Makoto Shinkai's backgrounds come to life:
5 Centimeters Per Second-
http://www.titanicfilmfest.hu/2009/php_images/images_s3/masodpercenkent.jpg
Children who Chase Lost Voices-
http://www.anime-focus.com/images/2011/07/children-who-chase-lost-voices-1024x576.jpg
The Place Promised in Our Early Days-
http://twi-ny.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/place-promised.jpg
Or Miyazaki's and Studio Ghibli's use of strict watercolor only for their backgrounds:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EWY1PJsPzBA/SyhTQAc_HYI/AAAAAAAAAuA/hVdDXfjBaFg/s400/miyazaki+totoro.jpg
And that's why they bring in the big bucks. Many people try to focus on the character details but the background is just as important.
ne that isn't too busy so it doesn't distract from whats happening