The official website for Shinei Animation's stop-motion animation series Pui Pui Molcar revealed on Sunday the title and character art for the series' all-new 3D CG animated film (as opposed to stop-motion images of previous series) TOHO NEXT will open this year. The title of the movie is Pui Pui Molcar the Movie: MOLMAX.
Image via Pui Pui Molcar's Website
©見里朝希／PUI PUI モルカー製作委員会
Mankyū (Sumikkogurashi – Good to be in the Corner, Migi & Dali, The IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors) will direct the film, with original Pui Pui Molcar stop-motion series director Tomoki Misato appointed as chief supervisor . Yuuko Kakihara (Chihayafuru seasons 2 and 3, Cells at Work!, Buddy Daddies) is writing the script.
The stop-motion series debuted in January 2021 on TV Tokyo's children's variety show Kinder TV. The series focuses on guinea pigs that have become cars (from the title “Molcar” combines “car” with “morumotto”, the Japanese word for “guinea pig” and a variation of the English word ”marmot”). Netflix began streaming the series worldwide outside of select Asian territories in March 2021. Tobidase! Narase! Pui Pui Molcar, the series' compilation film, opens in Japan in July 2021.
The film uses stop-motion animated puppets made of wool felt.
This series marks the directorial debut of Tomoki Misato on an animated television series. Misato also wrote the script and he worked on the storyboards along with Hana Ono and Kei Sato. The series' animators include Misato, Ikuko Iwatsuki, Kei Sato, and Makoto Takano. Artists include Misato, Ikuko Iwatsuki, Kei Sato, Harune Satō and Michiko Kaihatsu. Shōta Kowashi composed the music.
The franchise also inspired the smartphone game Pui Pui Molcar Mogu Mogu Parking, which launched in July 2021.
Shinei Animation produces Crayon Shin-chan and Doremon, among other titles. Wit Studio established a stop-motion studio with Misato in December 2020.
Source: website, Comic Natalie
