Studio Ponoc

Studio Ponoc (株式会社スタジオポノック, Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Ponokku) is a Japanese animation studio based in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan. The company was founded in April 2015 by Yoshiaki Nishimura, former lead film producer of Studio Ghibli. Its first feature film, Mary and the Witch's Flower, was released on July 8, 2017, throughout Japan with the film's main character Mary Smith serving as the company's mascot in their logo, similar to Studio Ghibli's mascot, Totoro.[1]

Studio Ponoc
Native name
株式会社スタジオポノック
Kabushiki-gaisha Sutajio Ponokku
TypeKK
IndustryAnimation
FoundedApril 15, 2015 (2015-04-15) in Musashino, Tokyo, Japan
FounderYoshiaki Nishimura
Headquarters
Musashino, Tokyo
,
Japan
Number of locations
1
Key people
Yoshiaki Nishimura (CEO)
ParentStudio Ghibli
Websiteponoc.jp

History

Yoshiaki Nishimura founded Studio Ponoc on April 15, 2015, and gained the support of several animators previously working under Studio Ghibli, including director Hiromasa Yonebayashi.[2][3][4] The name of the studio comes from the Serbo-Croatian word pónoć, for "midnight", meant to signify "the beginning of a new day".[5]

The studio worked on an advertisement for JR West for its 2015 summer campaign.[2] Mary and the Witch's Flower, the studio's first feature film, was able to reach number six of the highest-grossing films of the year in Japan. The film is based on The Little Broomstick by Mary Stewart. Several former employees of Studio Ghibli have joined the studio to work on the film.[4][6] Studio Ponoc produced an animated short film titled Tomorrow's Leaves, written by Yoshiaki Nishimura and directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, in collaboration with the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, timed to coincide with the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games and inspired by Olympic values of "Excellence, Friendship and Respect". Production on the film started in June 2019. Its release was postponed along with the 2020 Summer Olympic Games, and the film had its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival during its opening ceremony on June 14, 2021. The animated short film screened at the Tokyo Skytree from July 12 until September 5. The animated short film officially premiered when it was made available on YouTube by the International Olympic Committee and on Studio Ponoc's official website at ponoc.jp on July 23, the opening date of the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.[7][8][9]

Works

Commercials

Short works

Films
English Title Release date Directed by Screenplay
Mary and the Witch's Flower 8 July 2017 Hiromasa Yonebayashi Riko Sakaguchi, Hiromasa Yonebayashi
Modest Heroes 24 August 2018 Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Yoshiyuki Momose, Akihiko Yamashita Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Yoshiyuki Momose, Akihiko Yamashita
The Imaginary 15 December 2023[10] Yoshiyuki Momose

References
  1. Yonebayashi, Hiromasa (2017-07-08), Mary and The Witch's Flower (2017), archived from the original on 2018-03-15, retrieved March 24, 2018
  2. "Ghibli Producer Yoshiaki Nishimura Works at New Studio". Anime News Network. June 16, 2015. Archived from the original on 2016-12-18. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  3. White, James (December 15, 2016). "Studio Ponoc aims to bring the Ghibli magic with Mary and The Witch's Flower". Empire. Archived from the original on 2016-12-17. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  4. "Former Ghibli Staffers' Studio Ponoc Unveils Mary and The Witch's Flower Anime Film". Anime News Network. December 15, 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-12-16. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  5. "会社概要" [company profile]. STUDIO PONOC（スタジオポノック） (in Japanese). 2015年4月15日設立。日本のアニメーション映画制作会社。 2014年末にスタジオジブリを退社した後、プロデューサーの西村義明が立ち上げたアニメーション映画スタジオ。「ポノック」という名前は、セルビア・クロアチア語で「深夜0時」を意味する（pónoć）に由来し、新しい一日のはじまりの意味を込めた。 English translation: "Established on April 15, 2015. Japanese animated film production company. An animated film studio launched by producer Yoshiaki Nishimura after leaving Studio Ghibli at the end of 2014. The name "Ponoc" comes from the Serbo-Croatian word "midnight" (pónoć), which means the beginning of a new day".
  6. Collin, Robbie (December 15, 2016). "Prepare to be spirited away: as if by magic, Studio Ghibli is back to make the world a brighter place". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2016-12-17. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
  7. Zahed, Ramin (June 10, 2019). "Studio Ponoc to Produce New Short for the Tokyo Olympic Games". Animation Magazine.
  8. Egan, Toussaint (July 23, 2021). "Studio Ponoc's Olympics 2021 short Tomorrow's Leaves is magical". Polygon. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  9. Pineda, Rafael (July 23, 2021). "Studio Ponoc's Olympic Anime Short 'Tomorrow's Leaves' Streamed". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
  10. Mateo, Alex (July 14, 2023). "Studio Ponoc's The Imaginary Film Opens in Japan on December 15". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
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