How Pixar’s Luca Animation Was Influenced by Miyazaki and Looney Tunes

Pixar’s Luca is the perfect summer film to dive into with the refreshing blue depths of the ocean, to the sun-soaked landscapes of the scenic Italian coast. Pulling deep from his childhood, the story wasn’t the only element influenced by director Enrico Casarosa’s personal life: so was the animation. Much of the character design and settings are inspired by the Japanese animation Casarosa grew up watching, citing Hayao Miyazaki’s Future Boy Conan and Toho’s The Castle of Cagliostro speci. He also attributes Aardman Animations (Wallace and Gromit, Shaun the Sheep) and Warner Bros.’s Looney Tunes as influences for how characters’ motions were animated.