The two-horsepower Pig house

Internationally recognized director and creator Hayao Miyazaki has had an inspirational effect the world over through his work at Studio Ghibli. Builder Andrea Lattanzio has been open about how Miyazaki’s films and stories have influenced his own models in the past. His latest model is a tribute to the home Miyazaki had built near Studio Ghibli’s main building back in 1998.  Framed by brightly colored trees that contrast the grey and black tilework covering the building, Andrea shows off his architectural skills in yet another masterful model. Offset tiles help create an effect similar to the original wooden siding while fresh planks and posts in the deck, yet to become green with moss, provide a peaceful place for the famed director to contemplate life.

Hayao Miyazaki and his Nibariki (Citroën 2CV)


Made for his production company, Nibariki, or “two-horsepower”, Miyazaki called the house itself “buta-ya,” which is commonly translated as Pig House. Though the building’s name may be more of an abstract reference from the director, the company that called it home derived its name from Miyazaki’s beloved car model, the Citroën 2CV. Of course, this was a perfect opportunity for Andrea to show off another skill of his, automobile modeling. Parked in front of the building’s entrance is Miyazaki’s current 1987 2CV 6 Citroën, though a tribute to his original 1960s 2CV makes its own appearance in 1979’s The Castle of Cagliostro.

The custom minifigure that Andrea created works perfectly as Hayao Miyazaki, from the hair and glasses to the apron over his modest clothes. The famed Studio Ghibli co-founder may be ironically morose and melancholic like this house, but his stories provide a splash of vibrance to life like the flowers and plants on the deck.

3 comments on “The two-horsepower Pig house

  1. hntrains

    Great, as all his builds are.

    P.S. You have a dangling participle here: “Framed by brightly colored trees that contrast the grey and black tilework covering the building, Andrea shows off his architectural skills in yet another masterful model”.

  2. Chris Burden Post author

    Andrea, of course! Thank you for celebrating one of my heroes so fantastically! I have a No-Face mask tattoo on my thigh so I just had to jump on this as a good Ghibli fan.

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