In June, additional concept art was unveiled for the forthcoming Ghibli Park, a new theme park that has been planned for Aichi Commemorative Park in Nagakute, Aichi. The Studio Ghibli-themed resort will span a projected 494 acres; for comparison purposes, that’s the exact acreage of Tokyo Disney Resort and well shy of bigger resorts like Disneyland (510 acres), Universal Orlando Resort (541), Disneyland Resort Paris (4,800), and Walt Disney World (approximately 25,000).
The initial park opening has been set for an as-yet unpublicized date in fall 2022, but there’s no doubt that it’ll be a huge hit with the studio’s devotees. According to reports, plans have been made for three major areas to be unveiled in 2022: Youth Hill, inspired by Howl’s Moving Castle, Dondoko Forest, inspired by My Neighbor Totoro, and a Great Ghibli Warehouse featuring designs and characters from numerous feature films.
Future plans include at least two more areas set to premiere in 2023: Mononoke Village, from Princess Mononoke, and Valley of the Witch, which will incorporate elements from both Howl’s Moving Castle and Kiki’s Delivery Service. Specific plans for restaurants, retail opportunities, and attractions have not been made public at this time, though the Hollywood Reporter revealed that no roller coasters or “ride-type attractions” appear to be in the works.
Instead, as might be expected, the studio will focus on building around the natural elements of the land in an attempt to showcase and preserve the native flora and fauna. It’s the kind of philosophy that rests comfortably atop many of Studio Ghibli’s films, albeit one that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the stereotypical thrills and chills of a Western-based theme park.
Still, it’s fun to speculate on the nature of the sights, sounds, and stories we might find at Ghibli Park in two years’ time. Is it possible to craft a full, 500-acre theme park “without cutting down a single tree”? What would that look like? And what shows, character meet-and-greets, dining options, and other experiences might be crafted in place of rides? Here are a few ideas of what the park’s first guests may find…
Flying broomsticks in the Valley of the Witch
Image: Studio Ghibli
The Valley of the Witch promises to deliver whimsy in spades, as it pulls elements from two of the studio’s more colorful and, at least in the case of Kiki’s Delivery Service, upbeat stories. The concept art seems to hint at a children’s spinning teacup ride, as well as a recreation of Kiki’s home and, in the distance, Howl’s eclectic home, too.
Should the studio decide to incorporate additional compact rides (versus, say, something as sizable and sprawling as a roller coaster) in the area, they might use Disneyland’s Astro Orbitor as a model for a Kiki’s Delivery Service-inspired rocket-spinner attraction. Young riders could choose to be suspended atop Kiki’s enchanted broomstick or a modified version of Tombo’s famous propeller-thrust bicycle as they whirl through the air, surveying the tops of the pastel-colored buildings nestled throughout the valley.
A nature stage show in Mononoke Village
Image: Studio Ghibli
Of the 19 feature films in Studio Ghibli’s oeuvre to date, Princess Mononoke might have the most powerfully-delivered message of all. It approaches the inherent conflict and need for balance between nature and humankind with nuance and gravity, promoting the idea that both sides need to actively work together to achieve harmony.
In 2023, Mononoke Village will be constructed in some part of Ghibli Park. Renderings of the area suggest that the main portion of the land will be occupied by Irontown, with a smaller forest area surrounding it. Given the film’s persistent themes of preservation and harmony, it may be fitting to arrange a kind of stage show (think the Royal Storytelling Theatre in Disneyland’s Fantasy Faire or the Tale of the Lion King in Disney California Adventure) recreating the story of Princess Mononoke—boar gods, kodama and all.
Spirited Away food stalls throughout the Great Ghibli Warehouse
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We can all agree that the fate that befell Chihiro’s parents in Spirited Away—transforming into ravenous, indiscriminate hogs—is unlike anything we’d prefer to experience while at Ghibli Park. But before their mad descent into gluttony, the food they were chowing down on… looked pretty good. Although there’s sure to be plenty of places to grab a bite at the park, it would be interesting to see the studio recreate some of their films’ more iconic eateries and dishes. And going to town on roast chicken, onigri, Taiwanese sausages, pastries, king mushrooms, and meat dumplings may not be the worst way to pay homage to Studio Ghibli’s most successful film to date—just as long as guests remember to practice the moderation that Chihiro’s parents clearly lacked.
A Catbus (or two) in the Dondoko Forest
Image: Studio Ghibli
So far, all reports have alluded to the fact that Studio Ghibli isn’t too keen on crafting rides for their new park; at least, not the kind of rides that would require serious acreage and the destruction of any natural barriers or plants. However, it would feel a little peculiar to step into such a carefully-curated Ghibli universe without seeing the familiar grin of the giant Catbus as it bounds through Dondoko Forest. Even if a proper attraction is out of reach for the studio, several smaller Catbus-shaped vehicles might move through the pathways surrounding Satsuki and Mei’s house—maybe something akin to the small-scale cars, fire engines, trolleys, and buses found crawling along Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A. And if Totoro himself just so happened to be standing by the road for an impromptu meet-and-greet, well, we certainly wouldn’t complain.
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We’ll be waiting on pins and needles to find out what kind of surprises Hayao Miyazaki, his son Goro, and the studio’s top executives have in store when Ghibli Park opens in 2022. It’s possible, too, that characters and architectural elements from the studio’s two forthcoming films might be featured in the park as well. What are you hoping to see from Studio Ghibli’s new project?
