Accidental Ghibli: 30 Real Life Photos That Look Straight Out of a Miyazaki Movie

Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor

Jun 27, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

Studio Ghibli is renowned for heartwarming coming-of-age tales, strong environmentalist themes, and absolutely gorgeous scenery. It's easy to spot massive, fluffly clouds, goofy but adorable animal companions, cluttered and lived-in interiors, majestic wildlife, and liminal spaces that are heavy with green, gorgeous foliage in every film produced by Miyazaki's studio. In places like Japan and Europe, where most of his films take place, it's no surprise that one might find certain beautiful and quaint locations reminiscent of his films. But much like Miyazaki always finds a way to emphasize the beauty in the mundane, we may also discover that our surroundings are more like a Ghibli movie than we think.

The pictures below were not captured with Miyazaki in mind-- they are normal images that, upon further inspection, carry a certain cozy, magestic, and familiar vibe. Enjoy this set below, and may it encourage you to find beauty and wonder everywhere you go.