Inspired by Ghibli Week Auckland 2026: Art, Animation and Imagination for Kids
Inspired by Ghibli Week is coming to Botany Library from 31 August to 6 September 2026, offering free family activities inspired by animation, character design, storytelling and creative art.
From 31 August to 6 September 2026, Botany Library in Auckland will host Inspired by Ghibli Week, a free family-friendly event inspired by imaginative animated worlds. The week is especially suitable for children who enjoy drawing, animation, character design and creative storytelling.
Throughout the week, Botany Library will feature themed activities for children and families. An Onigiri Workshop for children aged 7 and over will take place on 1 September from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. A character-inspired paper craft activity for children aged 5 and over will be held on 3 September from 3:30pm to 4:30pm, followed by a Family Movie Time session on 6 September from 2:30pm to 4:00pm.
For children who are interested in animation and art, events like this can be more than just entertainment. Animation combines many different areas of visual creativity, including character design, environment design, colour, composition and storytelling. Children can begin to notice why certain characters are memorable, how colour can create different moods, and how backgrounds help support a story.
Animation and anime-inspired art can also be a great introduction to broader creative skills. It connects drawing with storytelling, design, spatial thinking and even 3D modelling. For children who enjoy inventing characters or imaginary worlds, this type of creative practice can encourage them to develop ideas beyond a single drawing.
Parents can also extend the experience at home by encouraging children to create their own characters, design the worlds those characters live in, or imagine how a 2D drawing could later be turned into a three-dimensional model.
Inspired by Ghibli Week will run from 31 August to 6 September 2026 at Botany Library, Level 1, Botany Town Centre, Sunset Terrace, 588 Chapel Road, East Tāmaki, Auckland. The event is free and is a great option for families interested in art, animation and creative learning.