Riot’s Bard teaser channels Studio Ghibli

The next champion to hit League of Legends just got a spiffy new teaser video from Riot Games.

Bard, the Wandering Caretaker, is a celestial being tasked with protecting all of existence from annihilation.

His character design clearly pays homage to Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke and the title character, San. Bard’s flowing white mane and three-holed mask are straight from San’s design. Plus, Meeps, spirits that accompany the celestial vagabond on his journey, closely mirror the tree spirits called Kodama from Mononoke.

It’s no surprise, then, that Riot Games’ video titled “Bard: Mountain,” outlining a bit of the new champion’s backstory, is anime-styled with a bit of Ghibli flair.

The video shows Bard intervening in the affairs of mortals, preventing the Noxxian army from acquiring a powerful celestial artifact that just leveled a mountain.

On the Summoner’s Rift, he’ll be intervening soon enough, a support with mechanics that promote roaming around the map and a time-stopping ultimate with highlight reel potential.

It’s not clear when Bard will hit the live server, but he’s looking like a promising addition to the League of Legends.

Image via Riot Games