Another World

Another World is a 2019 original net animation (ONA) produced by the Japanese studio Graphinica as a promotional vehicle for the video game Ni no Kuni. Commissioned to help build anticipation for the game's broader cinematic universe, the short was designed to bridge the gap between the interactive gameplay experience and the high-production visual aesthetic established by the franchise's long-standing collaboration with Studio Ghibli. By leaning into the signature whimsical character designs and vibrant, painterly backgrounds of the series, the animation serves as an atmospheric extension of the games' themes regarding parallel realities and emotional connections.

The animation was directed and storyboarded with a focus on capturing the quintessential fantasy spirit of the source material, utilizing Graphinica's digital animation prowess to maintain fluidity and stylistic consistency with previous entries in the series. Upon its release, it was received as a respectful and visually cohesive companion piece that successfully translated the game's core art direction into an episodic format. Fans and critics alike noted that while it functions primarily as a piece of marketing collateral, its attention to detail and faithfulness to the established visual language allow it to stand on its own as a brief, self-contained narrative experiment.