Hungry Days x Bump of Chicken: Kinen Satsuei

Yup, once again it’s time for a commercial to make you cry. Damn you Japan, you did it again.

Kinen Satsuei is a collaboration between Bump of Chicken and Nissin, tying to Nissin’s Hungry Days project. This music video expands on the idea of One Piece story remade in high school setting and it works out surprisingly well. In span of five minutes, Kinen Satsuei manages to emotional moments for Straw Hat crew. This emotional weight is highlighted by a crafty use of both the music and the animation, that create a really enjoyable experience together. The commercial aspect is just background of few scenes and ... not the focus at all.

It’s not just the crew characters through, many side characters are shown too, a surprising amount of them actually. Some more as a cameo, sure, but all were still redesigned to fit the new setting, and the redesigns are really interesting for all of the showcased characters. Sure, some human characters don’t change that much, but even the more wild character designs of original One Piece got refitted nicely.

The MVP this this time is the aesthetics. I’ve taken over 30 screenshots just because how beautiful the shots are. There is a constant quality and it just doesn’t stop. Both the visuals and the animation are simply awesome. I wish this got a bluray release so we could enjoy the beauty in a fully crispy quality.

Definitely watch this if you’re a One Piece fan, and give it a try even if you aren’t though mind that there are technically subtle spoilers in this video.

The dang Cup Noodles are back! But this with a “Bump of Chicken”!

Background:
In 2017: Nissin's "Cup Noodle" made a series of ads called “Hungry Days” with the theme of "Youth" & using characters from classic anime depicted in a modern High School setting.
In 2019: Another set of das focus on the characters of "One Piece" as a part of its 20th anniversary. With this Music Video rounding out the collaboration.

Even someone like me, a person that never read or watched the One Piece series when I 1st saw this MV can still enjoy the characters in this high school setting. Each one is ... drawn with mỏ realistic designs with simple but layered background animation and transitions with references and cameos of the original series without it clashing with the modern High School setting and Youth theme.
It's hard to believe that such lengths would start from a noodle commercial, but it was breathtakingly good. It makes me want to a whole AU of this, but just the idea of this being a thing is enough for me. It makes me laugh with each rewatch until I tear up. And all because of a dang ramen ad. Even years later, it still looks good now.