The legendary Japanese animation studio and creator of beloved films like Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies, Studio Ghibli, has announced plans to open a theme park based on its anime films. The park will open on the 200-hectare Aichi Prefecture’s Expo Park in Nagoya city in 2020.
The first phase of the park will be based on Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 hit My Neighbor Totoro, embodying the movie’s theme of respecting and embracing nature. The site of the park, previously the home of the 2005 World Expo, currently has a life-size replica of the house from the film.
My Neighbour Totoro tells the story of two young girls who settle into an old country house while waiting for their mother to recover from an illness. During their adventures, they discover their new neighbour who is a mysterious forest spirit called Totoro.
Co-founder of Studio Ghibli and producer Toshio Suzuki who was also at the announcement, said the attraction will be “set in the world of Totoro.” Aichi Prefecture governor Hideaki Omura stated, “Construction will be planned around existing clearings to avoid felling trees.”
The first phase of the park will be developed in partnership with the local Aichi Prefecture government with plans to collaborate with other private partners as the theme park strives to create more attractions based on other Ghibli characters and movies.
Studio Ghibli has produced Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki’s amazing classics like The Wind Rises and Princess Mononoke, but the Studio Ghibli Museum in Tokyo was the best place fans could really immerse themselves in all things Ghibli until now.
Also, starting this June, Studio Ghibli’s six revered animated classics offering both dubbed and subtitled versions will be brought to USA audiences. Fathom Events and animated features distributor GKIDS are responsible for the festival.
The year 2020 will also see another huge Studio Ghibli happening- the release of Miyazaki’s next film Boro The Caterpillar.