| Umacha 
is a new chilled tea from the Asahi 
Beverage Company that went on sale March 12, 2001. Studio Ghibli 
produced the animated 
TV commercial. There is also a 
live-action 
version of this commercial, and both versions began airing in Japan on 
March 5th (one week before the drink arrived in stores). The watercolor 
animation style used in My Neighbors the 
Yamadas was used in the animated commercial, but the characters are 
a bit more realistic than those in Yamadas. A second animated TV commercial, also Ghibli produced, 
has been aired.  You can see still images of it 
here.  As was 
the case with the previous commercial, there is a "live-action version" as 
well.  This time, the main character is played by Takeshi Naito, who did 
the voice of Chihiro's father in Studio Ghibli's newest film 															 
Spirited Away. |