- The following is content from the press release -
Experience the world of popular character serials in the Metaverse! Parents and children can play together!
(head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo), publisher of the free magazine "Anfan" for kindergarten distribution and "Gyutte" for nursery school distribution, and Shogakukan Co! Punch Punch," a popular character series for preschool children. The "Punch Punch Village," the stage for the series, has now been created on Shogakukan's S-PACE metaverse. Not only small children, but also their parents can enjoy playing together in the virtual space.
Freshly Made! The birth of a metaverse space for children where the adorable world of "Punch Punch" unfolds
Dekitate! Ponchi Ponchi" is a character series for preschool children jointly developed by manga artist and picture book author Asami Taniguchi, Kodomo-Ripping Inc. and Shogakukan Inc. and is currently appearing in Anfan, Gyutte, Mebae, and Kindergarten. The main character, Pon-chan, and his friends live in a mysterious village called "Ponchi Village," which is overflowing with fruits. Pon-chan works as a newspaper reporter and spends his days running around the village every day chasing the news.
In the "Ponchi Village" metaverse, which recreates this worldview, familiar characters such as "Pon-chan," "Berry," and "Naples" appear as avatars. Not only can visitors enjoy interacting with them as moving 3D characters in the virtual space, but they can also enjoy the "Kanten Tsumiki Game" in which they pile up the slippery agar on a plate.
The contents are designed to foster spontaneity and creativity, and are enjoyable not only for children but also for adults. All experiences are free of charge.
Thoughts behind the planning and production
As the first Metaverse that children will be exposed to, we have developed this product with consideration for ease of understanding and softness of color so that children will not get lost. In particular, the "Kanten Tsumiki Game" is a simple and fun game that both children and adults can enjoy. By thinking "How can I pile up as many as possible? This game can also be enjoyed as an educational game by thinking about how to pile up as much as possible. We also hope that this game will create new communication between parents and children as they try to achieve a high score together.
S-PACE official website
https://s-pace.land
[Freshly made! Punchy Punchy's Punchy Village]
https://world.s-pace.land/?spawn=ponch.entrance
About S-PACE (Space)
LATEGRA Corporation, which specializes in XR technology, and Shogakukan, which has a wealth of content, have teamed up to create S-PACE, a new metaverse. To enable anyone from a wide range of backgrounds to enjoy the program easily, it is designed to be enjoyed immediately on smartphones, PCs, and tablets, without the need for a head-mounted display or special app downloads.
We will continue to implement a variety of functions and content, aiming to create a community that is friendly to people of all ages and genders, and that people around the world can be excited about.
＜S-PACE Overview
- Metaverse space easily accessible via smartphone or computer
- Pursuit of 3D model optimization and data weight reduction to provide experiences for a wide range of users
- As a portal space, easy access to other spaces and existing media and e-commerce sites via API
- Design that is familiar to fans young and old, male and female, domestic and international
- Adopt a comic book style avatar design
- A space that expresses the world view and culture of the contents, where fans can enjoy strolling even more.
- A system that continues to change fluidly to keep users engaged.
- There will be "event booths" and functions with regularly changing collaborative events and mini-actions.
We will implement measures that involve companies and brands. - The world design allows for easy expansion, remodeling, and space layout changes. More buildings and contents will be released in the future.
- The wealth of media articles that each magazine has will be displayed on spatial signage. We will also operate advertisements.
- There will be "event booths" and functions with regularly changing collaborative events and mini-actions.
Business Alliances Wanted
S-PACE is currently looking for many partners. Companies and individuals interested in planning and developing business in the metaverse are encouraged to contact us.
S-PACE official website URL
https://s-pace.land
■Shogakukan "S-PACE" Inquiry Form
https://form.id.shogakukan.co.jp/forms/s-pace
About LATEGRA Corporation
A production company that uses cutting-edge XR technology to create an expanded world where the real and virtual worlds merge. Through live events, digital promotions, and a variety of other business development activities, the company aims to create an "interesting world" by providing LIVE experiences that move the hearts of as many people as possible.
Anfan" is a sympathetic media in which mothers themselves play the leading role.
●With the approval and cooperation of private kindergarten federations, federations, and associations, the magazine is published once a month (depending on the region) for a total of approximately 750,000 copies, mainly to private kindergartens in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Kansai, Tokai, Kyushu, Hokkaido, Tohoku, Shizuoka, Hiroshima, and Tochigi. It is "the most read free magazine on child-rearing in Japan" (Japan ABC Association report, January-June 2022). The magazine is published with the aim of becoming a "sympathetic media" in which mothers and fathers themselves play a leading role, valuing the bonds they share with their preschools and, above all, the ingenuity that adds color to their child-rearing and daily lives.
https://enfant.living.jp/ebook/
Anfan Web", our official website, is full of child-rearing information from mothers, including child-rearing know-how and worries, outings, handcrafts, seasonal events and events, school backpacks, and preparations for entering school! It is a media full of sympathy and discoveries that will lighten your heart.
https://enfant.living.jp/
Gyutte" is a media to support the lives of working families.
●With the approval and cooperation of the National Federation of Private Nursery Schools in Japan and other federations, councils, organizations, and governments, we distribute a total of approximately 380,000 copies once a month (depending on the region) to nursery schools in the Tokyo, Kansai, and Tokai areas. With the motto of earning the trust of nursery schools, preschool children, and their parents through its unique editorial policy, the magazine features features and serials that cater to the feelings of working mothers and their families, such as balancing work and child-rearing and shortening work hours.https://gyutte.jp/magazine
The official website "Gyutte Web" is based on the concept of "shortening time and improving efficiency," and features more than 250 pieces of "what working mothers want to know now" information every month from 100 exclusive writers and mom bloggers.
https://gyutte.jp/
Freshly Made! Punch Punch Official Web
https://enfant.living.jp/dekitatepunch/
■ "Mebae" and "Kindergarten" are both published by Shogakukan.
Mebae" is a monthly learning picture book for 3- and 4-year-old children. It is released once a month on the first day of the month.
Kindergarten is a learning magazine for 4, 5 and 6 year olds. Published bimonthly. It is released on the first day of odd-numbered months.
■"S-PACE" is a metaverse jointly developed by LATEGRA Corporation and Shogakukan Corporation, with a beta version to be released to the public at the end of August 2022.
