Ghibli day Part I: the Ghibli museum

Last Thursday we had Ghibli-themed field trip. Ghibli is a famous Japanese animation studio that produced well known films like 'Spirited Away' and 'My Neighbor Totoro'. The studio's animation style is very distinctive and their storytelling talent is magical. They have their own museum in Mitaka-shi, a quiet and green part of Tokyo that will be full of sakura blossoms when spring arrives. Only a few stations away from Mitaka-shi there is the Edo-Tokyo open-air museum. It's Edo-style architecture was the inspiration for Hayao Miyazaki to write the Oscar winning Spirited Away, so we were very curious about that place

The Ghibli museum's exterior seems to be taken straight out of one of their movies: lots of round corners, stained glass windows depicting famous scenes and characters, ivy crawling on the walls and beautiful carved woodwork. A very inviting atmosphere indeed. When entering the building you find yourself in a hallway with more stained glass and a wooden stair case leading to the central area. All kinds of Ghibli elements have come to life here: Porco Rosso/Nausicaä style propellers, enormous granny chairs, twisting metal staircases, a see-through elevator, and once more a lot of woodwork. This central area leads to the little cinema that shows Ghibli shorts exclusive to the museum, a room where animation techniques are shown with various Ghibli characters, and the staircase that leads to the exhibition level. To describe the exhibition area would take forever since there are so many things to be seen. It's not an ordinary museum exhibition where everything is ordered neatly and explained with 400 character signboards. Rather it's a complete chaotic 'mess' where sketches and objects are placed in seemingly random order. This approach is actually quite true to the Ghibli style; characters visit these kinds of fairy tale places where everything is a little messy but because of that also very cozy. Like a grandfather's workshop or study.

Upon leaving the exhibition room you enter the gift shop (of course) where souvenirs can be bought for magical prices (of course). Outside the museum you can follow another metal staircase that leads to one of the highlights of Ghibli history: a roofgarden with a life-size Goliath from 'Castle in the Sky'. A popular scenery to have your picture taken (not by the staff though, people are encouraged to take pictures for each other). After an elderly lady took our picture we descended the stairs and walked back to the station for part II of our field trip: the Edo-Tokyo open-air museum.

 

 

Museum entrance

Top view from the roof garden

Together at the friendy Goliath