The special exhibition "The Boy and the Heron" currently held at the Ghibli Museum in Mitaka Forest, Tokyo, will transition from the first part, Image Board Edition, to the second part, Layout Edition, starting May 25.

A layout in animation refers to the blueprint that includes the background of each shot, the position and movement of characters, direction for movement, and camerawork.

"The Boy and the Heron," a rare example of a "hand-drawn" animation in recent years, where most of the drawings during the production process are created with pencil and paint on paper, features original drawings by animators, which were then reviewed and revised by director Hayao Miyazaki and the animation director. The layouts, drawn by skilled animators including director Miyazaki himself, represent the pinnacle of "hand-drawn" animation.

In the second part, the Layout Edition, about 200 layout drawings will be exhibited. These drawings serve as the blueprint for the animation and were created during the production process. The exhibition aims to showcase the richness of hand-drawn expressions with paper and pencil and allow visitors to feel the energy and thoughts invested in each cut. The Ghibli Museum in Mitaka Forest operates by reservation only, with specific date and time. Tickets for May entry will go on sale at Lawson Ticket starting April 10 (tickets are released on the 10th of each month).