughly drawn hands.

• Nausicaa, Kiki, Mei, Satsuki, Totoro, Sheeta, Pazu, Gina, etc., all look a bit different from the actual animated film, but that is how they look in his concept artwork.

• The only character from Porco Rosso is Gina. Gomen 😅.

From ChatGPT:

Hayao Miyazaki’s watercolor rough sketches and concept artworks are a fascinating window into his creative process. They are not only beautiful in their own right, but also deeply expressive and functional—serving as a bridge between imagination and animation.

🎨 Overview of Miyazaki’s Watercolor Sketch Style

Miyazaki uses watercolor and pencil to create loose, expressive, and atmospheric concept art. These sketches often serve as visual notes—capturing mood, setting, and emotion more than precise detail.

• Medium: Pencil outlines with watercolor washes (often on simple sketchbook paper)

• Purpose: To convey tone, world-building, and emotional atmosphere to the production team before full storyboarding or animation begins

• Typical subjects: Landscapes, architecture, characters in everyday life, and fantastical creatures or machines

✍️ Key Characteristics of His Watercolor Concept Art

1. Loose and Spontaneous Line Work

   • Miyazaki’s pencil lines are fluid and imperfect, often sketchy or slightly smudged.

   • These lines suggest movement and immediacy, reinforcing the idea that the world he’s building is alive and changing.

2. Atmospheric Color Washes

   • His watercolors are applied in soft layers, with a palette often made up of earth tones, pastels, and muted hues.

   • The goal isn’t realism—it’s emotional resonance. Light and color are used to create a specific feeling rather than depict exact detail.

3. Sense of Place

   • Backgrounds are often lovingly detailed: rolling hills, coastal towns, lush forests, or old houses.

   • These places feel lived-in and nostalgic, even in fantasy settings. Miyazaki said he wants his worlds to feel like you could walk right into them.

4. Everyday Life Mixed with Fantasy

   • His sketches often show mundane tasks (e.g. cooking, cleaning, riding a bike) alongside whimsical elements (floating cities, flying machines, spirits).

   • This grounded fantasy style gives Studio Ghibli films their emotional depth and relatability.

🌟 Why It’s Unique and Influential

• Handcrafted Warmth: In a digital age, Miyazaki’s analog approach gives his art a human touch that fans deeply appreciate.

• Mood Over Precision: These sketches prioritize atmosphere and storytelling potential over anatomical or architectural accuracy.

• Creative Blueprint: They often influence everything from background design to character animation, serving as a vision-setting tool for the Ghibli team.

🖼️ Famous Examples

• My Neighbor Totoro: Rural landscapes filled with warmth and curiosity

• Spirited Away: Sketches of bathhouses, towns, and creatures that hint at mystery and magic

• Laputa: Castle in the Sky: Floating island designs with a blend of industrial decay and natural beauty