“Urashima Tarō’s ending is just too sad...” Many people probably felt that way when they were children. With the hope that there might have been a happy story waiting beyond that ending, singer-songwriter Daisuke Mori sings about Urashima Tarō’s second life with plenty of pop charm and humor. The visuals are created by Ohtamirams, a creative unit active across a wide range of genres, including the music videos for Wednesday Campanella’s “Momotaro” and tofubeats’ “Koi to Missile,” as well as commercials, short films, and picture books. [From the Animation Team, Ohtamirams] 《What on earth happened to Urashima Tarō after he became an old man?》 In order to answer the long-standing question of people across Japan, we at Ohtamirams were given the opportunity to animate the continuation of the story to Daisuke Mori’s music. Since everyone, if they keep living long enough, will eventually arrive at a second life, we at Ohtamirams put a lot of thought into it and came up with a logline: “What if Urashima started doing little jobs to help everyone, and in that world line he was able to enjoy a happy, long-lived second life surrounded by many new friends?” We also made it into a seasonal piece that makes the most of Urashima’s signature trait of “aging.” We’d be delighted if, every winter season, people would remember this song and animation…… This is an animation that “wishes upon a star” for “the best and happiest New Year’s season and second life for everyone in Japan…….”

Produced by Nippon Design Center, Otamiramz was responsible for the animation part of the PV video for MUJI’s “Smooth Cotton Innerwear” by Ryohin Keikaku. - Living with cotton. Gentle against the skin, made from 100% cotton. A PV for MUJI’s comfortable “Warm Cotton” innerwear, with a natural feel.

The music video for “Silver Staff,” a track from Triple Fire’s first album in seven years, EXTRA, has been released. The MV is an intensely powerful animated work created by Otamirams + Minoru Tanihata, who also worked on one of their signature songs, “Skill Up,” about 10 years ago.