A liquid crystal panel has a liquid crystal layer of liquid crystal molecules sealed between a pair of substrates having alignment films thereon. Each of the films includes first and second deposited layers, each of the layers being formed of an inorganic material by oblique deposition. The second layer is stacked on top of the first layer such that the deposited molecules of the first layer are aligned substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the deposited molecules of the second layer. The first layer is formed by oblique deposition at an oblique angle of about 60° relative to the normal of the substrate surface to align the liquid crystal molecules perpendicular to the deposited molecules. The second layer is formed by oblique deposition at an oblique angle of about 85° relative to the normal of the substrate surface to align the liquid crystal molecules parallel to the deposited molecules.