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Panasonic Streams Anime Short to Honor Its Car Navigation System
posted on by Eric Stimson
To celebrate the four awards won by its car navigation system, the Strada CN-F1D (the 2016 Good Design Award, Car Good of the Year 2016, the 2016 Nikkan Jidōsha Shimbun Accessory Award, and the Auto Sound Web Grand Prix 2016), Panasonic has commissioned a series of short anime, "Strada with Blu-Ray." The series was written by Sumiko Umeda and drawn by Kēshin; it stars Sōichirō Hoshi as Sōta, Emiri Katō as Amane, and Ayana Taketatsu as Ruri.
The first video combines a prologue, "Angela the Guide," with Episode 1, "Grumpy Coppia." In the prologue, set in 2012, we see Sōta taking Amane on a seaside drive. Unfortunately, he's a terrible navigator, and Amane has to guide him. She asks him to get a navigation system, but he says he likes getting scolded by her. Later, when they reach the sea just in time for sunset, Sōta proposes. At first it looks bad for him, but Amane says, "If it wasn't for me, you couldn't go anywhere."
Unfortunately, five years later, Amane is in a much worse mood on a repeat of their romantic outing. She wants to sleep instead of guiding her husband, pointing out that they now have a navigator. He offers that she watch a Blu-Ray (the Strada's signature function), but she demurs. When Sōta offers to call off the whole thing, she takes him up on it. He points out that taxis don't drive where they are, but she decides to hitchhike. Coincidentally, they happen upon a hitchhiker right then, who says "I found you!"
A further two installments of the series will be posted on March 7 and 14. Panasonic is also offering prizes for each episode of the anime: a razor for Episode 1, a vibrating toothbrush for Episode 2, and a hairdryer for Episode 3. The prizes will be given away by raffle to those who answer quiz questions about the anime correctly. The first episode's quiz is "What was in the car in Episode 1 that wasn't in Episode 0?" If you think you know the answer, plug it in here (Japanese only). If all three quizzes are answered correctly, you can win a Blu-Ray/DVD recorder.
Panasonic also commissioned an anime short in 2007 to advertise its Globarange phone line.
Sources: Panasonic and Kyōdō Tsūshin PR Wire
