SÉBASTIEN PONS
Senior Creative Director & Animation Consultant
European Anime Studio Founder
In 1996, at 16, I spent a year at Koghei Artistic High School in Takamatsu, Japan—studying traditional arts that shaped my career and my relationship with japan.
In 2008, Ishigaki Production recruited me to Tokyo—I was one of the first European artists on Japanese theatrical blockbusters. I pioneered 3D-acrylic integration for Detective Conan: modeling complex urban environments in 3D while maintaining authentic 2D anime aesthetic.
17 years later: 13 theatrical films, €2.5B+ box office, 150M+ spectators. Remote collaboration since 2012 proved cross-border workflows viable years before becoming standard.
This hybrid expertise proved valuable beyond Detective Conan:
Disney+/Marvel called in 2020 for What If character design supervision.
Shaft Production in 2024 for Virgin Punk—needing authentic European urban environments with traditional 2D rendering.
BRIDGING TWO WORLD WITH
AN UNIQUE POSITIONING
What 17 years working with Japanese studios taught me:
Working directly with Ishigaki Production (Tokyo 2008-2011, then remote 2012-2025) —not as an observer, but as an integrated team member communicating in Japanese— I learned the frameworks behind Japanese theatrical quality:
• Quality control systems that ensure consistency across 13 theatrical films
• Production workflows from Detective Conan (名探偵コナン), Gintama (銀魂), Lupin III (ルパン三世), Virgin Punk...
• Team hierarchies and decision-making processes that protect artistic excellence
• Cultural nuances that elevate execution from "good" to "theatrical blockbuster"
• AI/2D/3D integration techniques proven at blockbuster scale
RECENT PROJECTS
CONSULTING & CULTURAL BRIDGE:
• Working with Tokyo-based holdings & business intelligence groups. I provide analysis, foresight, and advisory on the evolving landscape of the creative industries — from traditional 2D craftsmanship to AI-enhanced 3D workflows and cross-cultural production systems for anime & manga.
• BKRW Agency — Resolved Tokyo partnership crisis through cultural communication guidance. Saved blocked collaboration, restored product delivery.
• European Studios — Quality audits, workflow optimization, Japan co-production guidance (ongoing confidential projects)
PROJECT RESCUE & QUALITY ELEVATION:
• Pictak Cie/Xavier Picard (Les Moomins) — Brought in to diagnose and fix quality issues. Production lacked authentic Japanese aesthetic. Took over artistic direction, implemented theatrical standards (lighting, composition, framing), elevated execution from imitation to authentic.
CREATIVE:
• 2 graphic novels @ Delcourt (Les Sanctuaires, 384 pages, June 2025)