The year 2020 is building up to be Japan’s year with the Olympics happening in the summer and now, a Studio Ghibli theme park that is targeted to open then too. The beloved characters in My Neighbor Totoro and its lush animated world will serve as the main focus of the 200-hectare site set within the Aichi Prefecture.
The critically acclaimed movie, which was first released in 1988, has come to be a cult favourite. It follows two young sisters who settle into an old country house and befriend playful forest spirits including Totoro—the massive cuddly creature that captured the hearts of many around the world.
While it may be called a theme park, don’t expect to see a Catbus rollercoaster or any other rides for that matter. Just like the theme of the movie about respecting nature, the Totoro theme park will be a celebration of the natural world. The site will be preserved as best as possible to avoid felling of trees, hence beautifully shaped landscape and architecture will be the main attraction in place of your traditional theme park offerings.
Another exciting work in the making that will also premiere in 2020 is Goro the Caterpillar—a new animated movie that Studio Ghibli’s founder Hayao Miyazaki has come out of retirement to direct. Until then, fans of Hayao Miyazaki and all his movies can get an immersive experience at the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo.
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