Providing you haven’t already maxed out your credit cards at Disneyland, then there’s another fairly sizeable animation studio making a play for your heart and wallet thanks to the opening of Studio Ghibli’s first official Shanghai store.
The Japanese anime house, which reaped international success with the likes of Spirited Away and The Secret World of Arrietty, has set up the Donguri Republic store at Xujiahui’s Metro City mall.
With a fantastical exterior covered in fake leaves, it’s easy to spot, and stepping inside feels like entering into an enormous tree filled with classic Ghibli characters such as Totoros, Kodamas and Kaonashis (No-Face) in merchandise form.
None of it’s cheap, with prices ranging from around 90RMB for one of the dinky little soft toys to a whopping 8,000RMB for one that’s 1.6m tall. Plant pots go for 350RMB, while there's a range of T-shirts from 220RMB and dresses inspired by the animations from 380-500RMB.
Many shoppers seem more intent on taking photos of these iconic designs than actually purchasing them, or trying to sneak a free showing of Spirited Away, which is screening on a TV in store.
While you’re unlikely to be swept away by the magic of Studio Ghibli in quite the same way as the films, this is at least a good destination to pick up a kitsch anime gift, and a definite must-visit for any super-fans.
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