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{{trope}}
[[File:Spirited away ghibli plains.png|frame|link=Spirited Away|Distant background: [[Ghibli Hills]]. Background: Ghibli Plains. Foreground: statue in a [[Studio Ghibli]] film. Production: Studio Ghibli.<br>Call an ambulance. You're about to overdose on Ghibli.]]
A field of grass stretches out as far as the eye can see, on a clear, blue day. Clouds float effortlessly across the landscape, leaving behind gentle dark shadows in their paths. Colourful blades of grass sway in the wind, softly dancing to the beat of nature. A tiny cottage rests in the distance, its inhabitants living
If [[Ghibli Hills]] are vast, sprawling forests, Ghibli Plains are vast, sprawling fields. The former trope tends to be much busier, creating a detailed yet relaxing landscape of trees, birds, dirt, animals, grass, and flowers all existing in harmony. Ghibli Plains is a much simpler trope: you have a vast plain, and you have grass. There may be a river or two crossing through the plain, and there may be some ruins or a home in the corner. Overall, Ghibli Plains places less of an emphasis on the nature, and more of an emphasis on space. Also, Ghibli Plains are much safer than Ghibli Hills, as Ghibli Hills is filled with creatures that want you ''dead''. You can easily tell the tropes apart by how
That said, the two tropes does have a lot of overlap. In fact, Ghibli Plains is the [[Sister Trope]] to [[Ghibli Hills]]. If one trope is used, then expect the other to be used somewhere else in the work. In fact, they may occur next to each other: after emerging from the Hills, you arrive in Plains, or long stretches of Ghibli Plains end in Ghibli Hills. [[Dream Land]] probably features a lot of Ghibli Plains. Expect a lot of [[Scenery Porn]] focusing on these plains. Common in fantasy establishing shots.
[[Studio Ghibli]] uses this trope to create a serene sense of beauty, and evoke feelings of wonder. It is used to
Named after the wide, open setting of [[Studio Ghibli]] films, particularly ''[[The Wind Rises]]'' and ''[[Spirited Away]]''. Studio Ghibli aren't the only ones known for overdosing on the trope, though. [[Makoto Shinkai]] uses the trope just as often, if not more, than Ghibli. Not to be confused with [[Porco Rosso|Ghibli Planes]], other [[The Wind Rises|Ghibli Planes]], or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caproni_Ca.309 the Ghibli plane].
{{examples}}
== [[Anime]] and [[Manga]] ==
=== [[Studio Ghibli]] ===
* ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'' features many shots into the distance with farmland. There is a smaller version of Ghibli Plains around [[The Protagonist]]s Mei and Satsuki's house. Scenes with Totoro usually go into [[Ghibli Hills]] territory.
** Around 18 minutes into the film, Ghibli Plains are shown at night when Satsuki gathers firewood. A strong wind blows across these plains, sending blades of grass waving and little bits of firewood flying.
* ''[[Kiki's Delivery Service]]'' opens with Kiki lying on Ghibli Plains. They overlook a glittering lake, with soft wind blowing on grass, dancing flowers, and a busy buzzy bee. Kiki flies over some Plains on her way to Koriko at night time. They're also prominent in the fields surrounding Koriko, with wide open grassfields mixing in with [[Ghibli Hills]].▼
** The climax, involving Satsuki running around the countryside, features plenty of those in pristine, untouched conditions. The occasional farmland is mixed in.
* In ''[[Porco Rosso]]'', these plains are seen passing under Porco's plane as he flies across the land.▼
▲* ''[[Kiki's Delivery Service]]'' opens with [[The Hero]] Kiki lying on Ghibli Plains. They overlook a glittering lake, with soft wind blowing on grass, dancing flowers, and a busy buzzy bee. Kiki flies over some Plains on her way to the town Koriko at night time. They're also prominent in the fields surrounding Koriko, with wide open grassfields mixing in with [[Ghibli Hills]].
▲* In ''[[Porco Rosso]]'', these plains are seen passing under the [[Ace Pilot]] Porco's plane as he flies across the land.
