TV-Series
Description
A young Japanese ninja named Shinoby and an Italian boy called Pino become friends, bridging their two very different worlds through daily adventures and discoveries. Shinoby is the official mascot of Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, a company ninja with a connection to Osaka Castle who was created to commemorate the network sixtieth anniversary. Pino is a curious and impulsive child inspired by the classic character Pinocchio, representing a contemporary take on Italian storytelling tradition.
The series is set in a world where iconic elements of Japanese and Italian culture coexist within the same scenes, from ninja training grounds to Italian piazzas. Each episode follows the two protagonists as they explore everyday situations that showcase the cultural treasures of both nations, including food, sports, art, games, and traditions. They learn about each other countries by moving back and forth between Japanese and Italian settings, discovering both their surprising similarities and beautiful differences.
A distinctive feature of the series is its use of original languages. Pino speaks Italian while Shinoby speaks Japanese, preserving each character strong cultural identity. A narrator helps young viewers follow the conversations between the two protagonists, allowing the story to be understood across language barriers without artificial translation. The series is directed by Andrea Bozzetto of Studio Bozzetto, the renowned Italian animation studio founded by his father Bruno Bozzetto. The animation is a co-production between Studio Bozzetto and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, with involvement from Rai Kids, the Italian public broadcasters childrens channel.
The narrative unfolds across 25 to 26 episodes, each lasting approximately five to six minutes. The world premiere of the first two episodes took place at the Italy Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, where the mascot Italia-chan also appeared alongside the main characters. The regular broadcast began on April 3, 2026, airing on Yomiuri TV in Japan and on Rai Kids in Italy.
The series is set in a world where iconic elements of Japanese and Italian culture coexist within the same scenes, from ninja training grounds to Italian piazzas. Each episode follows the two protagonists as they explore everyday situations that showcase the cultural treasures of both nations, including food, sports, art, games, and traditions. They learn about each other countries by moving back and forth between Japanese and Italian settings, discovering both their surprising similarities and beautiful differences.
A distinctive feature of the series is its use of original languages. Pino speaks Italian while Shinoby speaks Japanese, preserving each character strong cultural identity. A narrator helps young viewers follow the conversations between the two protagonists, allowing the story to be understood across language barriers without artificial translation. The series is directed by Andrea Bozzetto of Studio Bozzetto, the renowned Italian animation studio founded by his father Bruno Bozzetto. The animation is a co-production between Studio Bozzetto and Yomiuri Telecasting Corporation, with involvement from Rai Kids, the Italian public broadcasters childrens channel.
The narrative unfolds across 25 to 26 episodes, each lasting approximately five to six minutes. The world premiere of the first two episodes took place at the Italy Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, where the mascot Italia-chan also appeared alongside the main characters. The regular broadcast began on April 3, 2026, airing on Yomiuri TV in Japan and on Rai Kids in Italy.
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Staff
- Original Character DesignDaisuke Nishijima
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