Everything’s cooler in Japan, even their mobile company ads. Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank has launched a new series of ads featuring giant Pikachu mascots engaging in various physical activities, while being cheered on by the company’s strange android mascot, Pepper. Like so many good things from Japan, these Pokemon ads are adorable as hell and a little freaky, all at once.
Videos by ComicBook.com
The first ad, which you can check out above, shows our awkward Poke-athletes attempting to jump rope. None of them actually manage to do it, but, uh, nice try? The second video shows the Pikachus trying out some surf machines, and, shockingly, none of them fall off. Ultimately, the third ad is the highlight, as our chubby yellow friends take to the track for a relay race – they don’t set any land speed records, but they will they will dash their way into your heart.
So yeah, none of the these Pikachus are likely to make the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team, but at least they’re better at sports than they are at dancing. And hey, if Japan does want to add Pokemon relays to the Olympics, I would be 100 percent okay with that.
Oh, and in case you’re wondering what these ads are actually for, it seems like SoftBank is giving away limited-edition Pikachu notebooks to Pokemon Go players are some of their stores? At least that’s what I think is going on – Google Translate may have missed some nuance. Whatever they’re selling, I’m buying.
Check out more of WWG’s latest Pokemon-related stories, below.
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