* ''[[Spirited Away]]'' uses Ghibli Plains to bridge the gap between the human world and the spirit world. The trope image is taken from the [[Denouement]] of ''Spirited Away''. Chihiro and her family walks across these lush fields to reach the abandoned theme park housing the spirit world, and Chihiro returns to the human world via these plains. At night, they are flooded so spirits can arrive on boats. During day, they are just another regular field.▼
*
▲* ''[[Spirited Away]]'' uses Ghibli Plains to bridge the gap between the human world and the spirit world. The trope image up above is taken from the [[Denouement]] of ''Spirited Away''. The main character Chihiro and her family walks across these lush fields to reach the abandoned theme park housing the spirit world, and Chihiro returns to the human world via these plains. At night, they are flooded so spirits can arrive on boats. During day, they are just another regular field. The plains provides contrast with the spirit world.
* In ''[[Howl's Moving Castle (anime)|Howl's Moving Castle]]'', the titular moving castle often takes a journey through Ghibli Plains. Ghibli Plains are a frequent occurrence in the countryside.▼
* In ''[[The
▲* In ''[[Howl's Moving Castle (anime)|Howl's Moving Castle]]'', the titular moving castle often takes a journey through Ghibli Plains. Ghibli Plains are a frequent occurrence in the countryside. The trope is used to give audiences time to breathe and relax between more intense and emotional scenes.
* In ''[[The Borrower Arrietty]]'', the [[Ill Boy]] Sho sometimes lies down in the garden--a miniature version of Ghibli Plains--to read a book. It's a small, secluded place, not as sprawling as other examples, but making up for it in its cosiness. There's trees growing overhead and a small stream crossing through the garden. The trope is used to create a dreamy sense of comfort in the middle of a busy city.
* ''[[The Wind Rises]]'' uses plenty of this trope in [[Dream Sequence]]s. The vastness of plains creates a feeling of wonder, while also being a pragmatic place for fantastical aeroplanes to take off from and fly over.
* In ''[[The Tale of the Princess Kaguya]]'', the titular Princess Kaguya and her [[Childhood Friend]] Sutemaru fly through Ghibli Plains near the end of the film, representing Princess Kaguya's freedom to be away from the harsh expectations of royalty.
* In ''[[When Marnie Was There (film)|When Marnie Was There]]'', Ghibli Plains are seen around the Marsh House the [[Ill Girl]] Anna visits.
* [[Dream Sequence]]s in the ''[[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind]]'' [[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (manga)|manga]] and its [[Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (anime)|film adaptation]] takes place in golden Ghibli Plains.
* ''[[Tales From Earthsea]]'' features vast plains surrounding the cottage belonging to [[Plucky Girl]] Therru and her caregiver Tenar. There aren't many shots focusing on these plains. Instead, the film chooses to focus on everyday farm work. The exception is the "Therru's Song" sequence, where Ghibli is about to make everyone overdose on the trope with an abundance of long shots focusing on hills and clouds.
=== Everybody Else ===
* The opening of ''[[Violet Evergarden (anime)|Violet Evergarden]]'' features the titular letter-writing Violet Evergarden standing in vast, sprawling plains with way too much [[False Camera Effects]]. In the opening, the first shot after the title sequence is of Ghibli Plains.
** In ''[[Violet Evergarden: The Movie]]'', the island where {{spoiler|Violet's [[Parental Substitute]] Gilbert}} lives is filled to the brim with Ghibli Plains stretching out as far as the eye can see.
* ''[[Suzume (film)]]'' opens and ends with Ghibli Plains near night time in the Ever After.▼
* In ''[[Weathering with You]]'', Hodaka's home town is filled with these. This is a rare example where the trope isn't romanticised, with how Hodaka feels "suffocated" at his home, chasing the sunlight which falls just outside his island, onto the sea. In the climax, {{spoiler|Hina is found on a giant Ghibli Plain on top of a cloud}}.▼
* ''[[Land of the Lustrous (anime)|Land of the Lustrous]]'' is quite fond of this trope. There isn't much going on in its world, and its world is only populated with basic wildlife like plants (excluding the minerals who became humanoids). Thus, it features many shots of vast sprawling plains.
* In ''[[Witch Hat Atelier (manga)|Witch Hat Atelier]]'', the witch Qifrey's Atelier is located in the centre of Ghibli Plains. This is best shown in a two page panel at the start of chapter 2.
