![]() Logo used since 2016 | |
![]() The company's headquarters in Minato, Tokyo | |
Native name | 株式会社ポニーキャニオン |
---|---|
Company type | Private KK |
Industry | Movies, TV shows, music, video games |
Genre | Various |
Founded | October 1, 1966 (as Nippon Broadcasting System Services, Inc.) |
Headquarters | Roppongi, , Japan |
Area served | Worldwide |
Products | CDs, DVDs |
Number of employees | 466 [1] |
Parent | Fuji Media Holdings |
Subsidiaries |
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Website | ponycanyon.co.jp |
Pony Canyon Inc. (株式会社ポニーキャニオン, Kabushiki gaisha Ponī Kyanion), also known by the shorthand form Ponican (ぽにきゃん, Ponikyan), is a Japanese company, established on October 1, 1966, [2] which distributes music, films, home video, and video games. It is affiliated with the Japanese media group Fujisankei Communications Group. [3] Pony Canyon is a major leader in the music industry in Japan, with its artists regularly at the top of the Japanese charts. Pony Canyon is also responsible for releasing taped concerts from its artists as well as many anime productions and several film productions.
Pony Canyon is headquartered in Tokyo with offices in Taiwan and South Korea. [4] It employs approximately 360 people. Pony Canyon also owns the recording label Flight Master. [5]
On October 1, 1966, Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc. established a new record label division, called as Nippon Broadcasting System Service, Inc., in order to produce and market music from Japanese artists. The division formally changed its name in 1970 to Pony Inc. in order to match the brand names it had been using previously. These were "PONYPak" for 8-track cartridges from 1967, and "PONY" for cassettes from 1968.
On August 1, 1970, another Japanese record label, Canyon Records Inc. was founded. [6] Like Pony Inc., Canyon Records was part of the Fujisankei Communications Group. [6] Canyon Records was financially backed at 60% by Pony Inc. and at 40% by Pony's parent company Nippon Broadcasting System. [6]
In 1982, Pony ventured into interactive content by producing personal computer game software under the name "Ponyca". In 1984, the company entered license agreements with major overseas companies MGM/UA Home Video, Vestron Video International, Walt Disney Home Video and BBC Video (the company also entered a license agreement with RCA/Columbia Pictures International Video in 1986), and in 1985, they established offices in New York and London. In 1986, Pony signed licensing agreements with A&M Records and in 1989 with Virgin Records to handle both companies' Japanese CD releases.
On October 21, 1987, Pony Inc. and Canyon Records merged their operations to form Pony Canyon Inc. [2]
In 1990, Pony Canyon branched out, and opened five subsidiaries outside Japan, mainly in East Asian countries. It opened its Hong Kong branch first, [7] known as Golden Pony in 1991, created through its merger with Golden Harvest. A Singaporean branch, catering to the South East Asian market, [3] opened later, followed its South Korean branch, Sam Pony through a partnership with Sam Video. [3]
Pony Canyon's subsidiary in Singapore called Skin was managed by Jimmy Wee and signed local English language performers such as Gwailo, Art Fazil, Chris Vadham, The Lizards' Convention, Humpback Oak and Radio Active. Pony Canyon has also had a subsidiary in Taiwan.
Four of five subsidiaries were closed in 1997 due to Asian financial crisis, leaving the Malaysian subsidiary as the only subsidiary to remain in operation. [8] However, the Hong Kong and Korean operations were reestablished as a wholly owned subsidiary, although the Korean operation had a 16% stake of local partner. In 2003, the Hong Kong and Taiwan branch of Pony Canyon, both affected by the financial crisis, were acquired by Forward Music. In 2018, Pony Canyon reestablished its branch in Taiwan.
As a video game producer, Pony Canyon brought the Ultima series from Origin Systems and the Advanced Dungeons and Dragons series from Strategic Simulations to Nintendo's Family Computer. Between 1986 and 1990, they produced remakes of the first four Ultima titles for the MSX2 and NES platforms. These remakes differed from the original versions, with rewritten game code and all-new graphics. [9] Pony Canyon's video game library was generally released in North America by FCI. Pony Canyon has not released any video games since Virtual View: Nemoto Harumi for the PlayStation 2 in July 2003.
