10 Iconic Ghibli Food Scene Illustrations (and How to Draw Them)

Who doesn’t love Ghibli art? From my childhood, I have been a fan of Ghibli movies. From Spirited Away to Ponyo, these films, with their epic storytelling, breathtaking animation, and mouth-watering food scenes, leave a lasting impression on viewers.

As soon as people realized they no longer needed to hire professionals to transform their images into the beloved Ghibli style, they jumped on the trend, making it popular worldwide.

Creating these images brings back nostalgic feelings. One aspect of Ghibli films that has always inspired me is the delightful food.

These heartwarming moments are more than just visuals—they are an integral part of the story, symbolizing love, comfort, and cultural identity. As artists, recreating these food scenes allows us to appreciate the details and emotions infused by Hayao Miyazaki.

So today, I decided to create an article exploring 10 iconic Ghibli food Scene illustrations and guide you on how to draw them.

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1. Ponyo’s Ramen

The ramen scene in “Ponyo” is perhaps one of the most celebrated food moments in Ghibli history. When Sosuke’s mother prepares a simple meal of instant ramen for Ponyo during a storm, the young fish-girl’s excitement is absolutely contagious.

The way Ponyo exclaims “HAM!” with extreme joy has become iconic, reminding us how the simplest meals can bring the greatest happiness.

Here’s the Steps to Draw Ponyo’s Ramen:

1. Bowl Outline: Draw a smooth, curved bowl shape with a thin line.
2. Rich Broth: Fill the bowl with a vibrant reddish-brown color, adding a “multiply” layer for depth.
3. Noodles & Toppings: Add wavy noodles partially submerged in the broth, then draw bright pink ham slices, yellow and white egg slices, and vibrant green onions.
4. Shiny Highlights: Add small, white highlights to the ham and eggs to make them look juicy and appealing.
5. Gentle Steam: Use a soft, white brush to add wisps of steam rising from the bowl, smudging gently for a flowing effect.

2. Spirited Away’s Restaurant Stall Buffet

The abandoned restaurant stall scene from “Spirited Away” serves as the catalyst for the entire plot. Chihiro’s parents, unable to resist the temptation of the unattended feast, transform into pigs after gorging themselves.

The lavish spread includes multiple dishes steaming with delicious smell—so visually pleasing that audiences can almost smell the food through the screen.

Here’s the Steps to Draw a Ghibli-Style Restaurant Stall Buffet:

1. Stall and Table Base: Quickly sketch the stall background and tables.
2. Color-Focused Food: Draw food shapes with minimal lines, using bright, vibrant colors.
3. Shine and Shadows: Add white highlights for shine and dark shadows underneath for depth.
4. Optional Steam: For hot food, add soft, wispy steam with a smudge tool.

3. Kiki’s Herring and Pumpkin Pie

In “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” the young witch helps an elderly woman prepare a herring and pumpkin pie for her granddaughter’s birthday. Despite Kiki’s efforts, the pie is cruelly snubbed by the granddaughter.

This unique dish stands out not just for its unusual combination of ingredients, but for how it represents Kiki’s kindness and the social divide she experiences.

Here are the simplified steps to draw the Herring and Pumpkin Pie:

1. Plate & Finish: Place the pie on a simple, decorative plate.
2. Pie Shape: Start with a circular shape for the pie crust, slightly tilted for a 3/4 view.
3. Fill & Crust: Color the crust golden-brown with highlights, and add hints of orange and silver for the filling.
4. Texture & Steam: Add small cracks to the crust and a light steam effect for a fresh look.

4. Haku’s Rice Ball in Spirited Away

After Chihiro discovers her parents have been transformed into pigs, she begins to fade away in the spirit world. In this vulnerable moment, Haku offers her a small rice ball.

This simple act of kindness gives her strength, both physically and emotionally, allowing her to remain substantial in the spirit realm. It’s a beautiful representation of how food can provide comfort in moments of distress.

Here are the Simplified Steps to Draw Haku’s Rice Ball:

1. Rice Shape: Draw a simple triangular shape for the rice ball with thin lines.
2. Color and Highlights: Use light grays and whites for the rice, adding subtle highlights for shine.
3. Nori Wrap: Add a dark green/black rough textured nori wrap at the bottom.
4. Presentation: Place the rice ball on a small leaf or paper, adding a few crumbs for a natural touch.

5. My Neighbor Totoro’s Bento Boxes

In “My Neighbor Totoro,” sisters Mei and Satsuki prepare bento boxes with care and precision. This scene subtly illustrates their maturity and self-sufficiency, as their mother remains hospitalized.

