One of my favorite movies is Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. I love the the characters, the story, the atmosphere, and especially the music. It’s a masterpiece that I’ve re-watched many times over the years.
Chihiro and No-Face board the spirit train.
My favorite scene is the train ride through the flooded countryside, where Chihiro and No-Face travel to meet Zeniba. The music is solemn, and the scenery passing offers a glimpse into the spirit world beyond the bathhouse. The scene lasts for quite a while, and nothing really happens, yet it’s one of the most memorable parts of the movie for me.
Hayao Miyazaki uses Ma (間 - lit. ‘gap, space, pause’) a Japanese concept of negative space. After an action-packed scene, we have a moment of calm. The best videogames make use of this concept, too.
I wanted to create something fun in VR with my Oculus Rift DK2 development kit, and I thought the train scene would be perfect for it.
Initial 3D model of the train wagon.
I took a few screenshots from the movie, and modeled the train wagon in Blender. While everything looks consistent in the movie, between scene-to-scene, the train wagon’s interior actually changes a lot. I had to make some adjustments and interpretations to create a consistent 3D model. Then started working on Chihiro and No-Face.
No-Face looking menacing in the back.
Adding No-Face’s signature smile was a must.
I got a bit discouraged when modeling Chihiro, because I couldn’t get her face quite right. I’m not much of a character artist, usually I focus on level design, environments and props.
Chihiro next to No-Face for scale.
Quick attempt of Chihiro’s socks & shoes, referenced from the movie.
Last look at the scene within VR.
I’m not sure I’ll finish this project, with the risk of copyright issues, and I have too many other things to work on. For now, it’s a nice tribute to one of my favorites.