It's not often we get to see the surreal imagery of Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki come to life, but thanks to a new startup, real life bonsai-style trees just got a lot more otherworldly.
Air Bonsai is a new bonsai-style miniature plant that hovers and spins over a magnetic base, all while you zen out to its sci-fi-like image of peace from the East.
[seealso slug="levitating-speaker"]
Launched by a team based in the Kyushu region of Japan, the makers are quick to point out that "the actual plants we will be using to send to you is for example 'matsu,' a pine tree [common in the U.S.]."
But as you can see in the video (above), that hardly makes a difference, as the effect is no less stunning.
"We are limited to export and carry any plants outside of Japan," the makers explain on their Kickstarter campaign page. "To solve this matter, we have support from our team members in the United States who will negotiate with regional bonsai and plant makers. We remind you that the bonsai for our prototypes is just an image."
And if you'd rather plant a different kind of levitating plant, the makers have a kit suited for that purpose as well. So in case you were wondering, despite the hovering, these are real plants and will need regular watering and care, they're not just props.
With its standard base measuring six centimeters in diameter, the circular moss ball base hovers around two centimeters above the magnetic base.
The cheapest option costs $200 for the basic Air Bonsai set, which includes the "energy base," AC adapter and the circular moss ball that supports the plant. Another version, which costs $30 more, uses a lava stone as the plant base.
Levitating objects by magnetic means is nothing new, but marrying such a dynamic with such an organic component is truly a stroke of genius.
As of this writing, the team had already surpassed its funding goal of $80,000 and raised around $108,000 (a lot of people want this thing). And they still have 36 days to go.
Will it work as shown in the video? As with all Kickstarters, we can't be certain. But supporters will find out for sure when the first Air Bonsai products begin shipping in August.