Is a Japanese animation studio founded by Yoshiaki Nishimura, the former lead film producer at Studio Ghibli. So far they have produced two movies and a selection of three short films. Their first 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 has also done some advertising and short work, one of which is inspired by Olympism and called 'Tomorrow's Leaves'.
Studio Ponoc's second movie called 'The Imaginary' (otherwise known as 'Rajah in the Attic' in Japan) is 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. It is very well animated with a nice watercolor look - different to 'Mary and the Witch's Flower' - that incorporates subtle 3D computer effects. The plot is more grounded then you might expect for a movie about the imagination and it feels that with this movie Studio Ponoc has fully stepped away from any earlier Studio Ghibli influences and should be considered a serious studio in its own right. The art style does make me think a bit of Studio Ghibli's 'Ponyo' though, in that it is colorful and slightly reminiscent of children's crayons which also makes me think of the '5 Worlds' comic book series by Mark Siegel and others. Who I did a previous blog about you can read.
Here is a link to the Studio Ponoc's website. And here's a link to A.F. Harrold's main website and here's a link to A. F. Harrold's Children's website. And here's a link to the hardcover edition of the picture book on Amazon where you can but it. And here's a link to 'Mary and the Witch's Flower' on Amazon where you can buy it. And here's a link to Modest Heroes on Amazon where you can buy it. And here's a link to 'The Imaginary' on Amazon where you can buy it.
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