Fans of the Oscar-winning Studio Ghibli and animator Hayao Miyazaki can rest easy now. Studio Ghibli has released concept art for its new theme park. The theme park scheduled for completion in 2022 is going to be a haven for Miyazaki’s well-loved animation features. From My Neighbor Totoro to the award-winning Spirited Away, Miyazaki’s movies have captured the hearts of children and adults alike.
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The Idea For The New Theme Park of Studio Ghibli:
The East has been a backdrop for intriguing theme park designs such as the Dalki Theme Park in South Korea. The idea of building a theme park with the world of animation in mind is not an entirely new concept. Walt Disney has previously capitalized on that market with several amusement parks across the United States and the world.
courtesy of Studio Ghibli
However, we don’t see the worlds of Hayao Miyazaki outside the screen. The only other instance where fans can enjoy a Studio Ghibli experience is by visiting the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo. But even then, that might not be enough to fully encompass the vastness of the Studio Ghibli world.
Situating the theme park in the city of Nagakute in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan might be an odd choice, but Studio Ghibli is using a 500-acre plot of land that was previously the site of the World’s Fair in 2005. The plot of land is also where a replica of the house from My Neighbor Totoro stands, and so it seems to be a prime location. The Studio hasn’t released any information regarding the rides in the amusement park, but there will be a number of features that are sure to please any loyal Studio Ghibli fan.
Amusement Park Features
The Park will greet entrants in the Hill of Youth area with an Elevator building. The building will be complete with 19th-century industrial elements. This characteristic is present in Miyazaki’s 2004 film Howl’s Moving Castle. Not far off from this entrance area is the Earth Emporium from Ghibli’s movie Whisper of the Heart. The park will also feature an area of lush greenery named the Dondoko Forest from My Neighbor Totoro.
courtesy of Studio Ghibli
Other areas, like Witch Valley, will combine two movies at once, like Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle both existing in the same realm. Another section of the park features a large Ghibli-themed warehouse with various shops and entertainment activities for children. The Park will also include the village from Princess Mononoke, complete with sculptures of spider and boar spirits. Additionally, the theme park will contain a small cinema where screenings of these movies will be shown regularly.
What makes this amusement park unique though is the amount of greenery. The collaboration between Ghibli and the Aichi Prefecture is placing importance on the fact that no trees are cut down. They also want to ensure that the environment of the park is not disruptive. The amusement park aims to take advantage of the forest surrounding the area to create an accurate backdrop of Miyazaki’s magical movies.
