Oni — Story & Visuals
Oni follows five teen basketball stars in a vividly reimagined, futuristic Japan who stumble upon a mystical book that awakens elemental powers within them. Thrust into time travel, they are tasked with protecting Earth’s past to secure its future, forging a narrative that fuses ancient folklore with the kinetic energy of modern life. Presented by a Watford-based creative team, this is a hopeful, high-stakes adventure about friendship, legacy and the courage to change history.
A Myth Rewritten
Five players. One destiny.
The story opens when a local pick-up game becomes the catalyst for a cosmic discovery: an old book bound in weathered cloth that hums with a forgotten language. As each teen touches the book, they inherit an elemental gift — fire, water, wind, earth and light — tied to legends from Japan’s past. Their journey is equal parts coming-of-age and epic pilgrimage, as they learn to read the book’s riddles and travel through key moments in history to mend fractures that threaten the present.
Power on the Court
Elemental abilities meet high-school rivalry.
Basketball remains the heart of the series: the court is where friendships are forged, rivalries are tested and powers are honed. Choreography blends realistic athleticism with visually striking elemental effects — a guarded block that sends a ripple of wind, a three-point arc traced in molten light, a defensive stance rooted like ancient stone. These moments are designed to inspire, showing how teamwork and discipline transform supernatural gifts into acts of courage.
A Futuristic Japan
Cityscapes and ancient shrines in harmony.
The world of Oni imagines a near-future Japan where neon towers and magnetic trains sit alongside moss-covered shrines and mountain temples preserved through a careful respect for history. Visual design contrasts sleek, reflective surfaces with the tactile warmth of wood and stone, allowing folklore spirits and modern technology to coexist. Time-travel sequences are crafted as portals between eras, each era rendered with cultural specificity so that protecting the past feels both urgent and reverent.
Team
Local team, international vision.
A Watford-based creative team leads the project with an eye for authenticity and imagination, collaborating with cultural consultants, movement coaches and illustrators to honour Japanese folklore while delivering dynamic sports storytelling. Production design uses handcrafted props, stylised costumes and practical effects layered with subtle CGI to keep performances grounded and emotional. At its core, Oni is an invitation to believe in the extraordinary within the everyday — a story that aims to inspire audiences to protect what matters and to play with their whole heart.