Hayao Miyazaki Creates Exclusive Artwork Celebrating the Year of the Snake

Hayao Miyazaki Creates Exclusive Artwork Celebrating the Year of the Snake

Overview

  • Studio Ghibli honors the Year of the Snake in 2025 with whimsical artwork by Hayao Miyazaki.
  • The studio expresses gratitude to fans, reflects on the significant events of 2024, and reveals exciting plans for 2025.
  • Growth continues at Ghibli Park, new projects are announced, and Miyazaki resumes his creative endeavors on his 84th birthday.

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With the arrival of 2025, celebrations are unfolding globally, each culture bringing its own flavor to the New Year festivities. In Japan, the traditions tied to the Chinese Zodiac hold great significance, with each new year being associated with a specific animal. This year, we embrace the Year of the Snake, a symbol that features prominently in various celebratory events nationwide.

This year’s celebrations have particularly resonated in the anime community, where Hayao Miyazaki, the co-founder of the renowned Studio Ghibli, has contributed a distinctive piece of art. On New Year’s Day, he shared his unique interpretation of the Year of the Snake alongside a heartfelt message through the official Studio Ghibli website.

Special Snake Artwork by Hayao Miyazaki

A Unique and Quirky Art Piece

Studio Ghibli Miyazaki Year of the Snake Artwork

The artwork created by Hayao Miyazaki serves as a warm New Year’s greeting to fans, reminiscent of his annual tradition of producing a simple hand-drawn illustration featuring the Chinese Zodiac animal. Last year, he captured the dragon’s essence; this year, he has whimsically illustrated a snake. The piece includes playful text that translates to “How are you?”at the top and “Best wishes for this year”at the bottom, along with the words “GHIBLI”and “2025”integrated into the design.

This depiction of the snake is quite extraordinary, boasting not just one, but eight distinct heads. The artwork also features a whimsical tail, complemented by a snail and a mouse perched on its back. As the creative mind behind legendary characters such as Totoro, Ponyo, and No Face, Miyazaki’s signature style is unmistakable. While this snake may appear more simplistic and whimsical than his usual finesse, it nonetheless embodies the essence of his artistic expression, showcasing a playful spontaneity.

Studio Ghibli’s Message to Fans

Wishing Everyone a Prosperous New Year

Uniqlo Kenji Yonezu Collaboration Miyazaki The Boy and The Heron

Accompanying the artwork, Studio Ghibli conveyed a heartfelt message to its dedicated fan base, recalling the challenges of the previous year while expressing optimism for 2025. They began by wishing everyone a Happy New Year and extending gratitude for the unwavering support received from fans. The message also took a poignant turn as it reflected on the devastating earthquakes in Ishikawa Prefecture that occurred on January 1, 2024, resulting in significant loss of life. Ghibli expressed its hopes for a peaceful beginning to 2025 and emphasized their continued thoughts for those affected by the disaster.

An essential highlight of the New Year message revolved around the studio’s achievements throughout the past year and its ambitious plans moving forward. In the words of the studio, (translated from Japanese),

To tell you a little about Studio Ghibli, we have almost finished the worldwide release of The Boy and the Heron, which was not only seen by many customers but also received many awards. Other traveling exhibitions and new projects are also underway, so we are happy that you all have high expectations of us. The second phase of Ghibli Park has successfully opened, and now all five areas have been completed as originally planned. This year, we are determined to push forward with further enhancement and improvement of our facilities and operations.

The triumph of The Boy and the Heron since its release is evident, explaining why Studio Ghibli has chosen to emphasize this film in their message. The studio announced that work would recommence on January 6, the day following Miyazaki’s 84th birthday. Despite his age, he shows no signs of slowing down, as reported previously.

While definitive details about upcoming releases from Studio Ghibli in 2025 remain under wraps, the studio appears poised for an exciting year ahead. Anticipation is building for potential new announcements, and in the meantime, fans can enjoy a slew of new merchandise, collaborations, and ongoing enhancements at Ghibli Park year after year.

Source: Official Studio Ghibli Website

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