At ArtScience Museum Singapore, imagination takes tangible form through The World of Studio Ghibli, an exhibition that transforms animation into an immersive, walk-through experience. More than a display of beloved characters, the exhibition invites visitors to step inside the emotional landscapes and handcrafted universes that have defined Studio Ghibli for generations.
Founded by Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata, Studio Ghibli is celebrated for its poetic storytelling, meticulous hand-drawn animation, and deeply human themes. Nature, childhood, resilience, and quiet wonder recur across films such as My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Princess Mononoke. At ArtScience Museum, these cinematic moments are no longer confined to the screen; they unfold as physical environments that visitors can inhabit.
The exhibition is structured as a journey through a series of large-scale theatrical sets and galleries. Iconic scenes are recreated with remarkable attention to detail: the rain-soaked bus stop where Totoro waits patiently, the surreal train gliding across water in Spirited Away, and the whimsical interiors that echo Ghibli’s unique balance between fantasy and everyday life. These spaces are designed not merely for spectacle, but for emotional resonance—allowing visitors to feel the stillness, curiosity, and gentle magic that define Ghibli’s storytelling.
What distinguishes this exhibition is its emphasis on craft. Studio Ghibli’s films are renowned for their hand-drawn origins, and the exhibition reflects this philosophy through carefully built sets, textures, and perspectives. Rather than relying heavily on digital effects, the environments favor tactile realism, mirroring the studio’s belief in the beauty of imperfection and human touch. This approach aligns seamlessly with ArtScience Museum’s mission to explore the intersection of art, science, and creativity.
Sound also plays a vital role. Familiar musical scores drift through the galleries, subtly guiding visitors and deepening the emotional impact of each scene. The combination of visual immersion and sound design creates a rhythm that feels cinematic yet intimate, as though one is moving through a living storyboard.
Beyond nostalgia, The World of Studio Ghibli speaks to contemporary audiences by reminding us of slower, more reflective ways of seeing. In an age of fast consumption and digital saturation, the exhibition offers moments of pause—spaces where imagination, memory, and emotion converge. Children encounter wonder for the first time, while adults reconnect with stories that shaped their inner worlds.
The exhibition concludes with a curated retail space featuring exclusive merchandise, allowing visitors to take a fragment of the experience home. Yet its true takeaway is less tangible: a renewed appreciation for storytelling that values empathy, nature, and quiet beauty over spectacle alone.
At ArtScience Museum Singapore, Studio Ghibli’s worlds feel both fantastical and profoundly familiar. The exhibition stands as a testament to the studio’s enduring influence and to the power of immersive exhibitions to transform how stories are felt, remembered, and lived.
