Courtesy of Studio GhibliFilm & TV / NewsFilm & TV / NewsA campaign to save the Studio Ghibli Museum soars past its fundraising goalThousands of fans have come together to help support the museum, as it faces financial difficulties due to coronavirus closuresShareLink copied ✔️July 22, 2021July 22, 2021TextThom WaiteEarwig and the Witch by Studio Ghibli Earlier this year, the Japanese city of Mitaka announced a crowdfunding campaign to offset the financial difficulties that the Studio Ghibli Museum is facing as a result of long-term pandemic closures. Now, that campaign has soared past its goal, hitting the minimum target for donations in “less than 24 hours”. The iconic animation studio’s dedicated museum first shut down in February last year, as coronavirus spread across the world, and has continued to face reduced income due to COVID restrictions and reduced capacity. When Mitaka first said it was looking to raise 10 million yen ($91,652) to help carry out reconstruction and repairs back in May, it promised bespoke Ghibli merch in exchange for funds to secure the museum’s legacy. According to the Anime News Network, the goal was met less than a day after the fundraiser began on July 16. As of today (July 22), it has more than doubled its target, bringing in over 24 million million yen. That amount is spread out over more than 3,000 donors, with the campaign limited to Japanese residents, who can donate a minimum of 5,000 yen (or about $45). Despite smashing its target so early on, the crowdfunding campaign is only just getting started, set to run until January 21, 2022. Ghibli fans can take a look here, and donate if they’re a resident of Japan. During its COVID closures, the Studio Ghibli Museum has offered virtual tours via YouTube, while work has continued on the studio’s eponymous theme park (get a sneak preview of the My Neighbour Totoro area here, or take a look at its replica of the castle from Howl’s Moving Castle). Studio Ghibli’s latest film (and first fully-CGI offering), Earwig and the Witch, premiered on May 28 this year, to a mixed response that director Goro Miyazaki addressed in an interview with Dazed the same month. Hayao Miyazaki, meanwhile, has come out of retirement to work on the upcoming feature film How Do You Live?. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREArco, a striking, soul-stirring sci-fi about lonely kids in 2075Bill Skarsgård and Gus Van Sant on their scrappy thriller Dead Man’s WireLVMH Prize 2026Inside an exclusive celebration for the semi-finalists of the LVMH PrizeScarlet: Anime legend Mamoru Hosoda’s trippy new take on Hamlet7 unmissable films from South by Southwest 2026 Why fans are turning against Timothée ChalametOscars 2026: The biggest snubs from this year’s nominationsCasting is finally getting its flowers at the 2026 OscarsThe story behind Resurrection, Bi Gan’s dreamy cinematic epic Sound of Falling is the most experimental teen drama of all timeEveryone needs to calm down about Timothée ChalametNorthern roles should go to northern actorsEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy