If you’re planning a trip to Japan soon, you’ll have a better chance of seeing A Night in the Valley of Witches.
Studio Ghibli is world-famous for its feature-length anime movies, but what a lot of fans don’t know is that the studio has a roster of animated shorts that are just as captivating. These rare beauties are like hidden gems for Ghibli hunters, as they’re screened at just two places in the world — the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo and Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture. Making them even more of a rarity is the fact that the museum and park screen the shorts one at a time, with the line-up usually changing monthly.
▼ My Neighbour Totoro sequel Mei and the Kittenbus is one such short film.
Now, though, Ghibli Park is making an exception to the rule, by extending the screening period for the studio’s newest short, A Night in the Valley of Witches, which debuted at Cinema Orion inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse in July. The movie has been so well-received that the park now says it’s decided to extend the run right through to June 2027, giving fans more time to view this newest Ghibli gem.
Although this particular film is exclusive to Ghibli Park, there really is no better place in the world to see it, as the storyline is set in the park’s own Valley of Witches area.
▼ The area honours Ghibli’s witchy characters with buildings like the bakery from Kiki’s Delivery Service.
According to the synopsis, A Night in the Valley of Witches follows the story of a new recruit at the park, who receives a surprising number of requests to repair numerous buildings on the grounds. While carrying out the repairs, a number of odd things occur – a fireplace comes alight on its own and water gushes spontaneously from the taps.
Though he’s shaken by what’s going on, one of his senior colleagues, Kikue, dismisses his concerns, until one night at midnight, after the park closes, he heads to the Valley of Witches, where he finds Kikue clad in a cape. Kikue reveals herself to be a witch and then chants a spell, setting the stage for some mysterious magic…
With Valley of the Witches being a real-life area of the park, watching the film in this setting is a real treat for fans, especially at Halloween, when there will be a special after-dark outdoor screening of the film within the area. Outside of the special Halloween event, which is a children-only affair, the screening will take place at Cinema Orion, which isn’t too far from the Valley of Witches, so you’ll still be immersed in the world of Ghibli while you watch it.
The extended run is welcome news for Ghibli fans, because the additional time gives visitors more chance of catching the film while planning their trips. Ghibli Park tickets must be booked in advance, with reservations generally opening at 2 p.m. on the 10th of each month for visits two months later. Tickets are still expected to be in high demand, though, so you’ll want to book early to make sure you don’t miss the run, although our fingers are firmly crossed that they might consider extending it even further, to give even more fans the chance to see it.
Related: Ghibli Park official website
Source: Ghibli Park
Featured image: PR Times
Insert images: PR Times (1, 2, 3, 4)
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