The company has occasionally been involved in film production. For example, they were a co-production company for the 1996 Indian erotic film Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love . [10]
Following a merger with Nippon Broadcasting System, Fuji Television Network, Inc. became the major shareholder of Pony Canyon in 2006. The following year, Fuji Television made Pony Canyon its wholly owned subsidiary. [11] Fuji Television was subsequently renamed Fuji Media Holdings in 2008. [12] Despite associations with Fuji Television, not all of Pony Canyon's TV show and movie library has been broadcast on Fuji Television. Some of Pony Canyon's non-Fuji TV catalog includes Doraemon movies.
In September 2014, Pony Canyon opened a North American anime distribution label, Ponycan USA, which aims to license their titles for streaming and home video in US and Canada. [13] Their home video releases will be distributed exclusively by Right Stuf Inc. [14]
Below is a selected list of musical artists signed under the Pony Canyon label in the past and present.
Below is a selected list of video games either developed or published by the Pony Canyon label.
Below is a list of anime series licensed for streaming and home video release in North America by Pony Canyon's Ponycan USA label.
JOCX-DTV, branded as Fuji Television or Fuji TV, is a Japanese television station that serves the Kantō region as the flagship station of the Fuji News Network (FNN) and the Fuji Network System (FNS). The station is owned-and-operated by Fuji Television Network, Inc., itself a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings, Inc., a certified broadcasting holding company under the Japanese Broadcasting Act, and affiliated with the Fujisankei Communications Group. It is headquartered in the Fuji Broadcasting Center in Odaiba, Minato, Tokyo and is one of ''five private broadcasters based in Tokyo''.
Nippon Broadcasting System, Inc., or JOLF, is a Japanese radio station based in Yurakucho, Chiyoda ward, Tokyo, headquartered near the Tokyo Imperial Palace. Founded in 1954, it is together with Nippon Cultural Broadcasting, the flagship station of the National Radio Network. Nippon Broadcasting System is a subsidiary of Fuji Media Holdings and both companies are affiliated with the Fujisankei Communications Group. It is also the main company of the Nippon Broadcasting Group. Reportedly the most listened-to radio station in the world in 1990, Nippon Broadcasting System was instrumental in the creation of several companies including Fuji Television in 1957, Pony Canyon in 1966 and the Fujisankei Communications Group in 1967. Nippon Broadcasting System is also the home of the long-running radio program All Night Nippon.
Fujisankei Communications International, Inc. (FCI) is the American arm of the Fujisankei Communications Group, a Japanese media conglomerate of television and radio channels, magazine, newspaper, record and video game companies. The Fujisankei Communications Group regroups more than 90 companies, like Fuji TV in Japan, among others. Founded in 1986 in New York City and owned by Fuji Media Holdings, FCI makes productions from the Fujisankei Communications Group available to the United States and the rest of the western world.
Onyanko Club was a large all-girl Japanese pop idol group in the 1980s. Some members of the group participated in spin-off groups, such as Nyangilas, Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi and Ushirogami Hikaretai. Many of the latter two groups' songs were used as theme songs of the popular 80s anime series High School! Kimengumi and Tsuide ni Tonchinkan. Several big-name idols stemmed from the group; one of the best known being Shizuka Kudo. The group was produced by Hiroshi Ishida and Kazuji Kasai, both of whom were producers of Fuji TV's show Yūyake Nyan Nyan.
The Fujisankei Communications Group, abbreviated FCG, is Japan’s largest media conglomerate. Its chair is Hisashi Hieda. The group engages in a wide range of businesses, from media and entertainment, including television, news, sports, radio, publishing, film, music, content distribution, soft packaging, and e-commerce, to real estate development, management, and investment, as well as the management of tourism facilities such as hotels and aquariums.
Right Stuf Inc. was an American video publisher and distributor of video programming that specialized in Asian entertainment. It had several divisions including: Nozomi Entertainment (production) and RightStufAnime.com. In March 2012, Right Stuf launched 5 Points Pictures, its live action label. Right Stuf also offered production services and distribution for Japanese labels Sunrise Inc., Eleven Arts, Pony Canyon, and its corporate sibling, Aniplex of America.
