Samの英語チャンネル

Papercraft models are small in size, but colossally cool for fans of Studio Ghibli.

Earlier in the year Ghibli Park added a new exhibit consisting of over 30 large dioramas made by famed anime director Hayao Miyazaki. Odds are, though, that you don’t have that much space to devote to your love of Ghibli’s art and environments, but Japanese papercraft company Sankei does have a way to let you bring a little piece of the Ghibli world into your home.

Going on sale November 3 are three new entries in Sankei’s Miniatuart Mini Plus line, recreating locations from Howl’s Moving Castle, Kiki’s Delivery Service, and Arrietty.

Each of them starts as a box filled with sheets of paper from which to build the walls and interior, and after you assemble everything the box then becomes a stand for the completed diorama.

Though the scale is compact and the building materials simple, the kits contain an incredible level of charming detail. Howl’s hearth, for example, is cluttered with all sorts of magical baubles and reference materials, just as you’d expect the eccentric wizard’s living quarters to be, and even fire spirit Calcifer makes an appearance.

The room that Kiki and Jiji rent from bakery owner Osono is decidedly less chaotic, but still has a lived-in feel with the witch’s laundry hanging up to dry, her broom leaning against the windowsill, and Jiji making sure not to leave any dirty pawprints on the nice clean floor.

The Kiki’s kit also has the most detailed exterior, which really helps create the atmosphere of it being a miniaturized loft that scaled-down version of the characters could live inside.

▼ The kits’ boxes/bases bear different illustrations on different sides, too, giving you one more reason to view them from different angles

Rounding out the trio is Arietty’s family’s living room.

This one comes with an extra dash of coolness because the scale of the diorama (6 centimeters [2.4 inches] square) works as a reminder that Arietty and her kin are all so tiny that most of the humans whose house they lived inside of never noticed them.

All of the locations are filled with cozy vibes, but they are listed on Sankei’s website as being advanced-difficulty kits, with an estimated time of five hours or more to build Kiki’s room, and 10 hours or more for the others. Kiki’s kit is also the lowest-priced of the bunch at 4,290 yen (US$27), followed by Arrietty’s (6,160 yen) and Howl’s (6,600 yen). All three can be ordered starting November 3 through Sankei’s Rakuten online storefront (here, here, and here).

Source: Sankei
Top image: Sankei
Insert images: Sankei, Rakuten/Sankei (1, 2, 3)
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Source: SORA NEWS24