The iconic Japanese animation group Studio Ghibli are preparing to create a real world testament to some of the most critically acclaimed anime ever made in the form of a theme park to be constructed in central Japan.
Collaborating with the Aichi Prefecture and the Chunichi Shimbun newspaper, the park will be built within the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park near the city of Nagoya.
Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki, Aichi governor Hideaki Omura and Chunichi CEO Uichiro Oshima announced the event during a press conference and confirmed that the park would open in Fall 2022, with further attractions to be added during the year after.
No budgetary details were announced but five central themes have been announced based on Hayao Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle and Princess Mononoke, as well as other Ghibli films.
Suzuki joked with reporters:
“(Mihazaki) is really worried about the Ghibli park. He can’t leave anything up to other people. He’s a meddlesome old man. (Goro Miyazaki, Mihazaki’s son) is working hard (on the park project), but (Miyazaki) is not the type to look on supportively from a distance.”
Well it’s been a big few days for theme park announcements and I have to admit, even having seen relatively little anime that this will be intriguing. If there’s one thing that the Japanese can do pretty much better than any other nation on Earth, it’s create real life monuments to cool stuff.
Add to that the whimsy and imagination of a Ghibli film, I think fans and casual visitors alike are in for an incredible treat.
What say thee, Wasteoids? Down to roam a real-life Moving Castle or pet a giant spirit wolf?
Sound off below!