JAL reveals special 787 livery for the SORA wo TOBU project [Update 2]

Special JAL x Ghibli 787 livery for the SORA wo TOBU project. Image from Japan Airlines

[Updated with link to photo album of today's official reveal event from Mainichi Daily]
[Update 2: Include YouTube video of the plane posted by Yiuchan in the comment]

Japan Airlines (JAL) finally reveals the long awaited special JAL x Ghibli special decal JET 787 livery for the SORA wo TOBU project (it means Fly the Skies project) today. The SORA wo TOBU project is a collaboration between JAL and Studio Ghibli aiming to bring you the "Dreams, Joy and Delight of Flying the Skies". JAL has been showing some special inflight programs created by Studio Ghibli is the past couple of months, including an exclusive short animate created by director Hayao Miyazaki. Another part of the collaboration was to hold a drawing competitions for kids and use the winning entries to decorate a special 787 plane.

The competition was held back in August 2007 and ended in January 2008. The theme was to design a dream flying vehicle. A total of 13,474 entries from Japanese and overseas elementary students were collected. JAL and Studio Ghibli has selected 1 winning entry and 6 outstanding entries to be printed on the first JAL 787 together with a dream flying vehicle designed under the supervision of director Hayao Miyazaki. Below was the original design featuring the Arc of the Sun livery.

Original design of JAL x Ghibli 787 livery for the SORA wo TOBU project. Image from Japan Airlines

But due to the significant delay of 787, JAL had to postpone the introduction of this special livery. After that JAL rolled out a new logo and livery but never showed us the updated design until today! The major differences between the two designs are the JAL logo are now printed on the tail instead of the front section of the fuselage. And "JAPAN AIRLINES" is printed in the place which was originally occupied by the JAL Arc of The Sun logo. This design is similar to the current JAL livery. Another difference is obviously the updated logo is used in the middle of the fuselage, next to the Ghibli logo. But can anyone spot one more major difference? ;) It is the plane registration! Originally JA851J will be used but now JA828J, the 5th JAL 787 to enter service, is the plane with this special livery.

Left hand side of the JAL x Ghibli special 787 livery. Image from Japan Airlines

Right hand side of the JAL x Ghibli special 787 livery. Image from Japan Airlines

The big bird near the rear section of the fuselage on printed on both sides of the plane is the winning entry designed by a grade 4 student. The other drawing near the front which is also printed on both sides of the fuselage is the one designed by the studio. The rests are the outstanding entries designed by students from grade 1 to grade 5. The only international entry that made it to the fuselage was submitted by a student in Shanghai who is now living in Yamagata. His drawing is the one nearest to the JAL logo on the left hand side of the fuselage.

Inside the plane, JAL has kept the tradition of having special headrest covers for their special livery. Porco Rosso is featured in this special headrest. You can see the picture of it here.