* ''[[Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms]]'' ends with the hero Maquia travelling on a cart through golden Ghibli Plains. The last shot of the film before the credits roll is of green grass and flowers swaying in the wind.▼
* ''[[Your Name]]'' features a vast green plain in a crater just outside the {{spoiler|Comet Tiamat}} impact zone.▼
* The countryside in ''[[Mary and the Witch's Flower]]'' features both Ghibli Plains and Hills. It's a great example of the two tropes being used side by side. The actual adventure begins in Ghibli Hills, but the protagonist Mary travels through Ghibli Plains to reach the hills. A short walk from Mary's home will get you to Ghibli Plains.▼
▲* ''[[Maquia: When the Promised Flower Blooms]]'' ends with Maquia travelling on a cart through golden Ghibli Plains. The last shot of the film before the credits roll is of green grass and flowers swaying in the wind.
* [[Makoto Shinkai]] seems fond of the trope. In fact, the trope would be called "Shinkai Plains" if Ghibli didn't have such an established history of using it. Ghibli's usage of the trope goes back to 1988, while Shinkai goes back to the 2000s.
▲* The countryside in ''[[Mary and the Witch's Flower]]'' features both Ghibli Plains and Hills. It's a great example of the two tropes being used side by side. The actual adventure begins in Ghibli Hills, but Mary travels through Ghibli Plains to reach the hills. A short walk from Mary's home will get you to Ghibli Plains.
** ''[[Voices of a Distant Star]]'' has plains on an alien planet contrasting with built-up Earth and the lonely darkness of space. The uncanny peacefulness of the locale apparently contributes to Mikako's emotions boiling over at long last.
** ''[[The Place Promised in Our Early Days]]'' depicts vast lush grasslands both in Aomori and when our heroes finally reach Ezo/Hokkaido, contrasting sharply with dull, drab Tokyo.
** In ''[[5 Centimeters per Second]]'', the greenery of Tanegashima contrasts with the built-up confines of Tokyo and the snowfields of Tochigi. One of the subtle [[Show, Don't Tell]] points of the film is how Takaki is only ever depicted amongst them at or near night, with physical inability to see the beauty of his surroundings reflecting how he's mentally stuck pining for faraway Akari instead of appreciating nearby Kanae who wants to be there for him.
** ''[[Children Who Chase Lost Voices]]'' predates ''Weathering'' in not romanticising the trope, with the seemingly idyllic setting of Agartha contrasting sharply with it being a [[Crap Saccharine World]] with xenophobic denizens and manhunting monsters.
▲** ''[[Your Name]]'' features a vast green plain in a crater
▲** In ''[[Weathering with You]]'', [[The Runaway (trope)|The Runaway]] Hodaka's home town is filled with these. This is a rare example where the trope isn't romanticised, with how Hodaka feels "suffocated" at his home, chasing the sunlight which falls just outside his island, onto the sea. In the climax, {{spoiler|Hina is found on a giant Ghibli Plain on top of a cloud}}. Also not romanticised, as its desolate emptiness only serves to highlight the lonely fate awaiting the affected character.
▲** ''[[Suzume (film)|Suzume]]'' opens and ends with Ghibli Plains near night time in the Ever After dimension. The trope is used to create a feeling of vastness.
== [[Film]] ==
* ''[[The Lion King]]'' takes place on a vast plain. The trope is used frequently throughout, particularly in the opening sequence.
* The [[Mortal Engines (film)|film adaptation]] of ''[[Mortal Engines]]'' sees cities on wheels moving through vast, sprawling landscapes.
== [[Video Games]] ==
* The entirety of ''[[Flower (video game)|Flower]]'' has you controlling flying flower petals through Ghibli Plains. There's a lot of vast, grass covered fields, mixed with cities. Ghibli Plains are depicted at different times of the day, some at sunset and some during midday.
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* In ''[[High Guardian Spice]]'', the main characters Rosemary and Sage's hometown is filled with Ghibli Plains. There's green grass everywhere and vast rolling hills, all topped off with mountains in the distance. The first couple of minutes of the first episode shows the hometown, and it is seen in flashbacks throughout other episodes in the series. The prestigious High Guardian Academy, being in the middle of the busy Lyngarth city,
* The [[Denouement]] following the season 3 climax in ''[[Amphibia (TV series)|Amphibia]]'' briefly features Ghibli Plains. There's a shot showing the previous industrial wasteland changing into green Ghibli Plains.
== [[Real Life]] ==
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