Studio OLM has released the first trailer for its original anime, Pon no Michi.
As detailed on Anime Corner, Pon No Michi’s official YouTube channel unveiled the series’ debut promotional video, which introduces the main characters and their respective voice actors, on Sept. 15, The anime’s story revolves around a group of friends from the seaside region of Onomichi city who bond over their mutual love for the tabletop strategy game, mahjong. Currently, the series’ official release window is January 2024.
Tatsuma Minamikawa, who is known for his work on Fire Force and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, is serving as both writer and director for Pon no Michi. Scott McDonald (Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Detonation) is in charge of Art Direction. Negi Haruba (The Quintessential Quintuplets) and Kenji Ota (Lance N’ Masques) are both in charge of character designs. Kaori Maeda (Love Live! Nijigasaki High School Idol Club) stars as Nashiko Jippensha, a young woman who is kicked out of her home and decides to put a mahjong group together at her father’s old parlour. Akio Otsuka (Ghost In The Shell), Iori Saeki (Tokyo Mew Mew New), Shion Wakayama (Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation) and Yui Kondo (D-Gray Man Hollow) co-star as Chonbo, Pai Kawahigashi, Izumi Tokutomi and Riche Hayashi, respectively.
Studio OLM is the acclaimed studio behind many popular anime series. One of the studio’s latest hits, Komi Can’t Communicate, started out as a rom-com manga in May 2016. Written and illustrated by Tomohito Oda, its plot centers on an introverted high school student named Shouko Komi who has severe social anxiety. Her friend and fellow classmate, Hirohito Tadano, befriends Komi and decides to help her reach her goal of making 100 new friends. Season 2 of the anime premiered in April 2022, running for 12 episodes before its conclusion in June 2022.
Studio OLM also produces the Pokémon series, which has wrapped up the long-running journey of Ash Ketchum and his partner, Pikachu. The final 11 episodes of Ash’s adventure, titled “Aim to be a Pokemon Master!” recently had its Netflix debut earlier this month; a premiere somewhat overshadowed by the release of the highly-anticipated One Piece live-action series. OLM is currently animating Pokémon Horizons, which focuses on two brand-new characters called Liko and Roy. Netflix will make Pokémon Horizons available to viewers in North America sometime in 2023.
Pon no Michi will be released in Japan in January 2024. However, it is not yet known when the series will debut internationally.
Sources: YouTube, via Anime Corner