Studio Ponoc is widely regarded as the next Studio Ghibli – not least because it was founded by veterans of the beloved anime studio, including Oscar-nominated producer Yoshiaki Nishimura. And that means the new Netflix deal is big for the streamer. Ponoc Sutdio’s new anime, The imaginarywill be a Netflix exclusive after its cinematic release in Japan – and there will be plenty more films where that comes from.
The news comes via Netflix, which announced the deal this week. The streamer will be “the exclusive streaming home of upcoming Studio Ponoc films,” which means our best Netflix anime list will be in for a major shakeup — and Nishimura, for one, is excited about that. “Studio Ponoc is excited to bring our stories and innovative, hand-drawn, hand-painted animated films to all audiences, and especially to children and their families to enjoy together, around the world on Netflix,” he says.
A new day for Netflix anime
The studio’s name comes from ponoć, a Croatian word meaning ‘midnight’, or more poetically: the dawning of a new day. The studio’s first film, from 2017 Mary and the witch flower, setting the tone. It was praised for its beautiful images, charming stories and captivating imagination.
The imaginaryset to premiere later this year, it will be directed by Yoshiyuki Momose (Ghostly away) and promises to be “an unforgettable adventure of love, loss and the healing power of imagination.”
Based on the critically acclaimed children’s book of the same name by AF Harrold and illustrator Emily Gravett, it focuses on Amanda and her imaginary friend Rudger as they embark on adventures from Amanda’s attic that lead them to discover incredible places and creators – only to find a more sinister one. force that threatens both their imaginary world and their very real friendship.
According to Netflix it is The imaginary will feature “first-of-their-kind techniques of light and shadow” and “groundbreaking hand-drawn animation.” It sounds like it will be quite something, and if it is anything like the book, it will be beautiful and just scary enough for younger viewers. The imaginary will be released in Japan later this year before coming exclusively to the top streaming service.