IOC commissions Studio Ponoc to create animated short film inspired by Olympic values
Skwigly
The IOC today announced at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival a creative collaboration with Tokyo-based Studio Ponoc to produce an animated short film inspired by the Olympic values, to be released next year in the lead-up to the Olympic Games to be held in Tokyo from 24 July to 9 August 2020. The project aims to share the Olympic messages of hope and peace with a broad international audience, particularly young people, and to forge a powerful artistic legacy for animation fans across the globe.
The core values of Olympism are powerful and ever more relevant in today’s world. As the Tokyo 2020 Games approach, we wanted to explore animation as a creative vehicle to express the Olympic values of excellence, respect and friendship. From the moment we learned about Studio Ponoc, we were intrigued to work with its creative talent to see how they would reinterpret the Olympic values from a distinct aesthetic and narrative perspective, showcasing the finest hand-drawn and hand-painted animation. With a focus on universal topics relevant to humanity, this film will contribute not only to the excitement in the build-up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 but also will inspire future generations.
-Francis Gabet, Director of the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage
The IOC’s commission to Studio Ponoc falls within the scope of the international Arts & Culture Programmes, led by the OFCH, to engage artists to reinterpret the links between sport and culture that are fundamental to the Olympic Movement, and to help foster a fresh and dynamic dialogue with society around the Olympic values. The Arts & Culture Programmes were set up within the framework of Olympic Agenda 2020, the strategic roadmap for the future of the Olympic Movement, notably its recommendation 26, which aims to further strengthen the blending of sport and culture at the Olympic Games and in- between.
Following his production of the Academy Award®-nominated animated feature films The Tale of The Princess Kaguya (2013) and When Marnie Was There (2014), Yoshiaki Nishimura founded Studio Ponoc in 2015.
Animation is a magical visual storytelling medium that communicates across cultures. We are delighted to take on the challenge, together with the OFCH, of creating a beautiful hand-drawn animated film that will speak to the world, in particular children, encouraging all to embrace life with a peaceful and tolerant spirit in their hearts, regardless of the challenges they may face.
-Yoshiaki Nishimura, Studio Ponoc
Studio Ponoc specializes in beautiful hand-drawn and hand-painted animated films to be enjoyed by children and parents together, and general audiences, around the world. “Ponoc” comes from the Croatian word ponoć meaning “midnight” or the beginning of a new day. The studio produced and released worldwide director Hiromasa Yonebayashi’s Mary and The Witch’s Flower in summer 2017 as its first animated feature film.