For all of the advances with computer animation there’s something still charming about good old fashioned stop motion animation. This Honda advert from the year 2000 does a nice job of using candy to animate the typography for the ULTRA Step WGN. Although it should be noted that the candy in this spot isn’t mere decoration — it’s being used to emphasize both the range of colors the auto comes in and the fact that it’s a kid friendly mode of transportation. Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 6, 2010 in Japanese TV
It’s someone surreal to hear the Snuggle bear (renamed ファーファ Fāfa) speak Japanese from this 1988 advert. Introduced in 1983 there was always something very creepy about this fabric softener mascot: I think it indirectly reminded many of us of the many horror films that featured puppets gone back like Talking Tina from the Twilight Zone and later Chucky from the 1988 film Child’s Play. Although anime fans should note that the original voice of the Snuggle bear was none other than Corinne Orr who provided the voice Trixie in Speed Racer and Nova in the third seson of Star Blazers. Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Feb 2, 2010 in Japanese TV
It’s heartbreaking to watch the sad saga of Tommy Lee Jones in this 2006 Japanese commercial for boss coffee — I’m not even sure why he’s crying while watching the singer on TV, but it made me sad to think of an alternate universe where he exists as a Hollywood ex-pat collecting parking tickets in Tokyo. Of course I should feel sorry for myself: I love Boss coffee too, but at $2 for the small cans I’ve been cutting back due to the recession.
This is such a strange bobble head: It’s suppose to be Ultraman however his head has been decapitated and replaced with an old school television set which is showing Ultraman on its screen. But making this toy even stranger is that the television head will shake and nod which is powered by solar power. Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 19, 2010 in Japanese TV
There’s something just freaky about this Japanese commercial for Aflac which stars Aoi Miyazaki (宮崎 あおい) sharing the screen with a creepy look animatronic duck and kitty. The odd kids song being performed is Song of the Duck Beckoning Cat and is featured in this very cute animated music video which Aflac has also put out: Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 15, 2010 in Japanese TV
Nicknamed Ro-chin actress and fashion model Kato Rosa (加藤ローサ) was born in 1985 in Naples, Italy — her mom was Japanese and her father was Italian. At age 6 her family moved to Japan but sadly lost her Italian language skills by the time she grew up. Since 2005 she’s been very active starring in both television shows and films, although I get a kick out of her commercials which I’ve collected here: Read more…
My favorite thing about this Mobile Suit Gundam toy commercial? The fact that it shows all of those Bandai employees dressed in in uniforms from the show: Read more…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Jan 5, 2010 in Japanese TV
Just look at her: She’s so smitten with him! Sadly I couldn’t trace down the baseball player and the lovely lady from this wonderfully cute advert from the 80s. I also love the added touch in the commercial of how she changes her outfit for each special soft drink encounter. Although I did figure out the orange, pineapple and grape flavored beverages featured in the advert was manufactured by Hagoromo foods.
This 1991 advert for rice balls features J-pop singer Arisa Mizuki (観月ありさ) who was just making her singing debut at the time this commercial was shown. Arisa had been modeling as a child since the age of four, but her big break came with the TV drama Mou dare mo Aisanai which was followed by her first single record Densetsu no Shoujo. In addition during this time she also provided vocals for the Sailor Moon song Kaze Mo, Sora Mo, Kitto.
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 30, 2009 in Japanese TV
I just came across this amazingly cute clip of Mari Yaguchi from a Japanese TV show appearance she did back in October: This video shows her adventures taking care of a baby lion! Yaguchi is a current member of the Hello! Project and was leader of Morning Musume back in 2005.
Shown above is an NTT ad for the Docomo for PC service which features Tetsujin 28-go, which is lovingly known to American fans as Gigantor. I love how while the two giant robots are destroying Tokyo the Docomo PC user is still spellbound by his nifty software…
Posted by Michael Pinto on Dec 8, 2009 in Japanese TV
Those poor Ban Ban nuts: They sing, they dance and then they get crushed up to be sprinkled over ramen! Although I was happy to see the the Bam Ban in the middle escaped the destruction of the marketing department of Acecook.
