On July 8, Ghibli no Daisoko (ジブリの大倉庫) inside Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture launched two new projects simultaneously: the Panorama Box Exhibition (パノラマボックス展) and an original short animated film titled Majo no Tani no Yoru (魔女の谷の夜). A press conference held the previous day, July 7, featured director Goro Miyazaki for the first segment on the Panorama Box Exhibition, and both Goro Miyazaki and director Akihiko Yamashita for the second segment on the short film.
Panorama Box Exhibition: Hayao Miyazaki’s Personal Touch
The Panorama Box Exhibition showcases a collection of “panorama boxes” — peep-box dioramas featuring layered illustrated scenes that create an illusion of depth — drawn exclusively for Ghibli Park by director Hayao Miyazaki. The 31 works span subjects from Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind to The Boy and the Heron, covering Ghibli’s major feature-length animated films.
Goro Miyazaki described the appeal of the panorama boxes at the press conference:
“They’re fascinating to look into. You can really see how layering flat elements creates a genuine three-dimensional space.”
He also recounted how the exhibition came about, noting with a laugh that Hayao Miyazaki had largely stayed hands-off during Ghibli Park’s construction, but apparently wanted to leave his own mark — declaring, “I’ll make something!” The display height has been set lower than usual so that young children and wheelchair users can enjoy the works comfortably. Goro added:
“The real fun is when you lean in and stick your head into the window — the space just opens up around you.”
Majo no Tani no Yoru: Ghibli Park’s First Original Short Film
Majo no Tani no Yoru is the first original animated short film Studio Ghibli has produced specifically for Ghibli Park. Co-directed by Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita, the film is based on an original story written by Goro Miyazaki. Set in the “Valley of the Witch (魔女の谷)” area of the park, it depicts events that unfold at Ghibli Park after closing time.
Goro Miyazaki explained his motivation for the project:
“Ghibli Park doesn’t have the kind of rides or attractions you’d find at a typical theme park, so I thought we needed something. But since this is Ghibli, making a film felt like the best attraction we could offer.”
Director Yamashita recalled that he had initially been considering a different project when Goro Miyazaki told him, “Actually, I have another idea,” and produced the sketch for this film.
“The moment I saw it, I thought, ‘This is great!’ The images came to me immediately, so we decided to go with it — and everything moved forward smoothly from there.”
Yamashita also encouraged audiences to enjoy the film and the real-life Valley of the Witch in either order, saying both sequences offer their own rewards. Goro Miyazaki added with confidence:
“Because Director Yamashita made it, the defining characteristic is that the characters never stop moving. I hope everyone gets to experience that.”
Ghibli ga Ippai Exhibition Refreshed
Alongside the two new projects, the permanent Ghibli ga Ippai Exhibition (ジブリがいっぱい展) gallery has also been updated with new content. A newly added section is dedicated to producer Toshio Suzuki, who co-founded Studio Ghibli alongside directors Isao Takahata and Hayao Miyazaki and played a central role in bringing countless Ghibli works to audiences worldwide.
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