Hatsune Miku Debuts in “Creepy” US Toyota Corolla CM
- Categories: Anime, News
- Date: May 6, 2011 19:27 JST
- Tags: 3D CG, Cars, Hatsune Miku, Marketing, Otaku, Toyota, USA, Video Gallery
Virtual diva Hatsune Miku’s appearance in a US car commercial hawking Toyota’s Corolla is lately enjoying a controversial reaction amongst Miku fans.
The advert:
Although Miku features prominently in the ad, no MikuMiku itasha option, livery, accessories, goods or even a negi-green colour option are available – Miku fans are apparently expected to buy the car solely because “they have two very important things in common – big dreams in a compact package.”
Particular opprobrium has attached to the “she-male” illustration of Miku which found its way onto the Toyota site – why she appears in hideous American comic style rather than with official art by Kei or Tony can only be guessed at, particularly since the artist has clearly stolen Tony’s Miku-pose.
The Miku fan reaction has been rather mixed – the English language reaction:
“Holy shit, did you guys check the official page?
Who the fuck draw that Miku on front page?
Looked like fking shemale.”
“I kinda like it…
But I’m weird so don’t mind me.”
“Nice, except the corolla is on the American top ten most stolen autos list for the last 17 yrs. I pass.”
“They are giving a Miku life-size doll with each purchase? I might consider getting one…”
“Legendary? The Corolla lost that status when it lost RWD.
About the commercial, Miku’s eyes look scary. And ‘Hatsuni’? Ugh.”
“This must be a desperate move by Toyota….. Selling based on just reliability doesn’t cut it anymore.
There are new exciting C-segment (compact) startups from Ford, Hyundae and Kia vying to eat away Corolla’s dominance in the US market.”
“They couldn’t outright use Tony’s art so they just “Americanized” her face.
So much fail trying to put the super soulless Corolla with miku…and that site picture. El oh El, so much fail.”
“Oh god, so bad. Fail. I’m not as happy about the commercial as I should be.
What? Why? Normal people are probably going “WTF is that!?”
They should raffle off a Miku itasha.”
“Jesus that was terrible. Did they really think her voice cracking was commercial worthy?”
The Japanese reaction:
“Toyota finally did it.”
“At least use Sega’s modelling!
“This is horrible!”
“Seriously? This isn’t some MAD?”
“No way.”
“Creepy. People who aren’t used to it will recoil, even me.”
“Finally some bright news.”
“I’m sorry, so sorry!”
“Come on Toyota, give us an itasha option.”
“This is one of those commercials you’ll either love or hate.”
“The quality of that 3D CG is seriously low…”
“Should she be driving? She’s only 16?”
“16 is enough there.”
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This is not going to sell cars in the USA, save for the literally tens of people who:
-Know what Miku is
-Have a sustained income
-Would actually buy a Toyota
Anyone else just isn't going to know what to think of a green-haired, bug-eyed creature that's staring at you blanky from the other side of the uncanny valley.
Its a ManKu
The Miku of Men (Got to have balls or bad taste to want that) or Gender Confused People ^_^
Looks like WiZ-Garage got the drawing deal...
Incoming CHO-Miku ohshiii-
they might be banking on the fact that "OMG! Japan has holographic idols now!" might've made the news somewhere, but somehow, I doubt even that's common knowledge amongst the mainstream.
#1&2 are probably the most mutually exclusive
While I don't think it would have had much of an influence on my purchase, I'm loving the fact (as a vocaloid fan) that I buy a brand new Corolla and 3 months later it becomes the officially endorsed car of Miku.
It is just a shame that the collaboration doesn't include a Miku themed car. I would never buy an itasha type car, but if they made a matching color scheme with a sensible logo it might actually make me regret not waiting a few months to buy my car.
It might have been cool if they did something relatively discrete, like a special edition black car with turquoise accents. That could actually be kind of cool, even for someone otherwise unfamiliar with Hatsune Miku.
As for the commercial, it just felt weird. The narrator's voice and what he was saying sounded like he was reading a story to children. The overall pacing was off too. And of course they had to cut the volume to the music track until she screams, which just feels out of place. I think the basic concept of creating a commercial with Miku like this is a neat idea, but the execution was fairly awkward.
