Ghibli Park

[quinnmac000]

Studio Ghibli is finally opening a theme park expecting to open in 2022. The park will be built at the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute city.

Miyazaki is the co-founder of Ghibli and the mastermind behind timeless classics like ‘Princess Momonoke’ and 'Castle In The Sky.' The theme park will honor his works, as one of the most successful animators of his time. His movie, ‘Spirited Away’, won the Oscar for best animated film in 2003, the first Japanese film to receive such an award. Miyazaki went into retirement in 2014, marking a sad time for the animation world. However, last year he announced he would be making one final film, to be released in 2019 or 2020. The film will be made for his grandson and is his way of leaving something behind for him when he is no longer around.

Concept art has been revealed of the 5 areas have been revealed.

The site is already home to the house from the hit film My Neighbor Totoro

 

[Disneyhead]

The Studio Ghibli theme park opening date, images, and everything we know

In 2022, Totoro can be all of our neighbors

www.polygon.com

 

[Teebin]

Is this a major thing in Japan? I’ve never heard of the studio or the films.

 

[Frogki]

Is this a major thing in Japan? I’ve never heard of the studio or the films.

They are basically the Japanese equivalent of Disney animated films. They are fairly beloved by animation fans and obviously people who are anime fans. But they transcend the anime genre in many people's view including my own. Definitely some beautiful films, my personal favorite being Castle in the Sky.

 

[quinnmac000]

Is this a major thing in Japan? I’ve never heard of the studio or the films.

Perhaps the most famous japanese animation studio and only foreign studio to win an oscar.

 

[Viator]

Is this a major thing in Japan? I’ve never heard of the studio or the films.

Outside of Sanrio..Ghibli for a lack of a better words, is iconic in the entertainment industry; with many of their works being given with high remarks (and as @quinnmac000 stated, won an oscar for Best Animated Film with Spirited Away (even though it was released in the US about a year after it's JP debut)).

 

[JawsVictim]

Is this a major thing in Japan? I’ve never heard of the studio or the films.

What?! Oh man, some amazing animated films. Other than the previously mentioned films above, a personal favorite is the devastating Grave of the Fireflies. Beautiful animation with a heartbreakingly humanistic narrative about the impact of WWII. I’d like to see a small tribute to the picture in the park, but it’s honestly too depressing to feature.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

This video seems to indicate that they will be adding rides to Ghibli Park? I'll try translating it over lunch...


EDIT: Yeah, hajimete no norimono is pretty unambiguous. As far as I'm aware, this wasn't part of the initial announcement for the Howl/Kiki area, and is a pretty significant shift in strategy for the new park.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I'm surprised how involved this new land is compared to the more museum-like lands found throughout the rest of the park. Two flat rides, a city street, and even kinetic elements on Howl's castle.

 

[Jerroddragon]

I'm surprised how involved this new land is compared to the more museum-like lands found throughout the rest of the park. Two flat rides, a city street, and even kinetic elements on Howl's castle.

I'd have to ride the carousel like 50 times, lol

Love the "fake magic people" pulling the cart from Howls Moving Castle

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

I just visited the Huntington Gardens for the first time a couple days ago. Obviously, the Huntington is a renowned museum outside of being a botantical garden, but I couldn't help but feel that a clone of Ghibli Park would fit perfectly with the existing gardens focus on ambiance, exploration, and nature over rides.

(and also selfishly, The Huntington is very cool and it would be cool if I didn't have to travel to Japan to enjoy Ghibli Park)

 

[Jerroddragon]

I just visited the Huntington Gardens for the first time a couple days ago. Obviously, the Huntington is a renowned museum outside of being a botantical garden, but I couldn't help but feel that a clone of Ghibli Park would fit perfectly with the existing gardens focus on ambiance, exploration, and nature over rides.

(and also selfishly, The Huntington is very cool and it would be cool if I didn't have to travel to Japan to enjoy Ghibli Park)

As much as CA has too much to day already

I would love more Garden parks.

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

As much as CA has too much to day already

I would love more Garden parks.

I just figured the Huntington grounds would be a good fit considering the access to developable land and their expansion efforts within the last few years, such as the addition of the Shoya house and the new fellow housing north of the avocado groves.

 

[jseal777]

Fairly bummed out that the one chance I had to visit this park it was impossible to get tickets to actually enter the areas and had to settle for a base ticket. Still a beautiful place to walk through.