Ghibli Park is growing once again—this time with a section designed around Hayao Miyazaki’s private sketchbooks. Based on the latest roadmap released by Studio Ghibli, the new zone will breathe life into discarded ideas, story fragments, and designs that never made it into any of the studio’s films.
Rather than re-creating scenes from released movies, this expansion focuses on the ideas that never reached theaters. It’s a tribute to Miyazaki’s boundless imagination, particularly the projects that were shelved or left incomplete over the decades. For fans, it’s a rare chance to step into the creative corners of the director’s mind.
A Zone Built from Forgotten Stories
Studio Ghibli confirmed that many of the designs in this upcoming area were pulled directly from Miyazaki’s abandoned material—sketches, storyboards, and early drafts for films that were either canceled or completely reworked. Some visuals resemble lost versions of Nausicaä, while others look like they belong in entirely new fantasy worlds.
Visitors can expect eerie forest trails, surreal ruins, flying machines from unmade projects, and even strange creatures once considered too complex to animate. While these concepts were once hidden inside studio drawers, they’re now being built out using physical models, animatronics, and detailed set design.
Miyazaki’s Imagination Still Active
Even after officially retiring, Miyazaki hasn’t distanced himself from the studio. Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki noted that the director still comes to the studio almost daily, sketching and offering input on park plans. Some of his newer drawings may even appear in this expansion, making it a living project rather than a nostalgic showcase.
The park already includes zones themed after classics like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, but this new section will operate differently. Instead of recalling past hits, it will visualize moments that could have been—offering fans insight into Miyazaki’s unfiltered artistic process.
Physicalizing What Was Never Animated
Park developers are working to build structures based on Miyazaki’s loose designs. These weren’t polished screenplays or complete narratives—they were fragments and feelings that never became full stories. That freedom gives the designers more flexibility, allowing them to focus on mood, color, and shape rather than strict timelines or character arcs.
The section is expected to open in 2027, with large walk-through displays and immersive zones highlighting specific unreleased works. While not tied to any specific movie title, each area will still reflect Studio Ghibli’s signature blend of wonder and environmental detail.
