Iblard Jikan

Iblard Jikan (イバラード時間) is a Japanese animation by Studio Ghibli, released in Japan on DVD and Blu-ray disc on July 4, 2007 as part of the "Ghibli ga Ippai Collection." It is directed by Naohisa Inoue. The story is set in the imaginary world of Iblard, originally depicted in paintings by Inoue. The paintings of Iblard also inspired the fantasy sequences of Ghibli's Whisper of the Heart.

Production
The film is 30 minutes long and consists primarily of Naohisa Inoue's fantasy paintings of the Iblard world. Studio Ghibli digitally animated portions of the paintings and integrated original elements into the scenery. There are 8 separate segments, each featuring a different painting or landscape and instrumental musical piece. The film focuses mostly on static shots of "moving" scenery: Inoue's paintings digitally altered, so that grass movies in the wind, people walk, etc. There is no dialogue in the film.

Music
The original soundtrack for the film was composed by Kiyonori Matsuo. The release of Iblard Jikan includes a bonus soundtrack CD with 8 tracks performed by Matsuo.

Critical reception
Chris Beveridge of Anime on DVD noted that the film is quite calming and relaxing, and provides a great showcase of Ghibli "eye candy," but its appeal would likely be restricted to those seeking to complete their collection of Ghibli pieces due to its focus on "looking through the window" rather than telling an overarching story.