Studio Ghibli storyboard exhibition opens at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Tokyo

by Chris MaGee

With Japan now caught up in a love affair with Hayao Miyazaki's latest animated feature, "Ponyo on a Cliff by the Sea" the timing is perfect to take a more in depth look at what makes the films of Studio Ghibli so special. What better way than to look at the blueprints of these blockbusters: the storyboards?

Opening yesterday and running until September 28th Tokyo's Museum of Contemporary Art will be hosting "Studio Ghibli Layout Designs: Understanding the Secrets of Takahata/Miyazaki Animation". Over 1,300 pieces of storyboard and development illustrations for films such as "Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind", "Princess Mononoke" and "Ponyo" will be on display.

Check out the ribbon cutting with for "Studio Ghibli Layout Designs" with former Studio Ghibli head Toshio Suzuki and No Face from "Spirited Away" in attendance (courtesy of Japan Probe) below and then head over to the official website for the exhibition here.