I had a surprise when I got home yesterday after work. First, I saw a dining table full of bread from Bread Talk with the Animax label. Right away, I recognised that breads were from the Animax -BreadTalk’s “Yakitate! Ja-Pan” promotion campaign, because I read about it at Anime Desho Desho.
Ja-Pan #288
And then Dad asked me if I was “Zer0″. (O__O) What the f-? The box of bread was addressed to “Zer0″. なるほどう… That’s how my secret identity was compromised.
The box of bread was compliments from Animax. And looks like TJ Han, Tsubaki and DarkMirage also received the same gift too! Our blog activities literally brought home the bread…
BreadTalk X Animax
Animax wants to treat viewers to an immersive, multi-sensory experience for the soon-to-air anime series, “Yakitate! Ja-Pan” 『焼きたて!! ジャぱん』 . By teaming up with BreadTalk, fans of “Yakitate! Ja-Pan” will be able to enjoy exclusive-to-Singapore breads inspired by the anime.
YAKITATE! JA-PAN
“Yakitate! Ja-Pan” is an adaptation of the shonen-manga that won the 2004 Shogakukan Manga Award (小学館漫画賞). On 28 Nov 2007 at 8PM (2000hrs, Singapore time), Animax will be airing the first of the 68-episode season.
FIRST OP OF “YAKITATE!! JAP-PAN” 「ホウキ雲」by Rythem
This shonen-manga inspired anime follows the life of Azuma Kazuma (東和馬), a gifted baker who wants to create a national bread for Japan – the visionary Ja-Pan. Azuma’s secret is his ’solar hands’, that allows dough to ferment faster because they are a pair of exceptionally warm hands (isn’t that sexy?). Expect lots of laugh as he kneads and bakes at the bakery Pantasia (パンタジア).[Note: Though I haven't watched this anime yet, I'll be expecting rolls of pantsu-jokes in the baking]
The bishojo tying her hair (MOÉ!) in the OP is Tsukino Azusagawa (梓川月乃):
Tsukino Azusagawa (梓川月乃)
Tsukino is the grand daughter of the owner of the Pantasia chain of bakeries. She deserves pity (MOÉ!) because she is an illegitimate child of the Azusagawa family, and has difficulty getting along with the rest in the clan…
The poor little rich girl
and for those who want a piece of Tsukino…
1:8 Scale Tsukino Azusagawa in Pantasia uniform
….Her figurines are already available! This is the 1:8 scale of Tsukino in Pantasia Uniform. [Picture swiped from Hobby Stock]. There are other versions of Tsukino, such as the bikini versions with beautiful eyes….
Now, what if you want to feel the warmth of Tsukino’s….oven? You probably can’t stick your meat in there but…
Collaborating with Animax, BreadTalk will be serving “Yakitate! Ja-Pan” inspired Pan (mmmm….Pan..tsu) at their bakeries (less Paragon outlet) till the end of November. There are five types of Ja-Pan custom buns streaming steaming hot out of the ovens:
JA-PANtsu! JA-PANtsu!
(a) Ja-Pan #288 – Chicken sausage roll
(b) Roar Azuma Roar – Bak Kwa + floss bun (non-Halal)
(c) Fantasia Pantasia – Cream bun with cocoa powder topping
(d) Red Bean Yakitate – Red bean bun
(e) Solar Hands Rolling Pin – Long-shaped pastry with chocolate
Now, imagine yourself biting into Tsukino’s Pan when you queue outside BreadTalk..or using your Solar Hand while fiddling with the rolling pin.
Though I might not be a big fan of bread (I’m a rice person) and this is the first time I’d heard of “Yakitate! Ja-Pan”, I think it’s a rather cool marketing campaign. And in a way, it makes the anime more ‘tangible’ and allows the 2D world to reach out to the 3D audience. Will we get more pastry goodness if “Shakugan no Shana” and “Lucky Star” air on Animax?
I’d be keen to subscribe to Animax but I don’t have a TV in my room since I hardly watch the telly. If only Animax had a web-based Video-on-Demand service like GyaO Anime! I’d be an early adopter of the service.
