STUDIO PONOC ...

Is a Japanese animation studio founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura, the former lead film producer at Studio Ghibli. So far they have produced one movie and a selection of three short films. The movie is called Mary and the Witch's Flower and is based on a novel called The Little Broomstick by British writer Mary Stewart, known for her romantic mystery stories and children's books.

The movie feels like kind of a mashup of different aspects of earlier Studio Ghibli movies and the story doesn't quite come together fully but the animation is very polished and for a first movie it is brilliant.

         

© Studio Ponoc

It is Studio Ponoc's more recent collection of short films though that really shine, with each one in a different style and having a different theme. The first story involves two small crablike children who live in a stream, rescuing their parents and the other two involve a boy with a critical allergy to eggs and an invisible man.

                                                             © Studio Ponoc                                         © Studio Ponoc

Studio Ponoc has also done some advertising and short work, one of which is inspired by Olympism and called Tommor's Leaves. 

Studio Ponoc will soon release their next feature length movie called The Imaginary (otherwise known as Rajah in the Attic in Japan) about an imaginary boy's adventures and the girl who imagined him. The movie is based on a children's picture book of the same name written by poet and performer A. F. Harrold and is illustrated by artist Emily Gravett.

                                                                                             © Studio Ponoc

                                  © A.F. Harrold & Emily Gravett                        © A.F. Harrold & Emily Gravett 

                                                                                                                                                 © Studio Ponoc

Here is a link to the Studio's website: STUDIO PONOC（スタジオポノック） And here is a link to A.F. Harrold's Adult and Children's websites: Videos — A.F. Harrold (afharrold.com), A.F. Harrold (afharroldkids.com).