When was the last time you sat down to watch a YouTube video by a real estate company? We’re going to assume never, because who even knew that real estate companies had YouTube accounts?
Japan’s Mitsui Real Estate Residential, however, not only has a YouTube account, but their recently posted video is becoming wildly popular. The company managed to combine their housing expertise with the fail-safe giant robot genre to create a short animated series about apartment buildings that transform into giant robots!
▼ Chou Kidou Gaiku: Kashiwa-no-Ha – “Chapter 1: The Gate Tower
The year is 2018. A young family is starting their new life together and are looking to move into a condo. They visit a model room in Kashiwa City, Chiba, and immediately fall in love with the place.
It has a nice interior, an open kitchen, a beautiful view, and is close to the train station.
▼ This is starting to sound like a commercial…
▼ The father, who is narrating, talks about the great neighborhood and community. He’s decided this is what he wants.
▼ But there’s something he didn’t know about his dream home…
▼ The buildings of Park City Kashiwa-no-Ha Campus, like The Gate Tower, which the family was about to move into, transform into giant robots! Yikes!
Kashiwa-no-Ha will have a total of three chapters, all beautifully created by the production staff of Tsukumo, a film nominated for an Academy Award in Short Animation.
Of course, being sponsored by Mitsui Real Estate, these apartment buildings actually (or will soon) exist. The whole production, in the end, is just a series of commercials for the company’s properties.
We wonder if these ads will bring people to them in stampedes, or turn people off because they don’t quite want to take that chance that their building may actually be a robot.
▼ Oh well, there goes my new TV set. I hope the cat’s all right…
Which brings us to the other big question on everyone’s minds: What happens to the people (and stuff) inside?! At a press release, Mitsui announced that the buildings can only transform if all of the residents are synchronizing their thoughts, therefore avoiding any surprise transformations, but we’re not so sure about how that will work out. I guess we’ll just have to wait and found out in chapters two and three! Stay tuned!
Source: YouTube/Mitsui Fudosan Residential Minna no Sumai, IT Media, Kashiwa-no-ha Robot
Screenshots: YouTube/Mitsui Fudosan Residential Minna no Sumai
Japan now has a transforming giant robot/car that two full-sized adults can ride in【Video】
Japanese company builds giant robot you could be piloting right now
Japanese company wants you to use a remote-controlled robot to visit Grandma, go shopping【Video】
Japanese government study on robot anime now available in English
Real-life pilotable anime-style robots now on sale in Japan【Video】
Why do foreign tourists queue up to eat at Tokyo Little House?
Studio Ghibli unveils new interactive stationery dioramas that bring anime movies to life on your desk
Studio Ghibli composer Jo Hisaishi just set three Guinness Records
Japanese man arrested after pretending to be foreigner while trying to rob convenience store
7-Eleven Japan brings back best-selling flat croissant that became a hit on social media
Universal Studios Japan partners with manga horror master Junji Ito’s Tomie
Anime fans can now wear a Seiko watch inspired by Japan’s One Piece Shinkansen
Burger King Japan brings back its insane all-you-can-eat One Pounder Challenge
You can send your suitcase from Tokyo to Kyoto on the Shinkansen for same-day delivery… but it’ll cost you
Pokémon and Polaroid reveal collaboration with adorable Pikachu and Eeveelution camera and film
12-year-old British girl who went missing in Tokyo found safe after visiting anime sites around Yokohama
Study finds hundreds of people in Indonesia legally named after Naruto, Inuyasha, other anime stars
12-year-old foreign tourist missing in Japan, police asking for help finding her [Video]
Japan’s Rabbit Island in danger of becoming Boar Island, tourists asked to follow feeding rules
Japanese gacha machine in Shibuya now sells tiny capsule terrariums
Stay at a hotel with a bed for your plushie in Japan
Japanese workers reveal their top five mysterious rules they wish would disappear【Survey】
Japanese airlines set to cut fuel surcharges for international flights in September and October
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Air-conditioned dress shirts arrive in Japan to save working professionals from sweltering heat
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Pokémon Center Online designates first Pokémon items that will require Japanese ID card to buy
Japanese toilet aims to attract foreign tourists but not everybody is happy about it
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
New Japanese vending machine at Shinkansen station sells cups of ice on platform
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Chinese man warned by police for driving huge self-made robot on the streets of Beijing【Video】
Japanese sweets and giant robots combine in a new anime series intriguing the Internet
Japanese high school student builds giant, moving Gundam robot in his free time【Video】
Gundam as god – Photo shows real-life giant anime robot getting deep respect
Patlabor’s giant robot gets taken out to the ballgame, keeps the peace in Chiba 【Video】
Awesome self-building Gundam model video shows every anime mecha fan’s dream come true【Video】
Famous action anime director’s latest stop on the comeback trail: bank ad with giant robots
Beautiful papercraft commercial celebrates 106 years of Japanese company Idemitsu【Video】
The new Kyoto Animation commercials will have you in tears in just 30 seconds
Commercial for obscure car part marker may become a milestone in Japanese animation
Giant nipple squirts milk from U.F.O. in crazy Japanese commercial【Video】
Ghibli Museum’s rooftop Robot Soldier captivates fans as snow falls in Tokyo【Video】
Beautiful, heartwarming anime short is also a commercial for miso 【Video】
Japanese sugar artist astounds fans with edible robot from Laputa: Castle in the Sky【Video】
KanColle? More like ManColle as real Japanese men parody anime opening 【Video】