The shorter 15 second version of the ad is actually somewhat better though. The pacing seems a lot better, and they don't have her screaming, in any case...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uq0jNcS4BeY
The Americanized Miku on their web site is weird too though. The ad campaign is apparently trying to attract people already interested in Miku or Japanese culture in general, so why go out of your way to re-draw the character in a form that looks less Japanese?
seriously. I thought we finished "Americanizing" video game box art and other things years ag.... oh wait, Square-Enix. -_-
I'll get my license ASAP if it means getting a Miku car.
Toyota is Japanese D:?! I taught he it was only Mistubishi...wait... even Hyundai?!
so many brands, Isuzu, Suzuki, Subaru, Nissan, Datsun, Daihatsu, and already mentioned Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi.
There's probably more, but those would be Japan-only brands.
Datsun is Nissan, Niisan
And we all know that Subaru is the only logical choice when basing your buying decision on anime-related marketing.
@Anon 22:56,Toyota is Japanese,it's in Kanji
and no,KIA and Hyundai are from Korea
welcome to the outside world i guess. common sense.. does toyota, mitsubishi and hyundai sound american to you?
Subaru, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Suzuki, Isuzu, Mitsubishi, Mazda on the top of my head.
Hyundai and former Daewoo are Korean iirc.
Nissan and Renault own parts of eachother. Look at Kangoo and Cubistar.
Volvo was sold by Ford and hung in the air until Geely (Chinese) bought it.
And Indian Tata own Jaguar, amongst others.
Nissan is always left out..
Isn't Nissan owned by Ford now? Or did they sell it off with Volvo?
She would be more fitting in a LFA.
And for brands that are Japanese top of the line models, but not sold under the standard Japanese badge in other countries:
Lexus(Toyota), Infiniti(Nissan), Acura(Honda)
...and wouldn't a BMW/Miku commercial be more fitting, considering that GoodSmile Racing uses a Z4 based car?
Nissan is partially owned by Renault (about ~44%)
so although it's a Japanese company it could also be considered half-French.
you forgot Honda
And Hyundai is Korean. Google ftw.
what's wrong with her face? this is blasphemy!!!
this is madness!
This ain't Miku!
just one word, FAIL!
This is WesMiku
Some random fail doppelganger trying to be Miku...KILL IT WITH FIRE!
This is SPARTAAA!!!
full of men loving men
I see toyota isn't making cars anymore. they're all aboard the fail train.
http://img1.sankakustatic.com/wp-content/gallery/safe-misc-vi/hatsune-miku-wallpaper-by-tony.jpg
Look familiar?
as mentioned
Fans are sure funny creatures.
My reaction was cha ching. Gunna be worth some serious cash to the owners for that endorsement.
It could have been any mainstream actress, but nope, they wanted our Miku, because Lady Gagme just isn't good enough and that bitch likely would demand more than she's worth too.
I'm happy for Miku. Today this commercial, tomorrow just about anywhere she wants to be. Ya starts at the bottom people, you don't conquer the world in a day.
I'd like to see Miku get her own fashion design next.
The only way your theory would have held water would be if actual effort had been put into making this commercial.
anon has a very good point
Toyota Advertising should learn from Hyundai: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu0TRA6a21Q&feature=player_embedded [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tu0TRA6a21Q&feature=player_embedded]
Amazing!I think Toyota could have done this if the japanese econmy didn't go down drastically
THIS IS AWESOME
Or if she was right about Lady Gaga...
Or if you were right about your points...
Or if 2chan was right about anything...
But of course everyone goes for the quick of it and makes an ass of themselves.
thanks for teaching us by example. ass.
did you even watch the commercial?
that guys voice + that soundtrack was wrong
full stop
These tards cant even go to the corolla site and confirm its fake, you expect them to use logic when watching a video on youtube?
Even Toyota creating a commercial with an unprofessional narrator featuring some character 99% of America has never heard of isnt bullshit enough, people will believe anything if its in news form.
was on national public radio dumbass
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=136197827&m=136197802 [http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=136197827&m=136197802]
bahahaha TOAL FAIL
Haetsuuni Meeku.
You can't really expect non-fans to pronounce her name right. People who aren't fans really won't give two shits about it.
Seriously, never have I seen a commercial about a car with somebody narrating everything, I found it to be really inappropriate, it's a not a freaking presentation, its a CM.
The world keeps raping culture for money.
Must have been made by some advertising students or something.
yea...just keep an epic BGM,good HD