You may have seen the Straw Hats Crew in their childhood days, but have you ever seen them in high school? Your wish has been granted as Nissin (日清) Cup Noodles has recently launched a new ad picturing One Piece (ワンピース) in high school.
Created by mangaka Eisaku Kubonouchi (窪之内英策), who is known by his romance manga Chocolat, the commercial series is part of the ‘Hungry Days’ Campaign initiated by Nissin. The voice cast member of One Piece TV anime also reprises their roles in the commercial.
The first protagonist of the commercial series is 19-year-old Roronoa Zoro (ロロノア・ゾロ), who experiences defeat in a kendo contest with his senpai Mihawk (ミホーク). In order to keep his childhood promise and realize his dream to become the strongest swordsman in the world, he pushes himself to the limit with overly harsh training.
During the commercial, lots of signature One Piece characters make appearances, including Nami (ナミ), Usopp (ウソップ), Sanji (サンジ), Chopper (チョッパー), Robin (ロビン), Franky (フランキー) and Brook (ブルック), who is surprisingly a human instead of a skull in this universe.
The Straw Hat Pirates Captain Luffy (モンキー), holding a cup noodle, appears at last. The scene echoes to the original manga scene when Zoro meets Luffy for the first time and his promise to never lose again.
▍‘Hungry Days’ Campaign
Launched by Nissin Cup Noodles, “Hungry Days” ad campaign is a series of commercials that starred famous anime characters at the precipice of their youth to invoke a specific, nostalgic feeling. Mangaka Eisaku Kubonouchi has already redesigned characters from ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ (魔女の宅急便), ‘Heidi, Girl of the Alps’ (アルプスの少女ハイジ), and ‘Sazae-san’ (サザエさん).
▍One Piece X Nissin Cup Noodles ‘Hungry Days’ Ad (Zoro Ver.)