The Common Knowledge of Pani Poni Dash! Opening

First off, what was the concept you started the creation process?

Oishi

The director gave me orders “I want it look like a title background of a Western film from 60s to 70s” and “I want the staff credits to blend in with the images”. Therefore, I came up with the idea of the opening having the text as the main focus. Staff names were bouncing on a girl’s butt, one name sunk into Mesousa’s head, and so on. I drew these ideas into a storyboard, showed and explained them to the director, and after that, we decided to do them.

Please tell us about the production process.

Oishi

I wanted to capture the surreal feel of the original Pani Poni. For example, since Miyako’s forehead is wide, it resembled a kettle. Well, when I made Miyako a kettle and had the idea to reflect her face from its surface, I thought that wouldn’t it be funny to turn one part of each students’ body into tools often found in schools. So, I bought or ordered the actual items, took photos of them, and put them as students’ body parts. The next step was to figure out what to apply to whom. Like, since No. 6 has pigtails, an erlenmeyer flask would be spot-on. I was able to lent the metronome from one Shaft staff member’s home. I ended up using staff members’ belongings quite a bit. Like the pendant and sunglasses that Becky wore, and the handkerchief used as a necktie. I also took photos of flowerpots and added them in, but not so many people might notice them.

The use of colours is pretty extreme.

Oishi

It is. It was intended to be similar to 60s and 70s image. Deciding on the colours was quite difficult. We worked on it until the very last minute. In the end, it turned out almost exactly as I had imagined.

It’s pretty cool how the surroundings of Becky’s eyes spin all around.

Oishi

Thank you very much. I thought for psychedelic imagery. In the original work, Becky isn't a frightening character. She's a kid but gives a cool vibe. I was hoping to create that kind of atmosphere.

About that last scene with the toilet... (laughs).

Oishi

Ah, about that (laughs). The origin of the joke came from a discussion about “I want the punchline end with them flushing down the toilet”, which I had with the director at a pub. The faucet turned on, Mesousa would smoothly appear, drop down with a splash, get flushed down the toilet, the lid closes with a bang and the title then appears. When I told him that I wanted to create an opening like that, he told me to go ahead and try it out.

Was the toilet in question from the company?

Oishi

Yeah, the thing I remember most is polishing it thoroughly before photographing. After all, we couldn't show a dirty toilet (laughs).

Were there any difficult parts?

Oishi

As the decided credits have an order to appear, it would be bad if this person’s name bounces from a butt. Things like that were something I had to be careful with.

Were there any rejected jokes?

Oishi

The ones in the opening were already quite dangerous. Toilet itself was vulgar subject matter, as well as letters coming out from under the skirt. What about animals flushing down the toilet? But fortunately, they got green light.

What points would you like to everyone to watch?

Oishi

Please look at all the pictures of those gadgets. That kettle cost me 5000 yen (laughs).

Thank you very much.