Hayao Miyazaki Is Creating A Magical Nature Park For Kids
Legendary artist and animator Hayao Miyazaki, who started Studio Ghibli, may be retired from making feature films, but he is still has a desire to create more magic in the world. According to THR, Miyazaki is looking to bring his imagination to life in the real world as he is in the process of helping build a 10,000 acre nature park for kids called "The Forest Where the Wind Returns." He's even investing $2.5 million of his own money to bring it to life!
Miyazaki has expressed his concerns in the past about how difficult it has become to reach children's souls "because of increasing consumerism and the virtual world. Television, video games, email, mobile phones and manga are sapping children of their strength, he worries." He said:
“Utopia exists only in one’s childhood life. Rather than looking at how to stimulate domestic demand by building bridges or roads, we should provide a proper environment for our future generations because children are Japan’s best investment.”
So that's exactly what he's doing with this park. It's located in Zendo Forest Park on the island of Kume in Okinawa, Japan. It is being designed as a natural playground where kids can play in a landscape that will be their jungle gym. It will also have a library and sleeping accommodations for up to 30 people.
Basically, this is a park where kids can play inside a Miyazaki movie, which is awesome in every way. The park is set to open sometime in 2018, and I would absolutely love to take my family to there. Maybe one day, if I ever win the lottery.
Via: THR