praise from legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki
On July 8, 2026, Studio Ghibli premiered the 14-minute short film A Night in the Valley of Witches at Ghibli Park in Japan. Set in the park’s “Valley of Witches,” the fantasy anime explores mysterious magical events that happen after dark from the perspective of a confused night-shift worker. Director Goro Miyazaki said his father’s reaction was “insane in a good way.”
Co-directed by Goro Miyazaki and Ghibli veteran Akihiko Yamashita, the short takes fans into Ghibli Park’s magical Valley of Witches, featuring locations inspired by Kiki’s Delivery Service and Howl’s Moving Castle.
Yamashita previously worked on Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Mary and the Witch’s Flower, making his involvement a special connection to Ghibli’s history.
The short also features the park’s 65-foot-tall replica of Howl’s Castle. Goro once joked about the stationary structure:
“Howl’s castle is a ‘moving castle,’ but the castle in the park stays seated the whole time.”“It’s not good for the [visitor’s] health if it doesn’t move.”
For Goro, the project marks another step in his long journey at Studio Ghibli. His early work, including Tales From Earthsea, faced criticism from his father, but he continued refining his own creative voice. Hayao later described Earwig and the Witch as “rather interesting,” despite its mixed reception.
With Goro now involved in discussions about Ghibli’s future alongside new president Kenichi Yoda, while Hayao Miyazaki remains deeply involved in selecting projects, the short feels like a meeting of Ghibli’s past and future.
A Night in the Valley of Witches is currently screening exclusively at Ghibli Park in Aichi, Japan.
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