Anime fans are getting pumped because plans for a Studio Ghibli-inspired theme park have been unveiled. For those unaware of what Studio Ghibli is, it is a Japanese animation studio headed by the renowned animation director Hayao Miyazaki. The studio’s reputation remains on par with that of Disney, having produced some of the most critically acclaimed animated films of the 20th and 21st century, including Castle in the Sky, Grave of the Fireflies, Spirited Away, and many more.
According to Deadline, “Ghibli Park” was announced this past Friday. The new theme park will be built on 494 acres of Nagakute City, and the amusement park will boast different areas and attractions based on the cinematic worlds of Studio Ghibli. Specific films inspiring the park’s overall design will include Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Great care will be taken to ensure that the park remains as environmentally friendly as possible, in order to honor director Miyazaki’s love of nature, so the park will not have any roller coasters. The park will exist alongside its natural surroundings, rather than cut them down.
Toshio Suzuki, one of the cofounders of Studio Ghibli, also teased the possibility of a stage show as well. The park is expected to open in 2022.
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