A branding movie for the surf brand PADROL Made possible through a collaboration between PES (RIP SLYME), illustrator Atsushi Takeuchi, and mellowsoda.

Community introduction video produced using illustrated animation

What Coleman, the U.S. brand with more than 100 years of history, conveys in this film is the spirit of “dive into nature and have fun with whatever unexpected things come your way.” The piece is composed of two parts: the first is a road-movie segment in which four rappers search for a campsite while overcoming unforeseen mishaps, and the second is a session around the campfire at the end of the day, featuring improvised rap. Especially noteworthy is the “cypher” scene from 2:32 onward, where words are connected entirely on the spot through pure improvisation. (*A cypher is a word art form similar to a jazz session, in which rappers gathered in the same place build on one another’s words, layering inspiration and creating a chain reaction.) To realize an authentic cypher in the midst of unpredictable nature, JKD selected four highly skilled rappers: “Tagaryu” and “Big Ben” from Stillichimiya, who are based in Yamanashi and actively engaged in wide-ranging work; “Chirpuso,” a new-generation freestyler drawing attention for his exceptional skills; and “Chinza DOPENESS,” a genius rapper known for his broad and diverse activities. The result is a work in which these four singular talents weave together an improvised Japanese-language art form, allowing viewers to feel its groove and creativity. The video director is Sojiro Kamatani, who also drew attention for the web movies “Girl’s High School Ninja” and “The World’s First Cute Miso Soup.” With outstanding taste and a vivid sense of realism, he captures the outdoor magic that turns any mishap into a cherished memory. The trackmaker is Olive Oil.

For the 10th anniversary special project of the “Katayage Potato Supporters Club” operated by Calbee, Inc., I was responsible for the direction, design, and editing of the promotional movie. The piece was structured around the supporters club’s passion, cultivated together by Calbee and its members, as well as its 10-year journey. By filling the screen with warm messages from members in bold typography and interspersing live-action potato chips dancing through the frame, the film expresses the unique sense of unity born from the co-creation between Calbee and its members. While celebrating the 10th anniversary together, it also deepens the connections among members and serves as a starting point for that passion to spread to new companions.