Animation powerhouse unveils new ‘Princess Mononoke’ area in Ghibli Park

Studio Ghibli fans, this one is for you.

The Japanese animation powerhouse has unveiled a new area in its Ghibli Park that is based on the 1997 film Princess Mononoke.

The so-called Mononoke Village will open on Nov 1, according to a report by Jiji News. Ghibli Park is located in the Japanese city of Nagakute near Aichi prefecture’s capital city, Nagoya.

The new attraction features scenery inspired by satoyama landscapes, where mountains and forests are found near villages and farmlands.

At the Mononoke Village, visitors will find a 3.4m slide based on Lord Okkoto, a boar god that appears in the film.

There is also a 9m-long Tataragami, a monster that the protagonist of the film fights during the opening battle sequence.

Besides the sights, visitors can make gohei-mochi rice cakes – a local specialty – at a facility within the area.

A combo ticket is required to enter Mononoke Village, according to the Jiji report.

It will allow access to both the village and Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, which is the park’s main area.

Tickets cost from 2,500 yen (S$23) for adults and are available under an advanced booking system.

Ghibli Park is located within the grounds of the Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park.

It features attractions based on several films produced by Studio Ghibli.

The animation-themed park is divided into five areas, three of which – the Grand Warehouse, Dondoko Forest and Hill of Youth – were opened to visitors in November 2022.

The last area, called Valley of Witches, will open in March 2024. It will be based on several films, including Kiki’s Delivery Service.

Studio Ghibli is behind world-renowned films such as Spirited Away, which won the 2003 Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film.

It

became a unit of Nippon Television Holdings

in September after struggling to find a successor.

Nippon Television said it would support the studio’s management and respect its autonomy.