Studio Ghibli's latest production is Zen - Grogu and Dust Bunnies, an original Star Wars short on Disney+. On a backdrop of textured paper, the meditation of The Mandalorian's Grogu (nicknamed "Baby Yoda" by some fans) is interrupted by the titular dust bunnies. For once, instead of eating the strange creatures, Grogu befriends them. This culminates in them giving him a flower, which he accepts with a bow.
In a 2002 interview with Roger Ebert, Studio Ghibli co-founder Hayao Miyazaki defined the Japanese word "ma." He described it as intentional emptiness; times when the animation gives the story space instead of providing constant tension. Miyazaki was not involved in the production of Dust Bunnies, but director and iconic Studio Ghibli animator Katsuya Kondo maintains the principle of ma even in this short film.
A key example is the opening sequence of a drop of water, followed by another drop bouncing onto a pond and creating a ripple. This is followed by a few autumnal leaves blowing in the wind. These establish the natural backdrop of the setting, but they are not strictly necessary to tell the story. Rather, they establish the gentle pace and contemplative nature of the short.
This transitions to show a levitating Grogu descend, then rotate in place a few times. This is an effective example of ma, showing Grogu meditating peacefully for longer than is necessary in order to maintain the slow pace of the short and let the audience absorb its emotional signature as per Miyazaki's explanation. However, it is also an example of how ma strengthens the short as an entry in Star Wars canon, as meditation and overcoming distraction are key elements of training in the Force. This is followed by a sequence in which the dust bunnies cause Grogu to sneeze.
Grogu walks away from the dust bunnies, believing them to be gone when they splash into the water he can walk on. When they follow him again, he turns to see them before breaking into a run. Without ma, an animator may have simply had Grogu run from the dust bunnies to begin with. The additional scene of Grogu turning to look at them at 1:37 breaks up the momentum of the chase. Interestingly, it also shows that the dust bunnies have no intention of harming Grogu when they catch up to him, foreshadowing their peaceful resolution in the finale.
The short ends with Grogu drawing an "ensō" sign -- an O-like brushstroke symbolizing principles related to Zen and Zen meditation. This emphasizes how ma relates to the "Zen" of the title; in the absence of the action and intensity fans might expect from a Star Wars spinoff, the short is free to explore humbler, gentler concepts of togetherness and gratitude, just as meditation frees Grogu's mind to do so as well. Perhaps equally importantly, it is simply good animated storytelling. Constant motion is not realistic, and moments of relief allow animators to explore the momentum and reactions that exemplify skillfully-realized motion.
Ma is not the only thing used to convey the peaceful tone of the short. Mandalorian composer Ludwig Göransson's original score combines curious and suitably alien electronic whining with profound harmonizing strings to show Grogu's journey from solitude to community. The lovingly-animated expressions that punctuate Grogu's usual absent-minded stare also tell the story, including his exaggerated sneeze partway through the short and his big, childlike smile at the end.
The short is only around two and a half minutes long, but there is still time for ma -- or perhaps the brief running time makes it even more necessary. By allowing time to pass without tension, Kondo and the other creators have given the straightforward story more depth, making the short feel more expansive and poignant than its format should allow. For Mandalorian fans anxious to see Grogu again in live action, let this short be a lesson in patience, mindfulness and the beauty of empty time.