Kitty Films Co., Ltd. was a production company established in 1972 in Japan. They were a pioneer in releasing full anime television series in a single set. The sound recording work by Ken'ichi Benitani on their 1979 film, Almost Transparent Blue, was co-nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Sound Recording at the 3rd Japan Academy Film Prize ceremony in 1980.
Shizuka Kimura, known by her maiden name Shizuka Kudo, is a Japanese singer, actress and former idol, born in Hamura, Tokyo, Japan. She was a member of Onyanko Club between May 1986 and September 1987 and went on to have a successful solo career with 11 number-one hits.
Nyangilas is a Japanese idol Jpop band created in 1986 as a four-member sub-group Onyanko Club.
Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi (うしろゆびさされ組) was a female Japanese pop music duo consisting of Yukiko Iwai and Mamiko Takai, formed in 1985. In parallel to their membership in this duo, Iwai and Takai were at the same time members of Onyanko Club, a large pop group widely seen as a precursor to groups such as Morning Musume and AKB48. Onyanko Club sang back-up vocals on some of the songs released by Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi. They are most notable for singing several of the theme songs for the anime television series High School! Kimengumi. Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi debuted on Yūyake Nyan Nyan("Sunset Meow Meow") on 30 September 1985. Throughout their short-lived career, the group released six singles, three albums, a promotion video, and two photo books. The group disbanded after Takai's graduation from Onyanko Club on 5 April 1987.
Yukiko Iwai, also known by the nickname Yūyu, is a Japanese singer and actress born 26 May 1968 in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. Iwai was a member of the all-girl pop group Onyanko Club, and she was the shortest of all the members at 150 centimetres. She was also half of the pop group Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi, a spin-off group of Onyanko Club. She graduated from Kaetsu Women's Junior High and High School, but left Kaetsu Women's Junior College before she finished. She has an older sister, Akiko, who is four years older than her and is said to look just like her.
Eri Nitta is a Japanese singer, actress, lyricist, and tarento. She made her professional debut as the fourth member of the all-female singing group Onyanko Club in 1985. She made her solo debut with the hit song Winter Opera Glasses on January 1, 1986. Nitta performed the opening and ending theme songs for the first 14 episodes of the Little Women anime television series from Nippon Animation.
Fusosha Publishing is a Japanese publishing company wholly owned by Fuji Media Holdings and part of the Fujisankei Communications Group.
Ushirogami Hikaretai (うしろ髪ひかれ隊) was a Japanese idol J-pop band, active from 1987 to 1988. It was the third sub-group of Onyanko Club, consisting of three of its members: Shizuka Kudō, Akiko Ikuina, and Makiko Saitō, the group debuted during the "Onyanko Yumekojo Sailing 87'" tour.
Satomi Fukunaga, is a former Japanese idol and singer. She was among the 11 original members of Onyanko Club.
Songbird is Kokia's debut album, released on July 16, 1999. It is her only album released under Pony Canyon, the rest being released with Victor Entertainment or Wasabi Records.
Yasushi Akimoto is a Japanese record producer, lyricist, and television writer, best known for creating and producing some of Japan's top idol groups, Onyanko Club and the AKB48 franchise. Total sales of the singles he has written exceed 100 million copies, making him the best-selling lyricist in Japan.
Exit Music Publishing Inc. is a Japanese media company that acts primarily as a music publisher. The company was founded as a printing company in 2001, however later became a music company known as Quake Records in 2003. In 2005, the company was renamed to Quake Holdings. The company became a subsidiary of Pony Canyon in 2009, and was renamed to Exit Tunes in 2011, and to Exit Music Publishing in July 2019.
The sixth season of the Fairy Tail anime television series was directed by Shinji Ishihira and produced by A-1 Pictures and Satelight. Like the rest of the series, it follows the adventures of Natsu Dragneel and Lucy Heartfilia of the fictional guild Fairy Tail. It contains a single story arc, titled "Dai Matō Enbu", which adapts material from the beginning of the 31st through the ending of the 35th volumes of Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail manga over 24 episodes. Focusing on Natsu and the others who were frozen in time for seven years on Sirius Island, the members return to Magnolia and discover that Saber Tooth is the strongest guild in the Fiore Kingdom. Having become the weakest guild during the absence of its core members, Fairy Tail decides to enter the Grand Magic Games, an annual competition to decide Fiore's strongest guild.
A similar outfit was opened in Hongkong earlier this year.
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