Studio Ponoc (Mary and the Witch’s Flower) has released a trailer for its first installment of the Ponoc Tanpen Gekijou (lit. Ponoc’s Short Film Theater). It is titled Chiisana Eiyuu – Kani to Tamago to Toumei Ningen (lit. Small Heroes – Crab and Egg and Invisible Man) and will be made up of 3 short films. Kaela Kimura’s new song can be heard in the background of the trailer.

This project started with the aim ‘To produce an anime movie which children and adults can enjoy’. Good things come in small packages and so stories of three miracles were created. Kaela Kimura’s new track ‘Chiisana Eiyuu’ (Small Heroes) has been chosen to be used as the ending song.

Kaela Kimura wants ‘children to feel at ease’

Kaela Kimura, who is a mother herself and also works on picture books revealed: ‘I have always been a big fan of the works of the staff of these three movies: director Hiromasa Yonebayashi, director Yoshiyuki Momose, and director Akihiko Yamashita. I have always been thinking of a way to use my songs for them and finally my dream has come true! I have had many meetings with the staff members and it has been decided to make my song the ending theme for all three movies combined. I wanted to write a song which would place a smile on the viewers’ faces before going home. I wrote the song from my own perspective and would love that the children who listen to this song live at ease and grow up well.’

The promotional video, which has been released before the movie opens on 24 August 2018, gives you the chance to listen to parts of the ending theme. Kanini to Kanino, the great adventure fantasy of two crab brothers, is director Hiromasa Yonebayashi (Mary and the Witch’s Flower)’s first original story. Samurai Egg is a drama based on a real story of love and excitement of a mother and her son created by talented director Yoshiyuki Momose, who has worked as the right hand for late director Isao Takahata. Director Akihiko Yamashita, who is known as a genius animator for Hayao Miyazaki’s works is in charge of the spectacular and full of action movie Toumei Ningen. Toumei Ningen is portraying the lonely fight of an invisible man.

The courage of an older brother and his younger one, a mother and child’s bond, and one person’s struggle. ‘Chiisana Eiyuu’ is a light and refreshing song with mutually exchanged emotions of perspectives from children risking their lives and their parents who are gently taking care of them.

Comment from producer Yoshiaki Nishimura about the ending song

‘I wanted a song that brightly wraps three works with different stories, designs, and creators, with the theme ‘Chiisana Eiyuu’ (lit. Small Heroes). I was thinking that Kaela Kimura, who is able to deliver her smile through her voice, might challenge this unreasonable demand together. With these feelings, I have asked her to be in charge of the ending theme. Days later she completed the song and said laughing ‘I was so nervous that I cried!’, but we were just howling “this is amazing!!”

Kaela’s song and her straightforward voice are just easily jumping over sentiments and description of feelings and will fill theaters with glitter and blessings.
Adults and children will look up into the sky and sing the song unintentionally on their way home from the theater. I really appreciate the completion of this very nice song.’

Chiisana Eiyuu – Kani to Tamago to Toumei Ningen is slated to open on 24 August 2018.

source: https://animeanime.jp/article/2018/07/05/38555.html