Has any living animation director inspired as many other creators as Hayao Miyazaki? The sheer number of T-shirts alone that take their cue from the Japanese legend’s work is pretty darn impressive. And one walk through the San Diego Comic-Con reveals every type of merchandise conceivable paying tribute to him. Now one young animator has planned perhaps the ultimate monument to Miyazaki — a “Ghibli Land” theme park. Yes, just as Walt Disney’s feature-length animated masterpieces led to Disneyland, the artist known as Takumi (@TakumiToxin) has just unveiled his design for the world’s most fully immersive Miyazaki experience, named in honor of the studio he founded. Check out Takumi’s plans below, complete with My Neighbor Totoro‘s treehouse (after Disneyland’s Tarzan’s Treehouse), the Spirited Away bathhouse, Princess Mononoke‘s Iron Town, and, of course, a Cat Bus monorail that takes visitors around the entire park, the center of which is Howl’s Moving Castle.
Here’s a closer look at each of the park’s lands…
As The Creators Project (which tipped us off to Takumi’s amazing Ghibli Land) points out, Tokyo’s Ghibli Museum, designed by Miyazaki himself, is already part theme park, in that it offers its guests an interactive experience as well as an animation art museum, even including a Cat Bus for children to play in. But since the master himself is probably far too modest to ever design an entire theme park around his creations, it’s heartening to find one of his fans take up the challenge. Here’s some of the other Miyazaki-inspired work on Takimi’s Facebook page…
What do you guys think — if the Smurfs are getting a theme park, do Miyazaki’s characters deserve one as well? Let us know below!
It is very important that this happens. We need a place like this to go to urgently :-p
This would be a dream come true. I would definitely have to visit multiple times!
Absolutely! If they want to be in partnership, they need to give back 🙂
Amazing….I can’t wait to go. This needs to happen!!!!
Based on some of the greatest animated movies ever, this would be an amazing tribute.
Please please please make it happen !!!!
YES YES YES!!!
yes please!!!!!! will come to japan for this 🙂
if smurfs get a theme park this guy should get two or more
yessss!
Yes this is a MUST
Yes please I grew up on his work. I will not take my daughter to Disney land till she can go here!!
Yes please I will deny my child Disney land till I can take her here.
This is my new dream vacation!
I think this would be my dream vacation!!!
How hasn’t it happened yet? I am ready for it when it is finished
This has to happen! I must have this I will go ASAP and multiple times!
YES PLEASE. WE NEED THIS.
(Outshine Disney, Disney’s parks aren’t that great tbqh)
OMG!!! Where? WHEN IS THIS GOING TO HAPPEN?? This NEEDS to happen