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Coming from a literary background, I love examining the interconnectivity between stories. I am especially addicted to studies on how stories function and overlap in different forms, be it literature, film, television, art, or anything else.
For example, Disney’s now-defunct “Dreams Come True” exhibition at the New Orleans Museum of Art, which explored the connection between Disney’s movies and their fairy-tale sources. I’ve lamented a few times the fact that the exhibition only appeared in New Orleans for five months, and Disney has no plans at the moment to run it anywhere else.
Now Disney’s teasing me again. The official Disney Parks blog announces that currently on display in the Japan Pavilion at Epcot is the exhibit “Spirit Beasts: From Ancient Stories to Anime Stars.” “Spirit Beasts” explores the connection between Japanese mythological creatures and their modern-day anime incarnations.
I discovered anime in college. Voracious for fantasy stories, I began to run out of new easy-to-access American or British books and movies I found appealing in my favorite genre. Someone introduced me to “Cowboy Bebop” and “Spirited Away,” and whole new worlds of fantasy and sci-fi opened to me.
“Spirited Away” especially contained many fantastical creatures which felt very alien to me, giving the movie a stranger feel during my initial viewing. I suspected, however, that the movie would have felt less strange if I possessed a greater familiarity with Japanese fables.
So maybe it’s no surprise that Epcot’s hosting “Spirit Beasts,” given Disney’s investment in Studio Ghibli films, often rife with such creatures. I doubt this exhibition was created for the purpose of educating American audiences more about the types of creatures likely to be found in anime and in Studio Ghibli movies, but certainly the association did not hurt.
I love fairy and folk tales from any country, so I’d go to an art exhibit at any museum hosting a display about them and be happy. A study on the relationship between those myths and modern media only makes it better. And the fact that it’s at Disney, well, that’s the cherry on top.
This time I can be fully excited about a cool event going on at Disney because this is one that, according to the Parks blog, is expected to last for years. I actually have a chance of going to see “Spirit Beasts,” given that I’m not likely to get to Disney anytime before the 2012 Fantasyland expansion. Personally I think they ought to make it a permanent exhibition, but that’s likely just my own bias for the subject matter talking.
I just wish I could give you more information on “Spirit Beasts.” Everything I’ve listed is all that’s up on the Disney Parks blog. I checked out the Japanese Pavilion section on the Epcot web site, and it does not provide any information on recurring exhibitions, which it really ought to.
But I don’t need more information on “Spirit Beasts.” The little I’ve heard about it is more than enough to attract my interest. I just hope that this time, I really will get the chance to see it one day.
Related Articles:
15th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
Miyazaki, Master of Animation: Part 1
Miyazaki, Master of Animation: Part 2
Amusement Parks Go High Tech and You Pay the Price
(*This image by BrianSmithson is listed as in the Public Domain and is therefore free for distribution and use.)
