Hungry Days: Aoharu ka yo. - Reviews

"Hungry Days" is a series of 30 second commercials for Nissin's "Cup Noodle" and artwork designed by Eisaku Kubonouchi. Each set has an opening and closing with beautiful sketch-styles and the actual shorts being fully collored animation.

The shorts focused on the theme of "Youth" by using characters from classic anime depicted in a modern High School setting. (episodes 1-6)
Anime featured: Kiki’s Delivery Service ~ Heidi: Girl of the Alps ~ Sazae-san

It's hard to believe that such lengths would be done for a noodle commercial, but each one is breathtakingly good. It makes me want to watch/rewatch the anime that each one is based off of and wished that they did some more classic anime remakes.

• (ep. 2) - {Kiki, still being the lovable witch just in a modern high school, starts to realize her feelings and confesses to Tombo.} Since I was familiar with Kiki, I can easily say that they integrated this one the best.
• (ep. 3) - {Heidi transfers to an all-girls-school in the Alps; she constantly trying to measure up to her friend Clara, but little does she know that doesn't matter to Peter.} I wasn't familiar with Heidi, but it was cute. This one felt the most lovey-dovey romantic tone out of all of them.
• (ep. 4) - {Being friends with Sazae forever, Masuo confesses to her during their school festival.} I've never heard of Sazae before this, but I was smitten with how pure this one was. Considering how old the original series is, I wished that this one could have its own remake with updated animation. Especially if the same MadHouse staff that worked on "A Place Further from the Universe" was a part of it.
• (ep. 6) - {This one focuses on 2 characters playfully confessing their feelings while a 3D apocalypse is happening in the background.} Unlike the other shorts, this last one isn't based on any anime that I could find, but was still good. In fact last one aired during the Superbowl and that was how I was even able to find this series in the first place.

Just the idea of this being a thing is enough for me. It makes me laugh with each rewatch until I tear up. And all because of a dang ramen ad. Even years later, it still looks good now.