Freedom Project
Nissin Cup Noodles' 35th anniversary OVA project.
Freedom Project is a Japanese promotional project by Nissin Cup Noodles for their 35th anniversary in 2006. It produced the 7-part OVA series titled Freedom, with character and mecha design by Katsuhiro Otomo, direction by Shuhei Morita, and authorship by Dai Satō, Katsuhiko Chiba, and Yuuichi Nomura. The series is notable for its open product placement of Nissin Cup Noodles and its extensive marketing campaign.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Science fiction, Action-adventure, Mystery
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Freedom Project was launched by Nissin Cup Noodles in 2006 to celebrate their 35th anniversary. The centerpiece was the OVA series Freedom, which follows a 15-year-old boy named Takeru living in a lunar colony called Republic Eden. After discovering a crashed capsule with photographs of Earth, he learns that Earth has recovered from a climate disaster and is habitable again, leading him to defy authorities and journey to Earth. The series features extensive product placement, with characters frequently shown consuming Nissin Cup Noodles.
Reader's Guide
The Freedom Project stands out as a direct-to-video animation that leveraged the involvement of renowned creator Katsuhiro Otomo and a collaboration with Nissin Cup Noodles for extensive TV advertising. The project's publicity campaign included large banners in Tokyo's busiest train stations, television spots, and print ads. The OVA was released across seven DVDs from November 2006 to May 2008, with a special limited-edition DVD titled Freedom Previsited released in October 2006. The series also saw an HD DVD release starting in June 2007. The project's significance lies in its integration of commercial sponsorship with anime production, and its use of a major pop star, Hikaru Utada, for its theme songs.
Did You Know?
- The theme song 'This Is Love' is performed by Hikaru Utada.
- The OVA was animated and produced by Sunrise and distributed by Bandai Visual.
- The series openly displays Nissin Cup Noodles product placement in numerous scenes.
- A special limited-edition DVD, Freedom Previsited, was released on October 27, 2006.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Freedom Project?
Freedom Project is a Japanese promotional initiative launched by Nissin Cup Noodles to mark the brand's 35th anniversary in 2006. It centered on a seven-episode animated OVA series titled Freedom, which blends space-adventure storytelling with unapologetic product integration.
Who designed the characters and mecha in Freedom?
Katsuhiro Otomo, best known for Akira, was responsible for all character and mecha design on the series. His involvement gave the project a distinctive visual identity that set it apart from typical commercial anime.
How many episodes does Freedom have and how was it released?
The series consists of seven OVA episodes. It was distributed as a direct-to-video collection rather than airing as a standard television broadcast.
Why was Freedom Project created?
Nissin Cup Noodles commissioned the entire project as part of a large-scale marketing campaign celebrating 35 years of the Cup Noodles brand. The show features prominent, open product placement of Cup Noodles woven throughout its narrative.
Who directed Freedom and who wrote it?
Shuhei Morita served as the series director, while the writing credit goes to a team of Dai Satō, Katsuhiko Chiba, and Yuuichi Nomura.
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