Two New Exhibitions Launch at Ghibli Park's Ghibli Grand Warehouse on July 8

Poster visual for "Panorama Box Exhibition" © Studio Ghibli Poster visual for "The Night of the Witch Valley" © 2026 Goro Miyazaki, Akihiko Yamashita/Studio Ghibli

At the Ghibli Grand Warehouse in Ghibli Park (Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture), the "Panorama Box Exhibition" will open in the exhibition room, and "The Night of the Witch Valley" will be screened in the "Ori-on-za" film exhibition room on July 8, 2026 (Wed).

The new exhibition "Panorama Box Exhibition" will feature "Panorama Boxes" created by Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki for Ghibli Park. A panorama box is a picture box that, when looked into, reveals a layered, three-dimensional picture. Miyazaki drew 31 pieces based on his feature films, from "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" to "The Boy and the Heron."

"The Night of the Witch Valley" (directed by Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita) is the first original short animated film newly produced by Ghibli for Ghibli Park. The story, with an original concept by Goro Miyazaki, is set in the Witch Valley. What happens in Ghibli Park after closing?

Additionally, the "All About Ghibli Exhibition" in the exhibition room will also be renewed. New exhibits related to producer Toshio Suzuki, who participated in the establishment of Ghibli alongside Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki and brought numerous works to the world, have been added.

Press Conference Held with Directors Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita

Director Goro Miyazaki (left) and Director Akihiko Yamashita (right) at the press conference.

A press conference was held on July 7 (Tue) at the "Ori-on-za" film exhibition room in the Ghibli Grand Warehouse. The first part, themed "Panorama Box Exhibition," featured director Goro Miyazaki, and the second part, themed "The Night of the Witch Valley," featured directors Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita.

[Part 1: "Panorama Box Exhibition"]

Director Goro Miyazaki spoke about the appeal of panorama boxes: "They are interesting to look into. (Hayao Miyazaki, who created the panorama boxes) like his films, layers two-dimensional elements to create a three-dimensional space. The pictures themselves are interesting, but when you look inside the panorama box, you understand why they are so interesting. It's a surprisingly deep exhibition."

He recalled the origin of the exhibition with a laugh: "Hayao Miyazaki was not fundamentally involved in the construction of Ghibli Park. Amidst that, he seemed to have a desire to leave his mark. He said, 'I'll make it!' and approached us."

He recommended a viewing method: "We've set the display height low so that even small children and wheelchair users can see it. For adults, it looks like looking down from above, but the real fun comes when you look into it as if sticking your head through a window, and the space expands. Adults can enjoy it by bending their knees or crouching down to look."

[Part 2: "The Night of the Witch Valley"]

Director Goro Miyazaki shared his thoughts on the work: "Ghibli Park doesn't have attractions that you can ride and play on like typical theme parks, so I thought something should be there. However, since Ghibli is involved, I thought that making a film would be the biggest attraction rather than creating an attraction. I felt more like I was creating an attraction than making a short film." He continued, recalling, "'Howl's Moving Castle' is a 'moving' castle, isn't it? But the castle in Ghibli Park (Howl's Castle) stays still, and I thought it would be bad for health if it didn't move occasionally, which was the trigger."

Director Akihiko Yamashita recalled receiving the original concept from Director Miyazaki: "Before working on this project, I was actually going to work on a different one. But I couldn't visualize the pictures for that project. During a meeting where we discussed 'This is difficult...', Director Goro Miyazaki said, 'Actually, I have another idea,' and presented a sketch for this project. The moment I saw it, I thought, 'This is interesting!' I immediately visualized the pictures, so we decided to go with it, and everything proceeded smoothly. It all came from the sketch that emerged in the meeting. It was a very good picture."

Regarding recommended viewing points, Director Yamashita said, "The stage, 'Witch Valley,' is right there, so you can enjoy it in two ways: seeing the movie first or seeing the location first. Having the filming location nearby is the biggest highlight."

Director Miyazaki proudly stated, "As expected from Director Yamashita's work, a characteristic is that things are 'constantly in motion.' I want people to enjoy the captivating visuals created by Director Yamashita and the many skilled animators."

About the "Panorama Box Exhibition"

Exhibition space for "Panorama Box Exhibition" © Studio Ghibli

"How Do You Live?" / Imperial Empire © 2023 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli

▶What is the "Panorama Box Exhibition"?

The exhibition room at the Ghibli Grand Warehouse will display 31 panorama boxes created by Studio Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki over approximately three years for Ghibli Park, starting from the final stages of production for "How Do You Live?" (released in 2023).

The panorama boxes, based on his feature films from "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" to "How Do You Live?", as well as short animated films (screened only at the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka and Ghibli Park) and original new works, are all newly drawn by Director Miyazaki.

The exhibition space for the "Panorama Box Exhibition" is themed after the "Corridor of Time" from "How Do You Live?". Peeking through the row of windows reveals the world of the panorama boxes beyond.

The windows are at a child's eye level, so it might be a bit challenging for adults, but please bend down and enjoy each one slowly.

▶About Panorama Boxes

A panorama box is a type of picture box with a layered, three-dimensional effect, similar to a scene from a movie, that is revealed when looking inside. Characters and background art are drawn separately and arranged in multiple layers within the box.

This mechanism is similar to the "multiplane camera" technique used in cel animation production. By shooting layers of cels and background art with spaces between them, depth is created in the two-dimensional images.

In the works exhibited at the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, multiple painted parts on transparent glass plates are incorporated within the boxes.

▶Highlights

"Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" / Oops, sorry © 1984 Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli, H

Director Hayao Miyazaki often mentioned during the creation of the panorama boxes, "I was engrossed in making something like a panorama box when I was a child."

