
After more than a year since the last film from anime production house Studio Ghibli, the paint is rapidly drying on the writing on the wall. At the very least, it looks like animation fans are in for a long wait before the next Ghibli movie, and it may turn out that When Marnie Was There ends up being the last theatrical feature we ever see from the company co-founded by Hayao Miyazaki.
Still, that doesn’t mean that other artists, perhaps working in other mediums, won’t carry on the beloved anime studio’s spirit. As a matter of fact, if you’ve got the necessary video game production skills, that someone could be you, as a U.K.-based Project Morpheus team is looking for an artist to help add a Ghibli-like aesthetic to its game.
Sony has promised that its Project Morpheus head-mounted virtual reality unit, to be used with the PlayStation 4, will be available in the first half of 2016. As we get deeper into the second half of 2015, that means developers should be hard at work on games for the long-awaited peripheral, but a recent job listing is attracting as much attention from anime fans as gamers and technophiles.
The same listing has been found on video game recruiting site Amiqus and also Develop, seeking an environment artist for a Project Morpheus title. As the employer is looking for someone who can “hit the ground running,” Amiqus mentions a number of specific areas it’s looking for expertise in, including a knack for digitally recreating water, rock, and plant life. But even applicants who can render all those elements of the natural world in a way that would look right at home in a Disney movie aren’t guaranteed to get the job, since the skills being sought include the ability to create art in a stylized manner “similar to Studio Ghibli.”
Neither Amiqus nor Develop Online explicitly mentions the name of the company that’s looking to hire the environment artist, but given that Amiqus lists the position as located in Liverpool, the popular theory is that the successful candidate will be working for Sony Computer Entertainment’s North West Studio, which was established in the U.K. last spring to work exclusively on software for Project Morpheus. If you think you’ve got a strong enough resume and portfolio, applications can be sent through Amiqus or Develop (here and here).
Who knows? You might just end up making something that not only satisfies people’s hunger for more Ghibli-esque media, but also a Project Morpheus game that doesn’t terrify them.
Sources: Amiqus, Develop via VR Focus, Jin
Top image: Studio Ghibli

Newsflash: Sony unveils “Project Morpheus”, new virtual reality headset for PlayStation 4
Gaming culture takes a hit as Sony demos its virtual reality headset with schoolgirl leering sim
Playing ‘The Deep’ on Sony’s Project Morpheus was terrifying【RN24@E3】
Oculus Rift vs Project Morpheus: The VR headsets duke it out at E3【RN24@E3】
PlayStation 4 gets a price drop in Japan this October, Project Morpheus given an official name
East Japan Railway announces plans to abolish magnetic-strip tickets
New Square Enix Cafe reveals Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Nier, and Fullmetal Alchemist menu items
Shakey’s Japan creates matcha mochi, Kyoto fish, and Kansai Chili Con Carne pizzas
Anne Hathaway creates PR frenzy in Japan after mentioning Tottori in Devil Wears Prada interview
Japan’s cheap beef bowl chain goes upscale with Matsuya Premium, but is it worth the higher price?
7-Eleven Japan reinvents convenience store fruit sandwiches with new salty pink sakura peach variety
Trigun Legacy Cafe coming to two Japanese cities this summer to salute series’ original form
Family Mart commits “reverse fraud” in new Giant All-Star Festival, and we couldn’t be happier
Starbucks adds new Fruit Gummy sweets to stores in Japan
Pump yourself up with Yokohama’s new extravagant Cool Fuel ice cream
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Japanese rice cooker recipe gives us a tasty new way to enjoy vegetables and wieners
New Tokyo sweets shop offers 648 different mochi ice cream dumpling combinations
Colour Hunting: The hot new street photography trend changing how we see Japan
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
Body of missing American college student found in Kyoto mountains
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Tekken producer explains virtual reality girl demo ‘Summer Lesson’
Head your way to freedom in curiously titled virtual reality game “Headmaster” 【Video】
You can now hang out with Totoro and explore Studio Ghibli worlds in virtual reality
Remember: virtual reality will make horror games way, way scarier【Video】
IBM’s Sword Art Online virtual reality MMO project teased in screenshots, videos
Sony officially announces pricing for PlayStation VR add-on for PlayStation 4
Rumour: Sony to unveil ‘virtual reality headset’ at Tokyo Game Show 2013
The Guardian: Sony to present The Last Guardian at E3
Sony’s PlayStation turns 20 years old, we look back at how it all began and the games we loved
Sony shows off PlayStation 4 augmented reality with rubber ducks, dinosaurs, and Hatsune Miku
Virtual reality gear Tesla Suit hopes to make gaming a lot more touchy-feely
Evangelion virtual reality game in Tokyo will let fans live the dream of piloting an Eva Unit
“Whiteday” – A Korean virtual reality horror game that’s sure to get your heart racing【Video】
Tekken Project’s ‘Summer Lesson’ VR demo now has an English-speaking girl
Sony patents new headset with motion-sickness alert features, fans cautiously optimistic
Akihabara’s otaku shrine celebrates PlayStation 5 launch with ethereal one-night event