The meticulous arrangement of the food items demonstrates Japanese attention to detail and the love put into preparing meals for family.

Here are the Simplified Steps to Draw Totoro’s Bento Boxes:

1. Box & Sections: Draw rectangular bento boxes with dividers.
2. Color the Foods: Fill each section with rice, tamagoyaki, vegetables, and protein using vibrant, natural colors.
3. Add Simple Details: Use highlights for shine and small dots for texture, like sesame seeds.

6. The Wind Rises’ Siberia Cake

In “The Wind Rises,” the triangular Siberia cakes (castella cake sandwiched with sweet bean jelly) make a memorable appearance.

These traditional Japanese confections not only add historical authenticity to the film but also sparked a real-life revival of their popularity in bakeries across Japan.

Here’s a Simplified Step to Draw Siberia Cake:

1. Cake Shape: Draw a triangular slice shape.
2. Layers & Color: Color the cake layers a warm yellow and the filling a deep reddish-brown.
3. Texture & Shine: Add subtle textures and highlights for a realistic, appealing look.
4. Presentation: Place the cake on a simple plate.

7. Porco Rosso’s Spaghetti Bolognese

“Porco Rosso” is uniquely tied to a specific time and place, and its food reflects this historical specificity.

The plate of spaghetti bolognese featured in the film appears simple yet utterly satisfying, with perfectly coiled pasta topped with a rich meat sauce—a meal that any viewer would instantly crave.

Here’s the Simple Steps to Draw Porco Rosso’s Spaghetti Bolognese in Studio Ghibli Style:

1. Plate & Pasta: Draw a circular plate with a mound of spiraling spaghetti.
2. Color & Sauce: Color the pasta creamy yellow with shadows, and the sauce a rich reddish-brown.
3. Shine & Details: Add highlights for shine and simple details like herbs or cheese.
4. Fork (Optional): Include a fork twirling pasta for a ready-to-eat look.

8. When Marnie Was There’s Boat-side Cookies

In “When Marnie Was There,” the boat-side cookies scene creates an intimate moment between Anna and the mysterious Marnie.

As they share cookies while sitting in a boat, this simple act of breaking bread together symbolizes the developing bond between the characters, offering comfort and connection.

Here’s the Steps to Draw the Boat-side Cookies:

1. Cookies & Plate: Draw simple circular cookies on a small plate/napkin.
2. Color & Shine: Color cookies golden-brown with highlights for shine.
3. Boat & Water: Add a simple boat shape and water with reflections.
4. Characters & Placement: Place the cookies between characters to show connection.

9. Howl’s Moving Castle’s Bacon and Eggs Breakfast

The breakfast scene in “Howl’s Moving Castle” where Sophie cooks bacon and eggs on Calcifer is both humorous and heartwarming.

As Sophie builds relationships with the castle’s inhabitants, this simple meal preparation scene showcases her practical nature while illustrating how food brings people together, even in a magical moving castle.

Here’s the Steps to Draw Howl’s Castle Breakfast:

1. Calcifer & Pan: Sketch Calcifer and a frying pan on his head.
2. Food Details: Draw bacon strips (pink/red) and eggs (white/yellow) in the pan.
3. Color & Shine: Color Calcifer with fiery hues, add highlights to the pan, and color the food realistically.
4. Effects: Add sizzling effects, steam, and sparks from Calcifer.

10. Princess Mononoke’s Forest Feast

While less famous than other Ghibli food scenes, the moment when San feeds Ashitaka in the forest of the Deer God creates a powerful connection between the characters.

The simple offering of meat and nuts gathered from the forest represents San sharing her world with Ashitaka, bridging the gap between human and natural realms.

Here’s a Simplified Steps to Draw the Forest Feast:

1. Forest Setting: Draw a simple forest floor background with moss and leaves.
2. Rustic Food: Draw dried meat, nuts, and berries using earthy colors.
3. Texture & Shine: Add texture to the meat and highlights to nuts and berries.
4. Leaf Plates: Place food on large leaves as natural plates.

The Art of Ghibli Food Animation

As I said above, Studio Ghibli’s food scenes are beloved not just for their mouth-watering look but for their narrative purpose. Food in these films represents comfort, connection, culture, and care—often expressing beyond words. When drawing Ghibli-inspired food, remember that it’s not just about technical accuracy but capturing the emotional resonance of the scene.

The techniques used by Ghibli animators—vibrant colors, appetizing shine, minimal but effective line art, and atmospheric elements like steam—all contribute to food that feels almost tangible.