Hayao Miyazaki’s iconic Studio Ghibli will officially construct a theme park in Japan. After announcing plans for an amusement park in 2015, Studio Ghibli confirmed their first theme park will be opening in the Autumn of 2022. Titled, Ghibli Park, it will occupy over 200 hectares of natural space in Nagakute City, Aichi (Just outside of Nagoya).

Rumours and mock ups (as seen above) have been swirling for years, but on Friday officials from Studio Ghibli confirmed that the park will open its gates in 2022. Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki himself will be overseeing the creative direction of the park, split into 5 different themed areas.

The areas will be divided by the different worlds and movies created by Mizayaki, with Howl’s Moving Castle, My Neighbour Totoro and Princess Mononoke areas already confirmed. At the press conference, Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki confirmed the creator’s involvement with the park, joking, “[Hayao Miyazaki] can’t leave anything to other people. He’s a meddlesome old man”. Later, revealing the new logo for the park, designed by Miyazaki himself.

The logo reinforces the director’s great respect for nature as seen throughout his catalogue of films. Aligning with this, Ghibli officials have stated that the new theme park will exist amongst the current natural landscape of Aichi, creating a theme park without demolishing a single tree.

Whilst the theme park will be expansive and immersive, officials revealed that the space wouldn’t contain any traditional thrill rides. Check out more preliminary sketches of Ghibli Park above to get yourself excited for 2022.

Brb booking flights.

In more film news, be sure to check out our must see flicks for the 2019 Sydney Film Festival

Featured image via Studio Ghibli.