Dragonball Z's Goku Is the Star of the 2016 Sapporo Snow Festival

Article by: Laura Mason|@masonlazarus

Fri February 05, 2016 | 00:00 AM


In Japan, cartoons and anime aren't just for kids – they're a dominant cultural force infused into daily life for citizens of all ages. Because of that, the Sapporo Snow Festival always playfully showcases some kind of fictional manga character amidst the rest of the hundreds of sculptures – often of historical monuments, buildings, and scenes of Japanese life – all rendered by talented artists from literal tons of snow.

Last year, it was Star Wars' Darth Vader ; this year it was Dragon Ball Z's iconic hero Goku, who took center stage as part of the cartoon series' 30th anniversary in 2016. Of course, no Dragon Ball Z celebration would be complete without the series's baddest villain, the alien prince Vegeta, who appears right next to Goku. Both tower more than a dozen meters over the thousands of visitors who are already streaming in for the festival's start today.

Between Goku and Vegeta are two Beerus, which are smaller yet still several meters tall. And, as seen in the video above, when night falls the entire sculpture is illuminated by bright lights, making for quite a dramatic, triumphant affect. 

Another important manga series getting the Sapporo Snow treatment is Attack on Titan, which can be seen on rocketnews24.com and in the video below. Photos of that huge sculpture show the artists' work as finely detailed, with lifelike details and dynamic facial expressions highlighting the power of creator Hajime Isayama’s characters. Thanks to this year's chilly weather, the artists' ability to meticulously craft these sculptures is easier than it has been in previous years, especially in the daytime.

Both sculptures can be found in the Odori Kaijo venue of the fest. The festival, which now averages about 2 million visitors per year, runs through February 11. We can't wait to see the rest of the impressive ice sculptures unveiled this year.