Nerdist: It was way back in 2015 when we first learned that Studio Ghibli had plans for its very own theme park. That was basically a lifetime ago. Fortunately we won’t actually have to wait that long to visit. The amusement destination that will celebrate the beloved animation studio is moving along. And we mean that in more ways than one. The park has announced it is beginning construction on a giant recreation of the eponymous building from Howl’s Moving Castle.
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I love Studio Ghibli so much. The paintings, the styling, the animation, and just general aesthetic are absolutely gorgeous and unique. Just as classic Disney movies are, Hayao Miyazaki's films are instantly recognizable and can entertain at any age. They are masterpieces, and Howl's Moving Castle is one of my favorites, so I was so excited to see Howl's castle will be in the theme park! The magic of this film and the design of it are incredible. I hope visitors will be able to explore inside the castle, because it's rooms in the movie are absolutely gorgeous. This also makes me wonder if the Ghibli theme park will have animatronics like Disney World has, so you can interact with characters. I've always wanted to visit Japan, so I feel like this will kind of make the perfect excuse!
I have been a fan of Studio Ghibli and its films for years – reaching as far back as Kindergarten. When I saw the headline of this article, I immediately clicked on it, my heart rushing back to memories of time past, when I experienced all the classic Ghibli films for the first time. One thing Studio Ghibli and director Hayao Miyazaki are well known for is the incredible architecture and art they dream up and create. From Howl’s Moving Castle to the Bathhouse from Spirited away, the imagination and creativity that go into these marvelous and mystical structures has always blown me away. I still rewatch all the Ghibli films to this day, and will simply never get tired of the amazing animation. I cannot wait to see how this new theme park is going to develop and what the finished product will look like, but I certainly hope that once it is complete that I may be able to visit it at some point in my life. Looking at the concept art for the theme park alone brings back memories of the films, and I can’t wait to see the concepts realized.
This was delightful to read. As much as I love Studio Ghibli’s works, I appreciate the company and Hayao Miyazaki for spreading Asian aesthetics to all around the world. Perhaps that would be one of the reasons why Ghibli gets so much attention and affection from not only its country but also rom all around the world (kind of almost Verfremdungseffect I guess). I’ve always hope Ghibli to work as almost promoter or the bridge for the other Asian masterpieces to spread across the world, and I think this theme park could probably be a great starting point. Animated movies from Western and Eastern cultures certainly possess distinct atmospheres, and I can imagine Studio Ghibli’s amusement destination expanding until it gets constructed in other sites than Japan, just like how there is a Universal Studio in Osaka. With Howl’s Moving Castle being my favorite film from Ghibli, I hope they could recreate not only the building itself but also the other amazing buildings from the movie.
My first thought upon seeing this headline was absolutely "Oh, dope, hell f*cking yeah." Seeing Studio Ghibli elements brought to life really is something else. I was once fortunate enough to visit the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka, Japan, which has a real life version of the huge robots from Laputa: Castle in the Sky on the roof, standing amid a little garden. That was really a magical moment for me, and I can't even begin to describe the elation I would feel if I could ever go to the Ghibli theme park. If the theme park developers could encapsulate the romanticism of life expressed in Studio Ghibli's movies, it would be absolutely incredible. I am very excited to see how this develops because Studio Ghibli was a huge part of my childhood and is still a giant inspiration for me now in life in more ways than just artistically.
I've been a Studio Ghibli fan for most of my life so as soon as I saw the headline I knew I needed to read it. It's surprising to me that the plans for this park began in 2015, 6 years ago, and I'm only just now hearing about it. I guess I dropped the ball on that one. I'm curious about how they plan to staff the parks. Will it be like Disney where there are people playing the characters to create an interactive space for the visitors? Will there be things from the films you can do like cook breakfast with Calcifer and go to the cat world from The Cat Returns? My only worry for me is whether they can realistically capture the magic and the awe that so many fans experienced while watching. Will it feel like an emersion into a world we've spent time living in in our minds or will it fall short? As someone that's never been to Disney or another large amusement park based on fictional worlds I've never seen firsthand the scope of these kinds of places or felt the authenticity so the skeptic in me worries about the expectations I would go into this park with.
Studio Ghibli has been a huge part of my childhood growing up. It was a way for me to be exposed to Japanese film and watch it in Japanese, while still being able to enjoy watching it with not only my Japanese mom but also with my Caucasian dad. Not only a children's film, but all Studio Ghibli movies also have a way of resonating with all ages, with deeper meanings uncovered each watch. I am so excited to hear about a Studio Ghibli Theme Park, and even more happy to see the hype it is getting globally. The 2020 Olympics getting canceled was a huge hit for Japan, so it is great to see this theme park getting so much attention. Though the opening has been delayed to 2022 because of the pandemic, as I hear more news about the things they will have, the wait is definitely worth it. From just a few sections the article has described, I have no doubt that this theme park will surpass justice of the films.
In one of my other comments I mentioned that The Devil Wears Prada is one of the few movies I still own on DVD, another one of those is the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo. It is one of my all time favorite films and I grew up watching it on loop. I even have an appointment next week to get a tattoo of a still from it. I even have a running list of Studio Ghibli films I need to watch. As for Howl’s Moving Castle, I have yet to see it but I often listen to one of the songs on its soundtrack titled “Merry Go Round of Life.” I had no idea that there was a Studio Ghibli theme park being made but now, as the article says, I want to head to Japan. Not only is the architecture going to be stunning, much like the movie's visuals. I am very excited to see it completed and to hopefully go there one day.
This is so cool! It is great that Studio Ghibli shared the concept art for the attraction because it really helps you picture how it will look. I wanted to be a concept artist before I fell into theater, so I have a deep appreciation for that work. I think a Studio Ghibli themed theme park is such a great idea because the worlds that they create are always so fantastical and it makes for a great theme. It is going to be so fun to watch these fantastical worlds come to life, as I had never imagined imaginary places like Howl’s castle could really be built and have a presence in real life. It is also impressive how many classics and iconic movies the company puts out, they really are the perfect company for their own theme park. Now that I know of its development, I look forward to further news about this park, and look forward to the artistic integrity that comes of its creation.
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