Unlike the method used at the Ghibli Museum, this work uses only paper, just as Director Miyazaki did in his childhood, without using glass plates.

When you look into the layered space created by cutting out pictures drawn on paper, a new scene appears with each change in viewing angle.

Director Miyazaki, who has been involved in the composition of animated screens for many years, has returned to his childhood roots to create charming new worlds within each box. Please enjoy the paper crafts that Director Miyazaki has created with utmost seriousness, down to every detail.

About "The Night of the Witch Valley"

A scene from "The Night of the Witch Valley" © 2026 Goro Miyazaki, Akihiko Yamashita/Studio Ghibli

▶Synopsis

A "newcomer" working at Ghibli Park.

Today, strangely, repair requests come in from various buildings.

And then, mysterious things happen, like the fireplace lighting itself and water gushing from the faucet.

"Something's really weird!"

The frightened newcomer tries to talk to his senior, Kikue, but she doesn't seem to listen.

At midnight, after closing, the newcomer heads to the Witch Valley for his first night shift. There, he sees Kikue wearing a cloak.

"I'm a witch."

Kikue begins to chant a spell and swings down her lantern...!

Studio Ghibli presents the first original short film for Ghibli Park, set in Ghibli Park.

▶Work Information

[Running Time] Approx. 14 minutes

[Original Concept] Goro Miyazaki

[Directors] Goro Miyazaki, Akihiko Yamashita

[Voice Actors] Jesse (SixTONES), Aina The End

[Music] Satoshi Takebe

[Production] Studio Ghibli

▶Screening Venue

[Location] "Ori-on-za" film exhibition room, Ghibli Grand Warehouse

[Screening Dates] From July 8, 2026 (Wed) until further notice

[Tickets] Please reserve and purchase tickets that grant admission to the Ghibli Grand Warehouse.

Director Profiles

▶Hayao Miyazaki

Animation film director. Born in Tokyo in 1941. Graduated from the Faculty of Law and Economics at Gakushuin University in 1963 and joined Toei Animation. Participated in the establishment of Studio Ghibli in 1985. Major works include "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind" (1984), "Castle in the Sky" (1986), "My Neighbor Totoro" (1988), "Princess Mononoke" (1997), "Spirited Away" (2001), "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004), "Ponyo" (2008), and "The Wind Rises" (2013). His latest directorial work is "The Boy and the Heron" (2023). "Spirited Away" won the Golden Bear at the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 75th Academy Awards. He received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the 62nd Venice Film Festival. In 2012, he was recognized as a Person of Cultural Merit. In November 2014, he received an Honorary Academy Award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. In March 2024, "The Boy and the Heron" won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 96th Academy Awards, marking his second win in this category after 21 years.

▶Goro Miyazaki

Born in Tokyo in 1967. Graduated from the Department of Forest Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, and worked as a construction consultant, planning and designing parks, green spaces, and urban landscaping. From 1998, he was in charge of the overall design of the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka, and served as its director from 2001 to June 2005. He was involved in the production of "Satsuki and Mei's House" at the 2005 Aichi Expo.

He made his directorial debut in animation with the Studio Ghibli film "Tales from Earthsea" (2006). He directed his second film, "From Up on Poppy Hill" (2011). He made his directorial debut in TV animation with "Ronia the Robber's Daughter" (2014-2015; produced and copyrighted by NHK, Dwango). He then directed Studio Ghibli's first full 3DCG film, "Aya and the Witch" (broadcast in 2020, theatrical release in 2021).

He has been overseeing the overall production as director for Ghibli Park, a park facility that opened in November 2022 (Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture).

He co-directed "The Night of the Witch Valley" (2026), Ghibli Park's first original short animated film.

▶Akihiko Yamashita

Born in Okayama Prefecture in 1966. Active as an animator since the 1980s. He served as character designer, storyboard artist, and animation director for the OVA "Giant Robo THE ANIMATION: The Day the Earth Stood Still" (1992-1998), and has worked on numerous other projects.

His first involvement with Studio Ghibli was as a key animator for "Spirited Away" (2001). He subsequently played important roles in "Howl's Moving Castle" (2004), "Tales from Earthsea" (2006), "Ponyo" (2008), "The Secret World of Arrietty" (2010), and "The Wind Rises" (2013).

He made his directorial debut with the Ghibli Museum, Mitaka original short film "Kusō no Kūchū Toshi" (2010).

He also directed "The Tiny Knight" from "Ponoc Short Films Theatre Volume 1: Modest Heroes" (2018), for which he received the Newcomer Award in the Animation Division at the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival.

He was a key animator for Hayao Miyazaki's latest film, "The Boy and the Heron" (2023).

He co-directed "The Night of the Witch Valley" (2026), Ghibli Park's first original short animated film.

Ghibli Park Overview

This is a park facility that expresses the world of Studio Ghibli's works.

There are 5 areas (Ghibli Grand Warehouse, Hill of Youth, Dondoko Forest, Seclusion, and Witch Valley) in Expo 2005 Aichi Commemorative Park (1533-1, Itatsuke-Aza-Baraku, Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture).

Tickets are by reservation only.

To view the "Panorama Box Exhibition," the "All About Ghibli Exhibition," and "The Night of the Witch Valley," a ticket granting admission to the Ghibli Grand Warehouse is required.

*Three types of tickets are available: Ghibli Park "Great Stroll Ticket Premium," Ghibli Park "Great Stroll Ticket Standard," and Ghibli Park Ghibli Grand Warehouse. Sales are available through Boo-Woo Ticket (https://l-tike.com/bw-ticket/ghibli/ghibli-park/) and other vendors.

For detailed facility information, please visit the official website (https://ghibli-park.jp/).

Information is also shared on the official X account (@ghibliparkjp, https://x.com/ghibliparkjp).