Studio Ghibli legend returns with immersive 3D “Panorama Box” works

A new body of work by Hayao Miyazaki has been unveiled, marking the acclaimed director’s first major creative project since his 2023 Oscar-winning film The Boy and the Heron, as per foreign media reports.

The announcement was made on March 17 at Studio Ghibli’s Studio 1 in Tokyo, where details of the project — titled the “Panorama Box” — were presented by Miyazaki’s son Goro Miyazaki and producer Toshio Suzuki. Miyazaki himself did not attend.

The “Panorama Box” series, developed over nearly four years since June 2022, consists of 31 handcrafted “art boxes” that reinterpret a centuries-old concept dating back to the 16th century. Each box contains layered, three-dimensional scenes designed to create depth and motion-like perception. Unlike traditional diorama-style compositions, Miyazaki’s works emphasise vertical movement, guiding the viewer’s eye up and down in a manner reminiscent of cinematic camera motion in animation.

今日は「宮﨑駿のパノラマボックス」のお披露目取材会がありました。

ご取材いただいた皆さまありがとうございました。

「子どものためのジブリが帰ってきた」という言葉、本当に心が温かくなりますね。

取材記事や報道、ぜひたくさんご覧ください。
実物は7/8にジブリパークで公開です！ pic.twitter.com/ViRr8pVVKn

— 三鷹の森ジブリ美術館　Ghibli Museum, Mitaka (@GhibliML) March 17, 2026

From a distance, the images appear flat, but closer inspection reveals multi-layered compositions, with separate foreground and background elements arranged to create immersive depth. The boxes feature both original artwork and familiar characters from iconic Studio Ghibli films, including Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro, Spirited Away, and The Boy and the Heron.

According to Goro Miyazaki, the concept draws on his father’s childhood experiences playing with handmade toys, as well as artistic influences such as Salvador Dalí’s “The Little Theater,” an optical art box Miyazaki studied during a visit to the Museum of Modern Art. That piece, composed of layered glass paintings illuminated by light, similarly sought to recreate an early form of visual storytelling.

The Panorama Boxes are intended for display at Ghibli Park, where an exhibition will open on July 8 at the Grand Warehouse. Early viewings reportedly drew strong reactions from children, with Miyazaki expressing satisfaction and remarking, “The Ghibli for children is back,” according to his son.

The works have also attracted attention from fellow creators, including Hideaki Anno, who recently visited Miyazaki’s atelier and described the pieces as difficult to fully appreciate through photographs, emphasizing their “sheer wonder” in person.

Despite his age, Miyazaki remains creatively active. Suzuki noted that the director continues to work energetically and has not ruled out future filmmaking. He suggested that Miyazaki’s artistic drive remains strong, describing him as someone who “won’t lose to anyone and will create something interesting,” adding that the new works demonstrate not only sustained ability but ongoing evolution.

By Tamilla Hasanova