Studio Ponoc, who brought us Mary and the Witch’s Flower last year, has released the first animated trailer for their highly anticipated anthology project, MODEST HEROES.
The film, which has the full title of Ponoc Short Films Theatre: Volume 1 – Modest Heroes (Chiisana Eiyū: Kani to Tamago to Tōmei Ningen), contains work from directors Hiromasa Yonebayashi (“Kanini & Kanino”); Yoshiyuki Momose (“Life Ain’t Gonna Lose”), and Akihiko Yamashita (“Invisible”).
The three stories could not look more different. Kanini & Kanino is the tale of a pair of crab brothers who are in search of their father, who was carried away by the river. So it’s kind of a reverse Finding Nemo.
Life Ain’t Gonna Lose is a mother/son tale about Shun, a little boy who loves baseball but is deathly allergic to eggs. This slice of life anime is the kind that we really dig, and director Yoshiyuki Momose was a key animator on Whisper of the Heart, Mary and the Witch’s Flower, and the Ni No Kuni games.
Then there’s Akihiko Yamashita’s Invisible, which is quite literally about an invisible man. A veteran of animation since the 1980s, the clips from Yamashita’s section combine gorgeous visuals with high adventure and ennui. It’s the perfect Venn Diagram!
READ MORE: Studio Ponoc reveals new animated anthology project
Where western animation has converted to CG animation wholesale, it’s important to acknowledge how vital these animators are in keeping traditional cell animation alive. Yoshiyuki Momose’s section in particular seems to play with the “in-between” styles. Keep in mind that with the hiatus of Studio Ghibli, who don’t have a new film due until 2020, many of the former animators have landed at Ponoc.
MODEST HEROES features a massive voice cast that includes Fumino Kimura, Jō Odagiri, Rio Suzuki, Min Tanaka, and a theme song by Kaela Kimura (Custom Made 10.30). It is due for release in Japan on 24 August 2018. Fingers crossed for a speedy release worldwide.
