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Interest
Business Woman Evaluates Her Life in Marui Retail Store's Anime Ads

posted on by Lynzee Loveridge

The retail-store company Marui Group is promoting its mission of "happiness" by creating a promotional net anime series titled "Neko ga Kureta Marui Shiawase" (The Round Happiness a Cat Gave), which follows a businesswoman trying to keep it all together. Protagonist Mari Hirakura joined the workforce almost 10 years ago. Even though she talks to her friends about things like jobs, marriage, age, and family, she still feels like everyone's troubles can be varied and complicated. She does her best every day but still wonders if she is okay the way she is.

In the first promotional video, she is busy at work and gives a presentation. She wants someone to notice her "fighting pose," and she begins to talk to a cat. Things go well at Mari's company, and the employees enjoy strawberry shortcake to celebrate a job well done.

This is a rather emotional premise for ads promoting a retail stores. However, Marui Group explains that changing your point of view can help to bring a little happiness in your daily life. The company wants to work together with its customers to help create a little happiness.

Mari is voiced by Maaya Uchida, while the mysterious cat Oi-san is voiced by Takahiro Sakurai. The supporting cast includes:

Ryōtarō Makihara (Hal, The Empire of Corpses) is directing the shorts with scripts by Noragami's Deko Akao. Morikuraen En Morikura is designing the characters, and Yoshihiro Ike (Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul, DAYS) is composing the music.

Marui Group is planning a total of four ads: Work chapter, Love chapter, Hobby chapter, and Family chapter.

[Via Nijimen]


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