Zen - Grogu and the Dust Bunnies review

 What is the one thing you didn’t realize you really needed? Zen - Grogu and the Dust Bunnies! This is the epic collaboration between Studio Ghibli and Lucasfilm. It is like the Zenimation series from 2020. David Bess created the show that uses moments from Disney animated films that last 5 minutes. No dialogue, no songs, just calm scenes with nature sounds, water, wind, and other (usually) quiet sound effects. I like this Merriam-Webster definition of zen; “a state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.”  The animated short, hand drawn in the Studio Ghibli tradition, is three minutes long and currently streaming on Disney+.  

It is directed by Katsuya Kondo.  His design work was for My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and animation director for Ponyo (2008).  The short of course features Grogu who was introduced in “Chapter 1: The Mandalorian.”  The Dust Bunnies, I’m more familiar with the name Soot Sprites, first appeared in My Neighbor Totoro. The background looks like antique paper with characters animated on it.  This is part of end credit sequences of Studio Ghibli films.  We have the impression of a water drop, a shimmering almost hook shape, that looks like the kanji letter for “Hi.” The thick drop snaps and droplets splash into a pool of water.  A few droplets bounce upwards before multi-colored leaves float past. 

Very calm images with soft music like tinkling sounds.  The music is by Ludwig Goransson who also composed music for The Mandalorian. Then, we see Grogu floating like a dandelion puff, his long, purple ears spin him like a helicopter. He stops a bit above the water, slowly spinning, in a sleeping pose. The Dust Bunnies bounce in, dark spheres with eyes and spiky hair, shy around Grogu. Another bounces off his head and Grogu gives out a pinkish yawn. He opens his black, rabbit-like eyes. Grogu sees the Dust Bunnies and begins walking across the water. The Dust Bunnies that follow fall into the water!  Then, they gather behind him until Grogu starts to run. He turns and smacks into them! Both Grogu and Dust Bunnies have to work together in harmony. We end with Grogu's arm in the shape of a Zen symbol, ensō, a circle of togetherness. Perfection.  

Five Ensos out of Five! 

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