2014-12-19-131157

The annual Sapporo Snow Festival held in Japan’s northernmost prefecture has been delighting tourists and locals for over six decades. Each year, artists from around the world are invited to show off their talents constructing enormous structures out of ice and snow.

To commemorate the release of the seventh installment of the Star Wars series, The Walt Disney Company has collaborated with festival officials to design what looks to be the most epic large-scale snow sculpture yet, featuring enormous snow versions of Darth Vader, three Storm Troopers, a TIE fighter, and the Death Star.

Sapporo Snow Festival officials recently announced the collaboration, marking the first large-scale snow sculpture licensed by Lucasfilm. The design will be made a reality in time for the 66th anniversary of the festival, scheduled to take place from February 5 to February 11, 2015.

Darth Vader, lightsaber in hand, stands at the forefront of the design, beside him are three Stormtroopers, blaster rifles at the ready. In the background, a TIE fighter and the Death Star are seen in legendary detail. And just in case the iconic characters weren’t enough of a hint, the words “Star Wars” will be carved out on the lower corner.

Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens will open in theatres December 18, 2015; we’re sure glad we have this snow sculpture of epic proportions to tide us over until then!

Source/image: NariNari