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It’s been an emotional week for fans around the world after news broke about the possible closure of Studio Ghibli’s production department. Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki thankfully cleared up some of the misconceptions out there, and while we’re still left with many unanswered questions, his words left us with a glimmer of hope that even the great Hayao Miyazaki himself may be back to make a short animated film in the near future.

Miyazaki himself has publicly stated that last year’s The Wind Rises would be his final feature-length film, even if he continues making short films after retirement. So how do you pay tribute to a man whose career spans decades and who created some of the most beloved movies around the world? Well, one fan’s idea to build Lego models of his famous characters and a bust of the master himself seems like a good start!  

These photos recently popped up on a Japanese forum where viewers laughed about the surprisingly intricate craftsmanship of the Lego characters. Whoever built them sure has a good grasp on their finer details, right down to the curse on Ashitaka’s right arm:

▼Ashitaka and San, Princess Mononoke 

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Also making an appearance were some of the cast members from the Oscar-winning Spirited Away. No-Face in particular is creepily accurate to its animated design, wouldn’t you say?

▼Chihiro in her civilian clothes, No-Face, and Sen in her work clothes, Spirited Away

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Finally, we have Hayao Miyazaki himself, in Lego form! One viewer commented how his large nostrils made the model seem more like a cross between Miyazaki and the titular character of Porco Rosso.

▼The master appears to be in rare form

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▼Here’s a photo for comparison if you’re not familiar with what he looks like in real life.

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It would be nice to see even more Lego-fied characters from Miyazaki’s works, if anyone’s up for the task. Who wouldn’t be charmed by a Lego Totoro, for one?

Source: Vipper Sokuho
Images: Vipper Sokuho 1, 2, 3Wikipedia – Rror