Elden Ring: A Ghibli-inspired Delight

Elden Ring is the latest game developed by FromSoftware, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Dark Souls series. It has been almost a year since the game’s release, and the Elden Ring fanbase is still enthralled by the game and the many references it draws from - including Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed animated film Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind. As a result, an Elden Ring fan and artist has recently recreated characters and scenes from the game in a rich and beautiful Studio Ghibli style, sparking an interesting fusion of the two worlds. 

At first look, it is obvious that Elden Ring has taken influence from many sources, particularly Lord of the Rings, Arthurian legend, Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung, and Berserk. Even though Hidetaka Miyazaki, the game's director, has not confirmed whether Ghibli was specifically mentioned as an inspiration, it is easy to imagine how the studio’s work could have some influence on the team at FromSoftware. 

Furthermore, Reddit user Expensive-Peak2470 has posted amazing Ghibli-style illustrations of Malenia, Ranni, and a figure in Nokron, the underground city. The illustrations have an unmistakable filmic color and texture that replicate the hand-drawn style of the older Ghibli movies such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and Castle in the Sky. Moreover, the official Elden Ring manga has more of a detailed illustration style, closer to the style of Berserk. 

The immense popularity of Elden Ring and the enormous amount of varied gameplay and landscapes within the game mean that there are many ways to interpret the game. For example, one artist gave the Elden Ring map a makeover in a more cartoony style, while another artist imagined how Rykard would look in an NES game. 

It’s clear that Elden Ring is likely to continue to influence players and designers alike for years to come, considering it has already sold a considerably higher amount than the Dark Souls trilogy. Hopefully, the upcoming year will bring even more incredible artwork and interpretations of the game.