Studio Ghibli | GameTrader.SG

Studio Ghibli opens a new chapter — literally. From tomorrow, July 8, 2026, visitors to Ghibli Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan can watch Night in the Valley of Witches (魔女の谷の夜), the first original animated short film that Studio Ghibli has ever created specifically for the park. It is a park exclusive: there is no streaming release, no theatrical run outside the park, and no plans for a wider rollout. If you want to see it, you need to be there.

What We Know About Night in the Valley of Witches

The film is co-directed by Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita — two names that carry serious Ghibli pedigree. Goro Miyazaki (son of Hayao Miyazaki) previously directed Tales from Earthsea and From Up on Poppy Hill, and co-directed Earwig and the Witch. Akihiko Yamashita served as animation director on Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Ponyo, making this a reunion of deep Ghibli craft at both the directorial and animation level. The copyright credit reads: © 2026 Goro Miyazaki, Akihiko Yamashita/Studio Ghibli.

The story is set within the Valley of Witches (魔女の谷) area of Ghibli Park itself — a European storybook town inspired by the magical settings of Ghibli’s witch-themed films — bringing the physical park and the new animation into a single, intertwined experience. Further plot details have not been released, which is very much in the Ghibli tradition of minimal pre-release disclosure.

The Valley of Witches area at Ghibli Park, Nagakute City, Aichi — Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli / Ghibli Park

Where to Watch It and What Tickets You Need

The film screens at Cinema Orion, inside Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse (ジブリの大倉庫) — one of the five areas that make up Ghibli Park. To watch it, you need Ghibli Park admission that includes Grand Warehouse access. All Ghibli Park tickets require advance reservation; there are no same-day walk-in passes. Tickets for July 2026 screenings opened on May 10, 2026 via the official Ghibli Park website.

The premiere event on July 8 was a special, limited affair — just 150 tickets were made available, with a director stage greeting from Goro Miyazaki and Akihiko Yamashita. Regular screenings from July 8 onward continue as part of normal Grand Warehouse admission, no special ticket required beyond the Grand Warehouse entry.

The witch broom carousel in the Valley of Witches area at Ghibli Park — Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli / Ghibli Park

The Singapore Angle: Worth Planning a Japan Trip Around

Ghibli Park has already become one of the most-searched Japan travel destinations for Singapore visitors since it opened in 2022. A park-exclusive short that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world — and that comes from the same studio as Spirited Away, My Neighbour Totoro, and Princess Mononoke — is exactly the kind of thing that makes a Japan trip feel unmissable rather than optional.

Practically: Ghibli Park is in Nagakute City, Aichi Prefecture, about 20 minutes by subway from Nagoya station. From Singapore, Nagoya is not directly served with regular Singapore Airlines routes, but it is easily reached by connecting through Tokyo or Osaka — and if you are already planning a trip to central Japan, Nagoya is an easy addition. From Tokyo, the Shinkansen Nozomi takes about 1 hour 40 minutes. From Kyoto or Osaka, it is under an hour.

The key caveat for Singapore visitors planning ahead: all Ghibli Park tickets require advance online reservation and can sell out weeks in advance. Check the official Ghibli Park English-language site for booking windows, which open monthly. For more Japan culture and travel content, browse our Japan travel picks.

Who Is Kenichi Yoda, Studio Ghibli’s New Head?

Yoda’s name is familiar to those watching Nippon Television’s growing role in Ghibli. A General Specialist at NTV’s Content Strategy Headquarters, he has served as the network’s primary liaison to the studio since the 2023 acquisition. His most prominent production credit is the acclaimed stage adaptation of My Neighbor Totoro, which broke box office records at London’s Barbican Centre — a reminder that his experience lies in expanding Ghibli’s world well beyond the cinema screen. He brings a clear events-and-exhibition eye to the studio, which fits the direction NTV has been steering Ghibli: more live experiences, more global brand-building.

Hiroyuki Fukuda Steps Back — But Doesn’t Leave

The outgoing president Hiroyuki Fukuda (64) took the helm in 2023, the same year Nippon Television acquired Studio Ghibli as a subsidiary. He concurrently held the role of President and Representative Director at NTV Holdings, making his appointment a natural bridge between the two companies during the acquisition period. Fukuda will continue serving as a board director at Studio Ghibli, keeping the NTV–Ghibli connection intact even as he passes the executive baton.

Studio Ghibli classic film poster collage

Image courtesy of Studio Ghibli

The Creative Pillars That Aren’t Moving

For the fans most likely to panic at any Studio Ghibli headline — breathe. The studio clarified that no other changes to its upper leadership structure are planned:

Hayao Miyazaki continues as Honorary Chairman of the Board.

Toshio Suzuki, the legendary producer behind decades of Ghibli films, remains Representative Director and Chairman of the Board.

Goro Miyazaki stays on as Managing Director.

The studio’s creative backbone — Miyazaki and Suzuki at the top — remains exactly as it was. Yoda’s appointment is a strategic and executive move, not a creative one.

NTV, Ghibli, and What Comes Next

When NTV acquired Studio Ghibli in 2023, it sparked plenty of debate about what corporate ownership could mean for such a fiercely independent studio. Three years in, the answer has been a gradual, carefully managed integration — with stage productions, international exhibitions, and global licensing expanding alongside the films. As Studio Ghibli stated at the time of the announcement, as reported by Anime News Network: “By combining the resources of both companies, we aim to create new innovations.” Yoda, coming from exactly that events-and-content side of NTV, looks built for this mandate.

Last Words

For Singapore Ghibli fans, the studio’s beloved films remain as accessible as ever — streaming across major platforms, with merchandise at specialty retailers islandwide. What Yoda’s presidency means for future productions is still an open question, but the continued presence of Hayao Miyazaki and Toshio Suzuki at the top suggests that the studio’s creative soul is in safe hands. This feels less like the end of an era and more like a carefully managed handoff — Studio Ghibli remains Studio Ghibli, just with a fresh name steering the ship. Stay tuned to our anime and Japan culture coverage for any updates from the studio.

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Ghibli Park’s First Original Short Film Opens Tomorrow