Studio Ghibli.
A Japanese animation studio that ocassionally pumps out a few animated films over the years, which have all generally been regarded as top notch.

There's just something about Ghibli films that draw you in. Whether it's the general allure of a world wonder layered with secrets (Castlle in the Sky), how witches handle daily life starting out (Kiki's Delevery Service). or a young girl trying to save her family while locked in a bathhouse for spirits (Spirited Away)...there's just something charming and alluring about either the story, the animation, or the characters that you can't help but see it as a good watch.

I've watched a few of the films, and each one had an interesting story or perspective about it. My favs are probably Castle in the Sky and Princess Mononoke. So when it was said that a GAME, heavily influenced by the studio, was going to be made, I was all for it.

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

You play as Oliver, a normal boy who loses his mother early in the game. In his grief, a gift from his mother, a doll, comes to life, informing itself as a fairy named "Drippy". Drip says he comes from another world where a wizard named Shadar is taking control, messing with needs and desires in people's hearts. He also says that people in this "another world" share links with people in Oliver's world, and that his mother's "soulmate" may be in the hands of Shadar. With a spellbook in one hand and a wand in the other, Oliver sets out to this unknown world in the hopes of finding the person connected to his departed mother...

Definetly has the makings of a Ghibli film. Of course, one could suggest that Oliver may be having a dream or delusion that all this fantasy stuff is really just a way for him to cope with his grief. But ehh...it's probably real.
Oliver's quest for his mother's soulmate is front and center for awhile, but he ends up doing much more. Befriending familiars to help him combat the dangers of the world, restoring the hearts (literally) of people who Shadar has affected, and finding new friends to support him.
It's an ever growing journey filled with laughter and tears, moments of joy and despair, set in bizarre and almost comical settings.

There's a Pokemon-esque style of collecting Familiars around the world that you can battle with (though Oliver and his friends can also go toe-to-toe on things themselves), and combat can be fun (though getting some Familiars may be aggrevating).

Overall the game really felt like stepping into a Ghibli film and interacting with the world in a more direct way. And I have to say, I really am looking forward to it's sequel.

Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

Apparently set hundreds of years later, Evan Pettiwhisker Tildrum (who may be the son of a side character seen in the first game), a child king of the "cat tribe" in the town of Ding Dong Dell, has his kingship taken in a coup d'etat by a ferret-looking-but-apparently-I-guess-is-a-mouse named Otto Mausinger. Fleeing his kingdom with the help of his supposed-ward (who seems to die during so), and a stranger from another world named Roland, Evan endeavors to take his kingdom back...
...and while that seems like an intial stage of the story, I'm betting there's more, as many kingdoms over the world have had something happen to THEIR rulers as well. Something dark and disturbing has taken a grip of these rulers (and by the aura, Otto as well), and it seems like it will be up to Evan and his friends to uncover what is going on.

While Ghibli was unfortunately not as involved (character designs and music were though, in a way), the game looks stunning and draws on the same Ghibli charm. The Higgledies (who act as combat support of such), look like the several small critters we see in Ghibli films that are just charming, and the characters look to match the same principles of the first game.

Combat seems to have really improved. It's much more open and fast-paced, relying on the characters themselves rather than captured-critters. The shows of combat from Evan, Roland and pirate-girl Tani seem like really good fun. While the first game had 3 party members (with a fourth later on apparently), I wonder if there will be others that join in. Given some scenes, maybe there will be, including what seems to be another wizard and a witch, and, given some artwork, maybe even the "traitor" Otto joins with sword in hand.

From the get-go, this sequel looks like it will be a success. It has all the trademarks that made the first great, and hopefully the improvements will be a good fit for progression. I'm interested to learn if anything from Wrath of the White Witch returns (such as Oliver himself), what's going on in Roland's "real-world" and why he came, and just what the connection is between the worlds themselves....
--
So, with a little cobbling together from Ghibli works, me and Rigel stepped into a boss fight with Otto in the town square of Ding Dong Dell to assist Evan (wearing some nice duds as well, try discerning from where Ghibli fans heheh).

Hmm,...you'd be a good King Maker Az!

Oooooh noooo...

What? You're the leader on the ship! Sure you can--

I'm not the...am I...?

Sure you are!

Erm. But nah. I'm not the kingy, or king-makey, type...I had the same thoughts from back home, but since coming around Earth, my opinion is ironclad. Never enter politics.

....Well you got me there.