Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1 -Studio Ponoc Original Soundtrack

The soundtrack of Modest Heroes: Ponoc Short Films Theatre, Volume 1, the premier anthology of short animated films from Studio Ponoc, offers a rich and varied illustrative tapestry fundamental to remarkably different animation styles. Experience the work of three talented composers and musicians presenting memorable soundscapes to these stirring films: Takatsugu Muramatsu in Kanini & Kanino, Masanori Shimada in Life Ain't Gonna Lose and Yasutaka Nakata in Invisible.

Studio Ponoc is an animation studio founded by former Studio Ghibli producer Yoshiaki Nishimura specializing in beautiful, moving hand-drawn, hand-painted animated films. In Modest Heroes, producer Nishimura presents an ambitious collection of three thrilling tales: Kanini & Kanino, a grand fantasy adventure (directed by Academy Award®-nominee Hiromasa Yonebayashi), Life Ain't Gonna Lose, a moving human drama of love (directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, a key animator on Isao Takahata's films at Studio Ghibli), and Invisible, an action spectacle directed by Akihiko Yamashita, a key animator on many of Hayao Miyazaki's best-known films).

Stitching it all together is the energetic and joyful voice of J-pop singer ("Butterfly") and former model Kaela Kimura in the opening and closing songs "Welcome to Ponoc Short Films Theatre" and "Chiisana Eiyu (Modest Heroes)".

The music for Kanini & Kanino is by Takatsugu Muramatsu, his third collaboration with director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, following themes of innocence and resolve woven in music for When Marnie Was There and Mary and The Witch's Flower. Here Muramatsu beautifully colors a compact underwater world with rich musical expression.

Director Yoshiyuki Momose's tale Life Ain't Gonna Lose resonates with music composed by Masanori Shimada, a top-tier music producer in Japan known for working with many artists including aiko, Motohiro Hata, and YUKI. This is Shimada's first foray into film music for which he created a score that harmonizes everyday life with the fragile yet unbreakable resilience of a mother and son facing a lethal threat.

Composer Yasutaka Nakata brings to director Akihiko Yamashita's Invisible his experience as a leading figure in Japan's electronic music scene from club culture to mainstream pop, exposing a unique, exciting and emotional sensibility that shines in this spectacular action film portraying the lonely battle of a man no longer seen.