Next, the alignment films 18 and 24 in the pixel P and an alignment state of liquid crystal molecules will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the alignment film 18 covering the pixel electrodes 15 on the element substrate 10 is a group of columnar bodies 18a made of silicon oxide and obtained, for example, by oblique deposition of silicon oxide. The angle θb formed by the normal line to the base substrate 10s and the film forming direction illustrated with the solid arrow is, for example, 45 degrees. The angle θc formed by the normal line and the direction in which the columnar body 18a grows from the surface of the base substrate 10s is not necessarily the same as the angle θb described above, and is approximately 20 degrees in this case. On the film surface of the alignment film 18, which is an inorganic alignment film as described above, the liquid crystal molecules LC having negative dielectric anisotropy is substantially vertically aligned with pre-tilt such that the longitudinal axis thereof is tilted toward the film forming direction. The pre-tilt angle θp formed by the normal line to the base substrate 10s and the longitudinal axis of the liquid crystal molecules LC is in a range, for example, from 3 degrees to 5 degrees. In other words, the angle θc of the columnar body 18a growing relative to the base substrate 10s, namely, the angle θb at the time of film forming is controlled such that the pre-tilt angle θp of the liquid crystal molecules LC is in the range from 3 degrees to 5 degrees.
