The Largest in History: Gigantic Darth Vader Ice Sculpture Completed at Sapporo Snow Festival

© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

The 66th Sapporo Snow Festival, the largest winter event in Japan, finally kicked off on Feb. 4. At the venue of the event, Odori Park, the largest snow sculpture in the event’s history has been unveiled. The sculpture is a huge Star Wars snow sculpture licensed by Lucasfilm. Darth Vader, whom the ice sculpture is modeled after, and three Stormtroopers were on also stage at the opening ceremony on Feb. 4. The frigid land was warmed by the excitement of the crowd.

The Star Wars ice sculpture has the gigantic dimensions of being 15 meters tall, 22 meters wide, and 20 meters deep. The sculpture took roughly 1 month to complete, 700 5-ton trucks filled with snow, and 2,000 workers. At the opening ceremony, which took place in -3°C weather, Sith Lord Darth Vader and three Stormtroopers made a surprise visit. Regardless of the harsh cold, the more than 500 fans who gathered cheered loudly as they appeared.

The newest film in the Star Wars series, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, will be released in Japan on Dec. 18. Various speculation has been flying about, especially over whether Darth Vader will appear in the new film, and the Darth Vader who appeared at the opening ceremony magnificently darted each and every question regarding the new film. It seems they’re keeping details tightly under wraps.

And when asked, “Will you be appearing in the new film?”, he struck an ambiguous pose, neither confirmed nor denying, and excited the crowd through a performance that included intimidating the MC. When Darth Vader brandished his red lightsaber, the gigantic sculpture was lit up for the first time.

Rushing onstage as a special guest was Sapporo Mayor Fumio Ueda who had the following message: “I’m very happy that Sapporo Snow Festival was chosen as the venue for the very first unveiling for this celebratory year of the movie’s release. To everyone who helped make this gigantic snow sculpture that took a month in the freezing cold, you have my deepest thanks.” She enthusiastically continued: “Every year, more than 2 million people visit the Sapporo Snow Festival, and because of Star Wars this year, I’m hopeful that we can reach 2.5, no, 3 million visitors!” The 66th Sapporo Snow Festival is open now until Feb. 11.

Star Wars series, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Japanwide roadshow release beginning Friday, Dec. 18, 2015

Sapporo Snow Festival Official Site

Source: animeanime
Source article written by Katsunori Takahashi

© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.
© 2015 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All Rights Reserved.

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