Video: “Vending Machine Red”
posted at 8:19 am on July 17, 2007 by Allahpundit
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Why they don’t slap an over-the-top Japanese-accented English voiceover on these and start running them here, I’ll never know. The popularity of the “Mr. Sparkle” episode of the Simpsons proves Americans will get the joke. From what I can tell by googling, this is an honest to goodness Coke campaign currently running on Japanese TV; the 60s camp intro is faux, as you’ll realize when you see him wandering around modern Japan, but I confess the first clip had me fooled.
He is, quite simply, the kitschiest robot since Johnny Five. No small compliment, my friends.
If you can’t watch ‘em all, 1, 3, and 5 are the ones not to miss. Like I said to one of our commenters in the Sinatra thread the other night, don’t question. Just believe.
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PROGRESS VENDING MACHINE RED!
OHNOES on July 17, 2007 at 9:01 AM
Thats pretty cool. First time I saw a robot with a dog on a leash! Why can’t the U.S. have commercials more like this. Instead, we have commercials that depict men as stupid.
2theright on July 17, 2007 at 9:03 AM
Where’S Mothra when you need him?
TheSitRep on July 17, 2007 at 9:05 AM
You mean this guy?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/foldedspace/751235738/
I shot this on June 30th. Oddly enough, Tokyo Stromtrooper (previously feature on Hot Air) was also in Akihabara on the same day. Pity I wasn’t caught on video.
http://youtube.com/user/tokyostormtrooper
Asher on July 17, 2007 at 9:06 AM
I was expecting him to do the Pepto Bismo dance, slightly disappointed.
pb5000 on July 17, 2007 at 9:07 AM
Nice. Just what I needed to start a dreary Tuesday morning.
Slublog on July 17, 2007 at 9:08 AM
I think it would work just due to its shock value. I am in the middle of watching Lost and then this crazy vending machine robot walks around not doing anything. That will stick with me, even though I am a Pepsi man myself
mundayr on July 17, 2007 at 9:10 AM
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED.
marc@hubsandspokes on July 17, 2007 at 9:30 AM
The music that plays, once the intro is over and the actual episode starts, is straight out of the Enter the Dragon soundtrack….Mr. Hand Man.
Alden Pyle on July 17, 2007 at 9:34 AM
I, reboot.
profitsbeard on July 17, 2007 at 9:48 AM
Ah, correction, AP-san…it’s pronounced engrish
Viewtifulgare on July 17, 2007 at 9:49 AM
That was, indeed, AWESOME! Thank you AP. Started my day off right.
Now – which candidate might adopt this style of advertisement?
nailinmyeye on July 17, 2007 at 9:53 AM
The otaku spirit is strong in this one…
nailinmyeye on July 17, 2007 at 9:54 AM
Maybe he’s the bastard son of an Iron Chef?
andycanuck on July 17, 2007 at 10:03 AM
Is this the robot savior with the power to destroy forever the lolcats?
a4g on July 17, 2007 at 10:16 AM
How do you say “banal” in Japanese?
corbettw on July 17, 2007 at 10:21 AM
Today I learned that otaku means geek in japanese. That now makes me an uber geek. Oh, crap! I just said uber in public! Oh, crap! I just refered to posting something in a blog as public! . . .
- The Cat
P.S. I am in good company though.
Japanese + Starwars Quote = you too dude.
Oh crap! I got the joke!
MirCat on July 17, 2007 at 10:29 AM
Slow news day I guess.
saiga on July 17, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Johnny Five was not kitschy. He didn’t look low-quality at all!
dave_lantos on July 17, 2007 at 10:57 AM
The last video dance routine was the best. My niece heads to Japan for a year as a language teacher. I think she’s in for a culture shock.
Mojave Mark on July 17, 2007 at 11:05 AM
I know man. The trick is that you have to embrace it!
“It is not shame to be otaku. It is proud to be otaku. Yes. – The otaku spirit is we immortal.”
nailinmyeye on July 17, 2007 at 11:06 AM
Where do I go to get those minutes of my life back?
csdeven on July 17, 2007 at 11:25 AM
Fred! ;-)
KelliD on July 17, 2007 at 11:43 AM
I bet it’d be more memorable if aired with subtitles instead of a some wacked out voiceover. I mean, really, aside from the intros there isn’t anything that needs to be explained to people who missed the opening subtitles. I don’t know how often commercials in Japanese appear on American television, so maybe that novelty alone would be enough to help it get noticed.
Sisyphus on July 17, 2007 at 12:04 PM
You’re safe as long as you don’t go to the trouble of using the ASCII code for the umlaut in ‘uber.’
James on July 17, 2007 at 12:25 PM
I’m having a brokebot moment.
Kini on July 17, 2007 at 1:35 PM
I believe I just wasted several precious minutes. AP, you have got to get out more.
right2bright on July 17, 2007 at 1:39 PM
You got to be kidding’why don’t they have
a cigarettes vending machine as it’s wingman.
And marketed during the children’s t.v. time.
Ha ha.
canopfor on July 17, 2007 at 4:09 PM
I’m disrespectful to dirt!
Can you see I am serious!
Get out of my way, all of you!
This is no place for loafers.
Join me or die.
Can you do any less?
For lucky best wash, use Mr. Sparkle!
jihadwatcher on July 17, 2007 at 4:30 PM
I kept waiting for him to throw down with Zero…
Kind of odd and kind of fun, AP.
major john on July 17, 2007 at 6:17 PM
Um?….
MichelleFanClub on July 17, 2007 at 7:19 PM
Ha. I liked 2,6, and 7 the best. Especially 7.
Tanya on July 17, 2007 at 8:18 PM
http://youtube.com/watch?v=n1vi0elHUdg
Apparently there is a Pepsiman…and woman.
Asher on July 17, 2007 at 10:18 PM
Are we not big enough to get together and destroy vending machine red? Bad things come to us if not vending machine red destroy now. Hai!
Kevin M on July 17, 2007 at 11:16 PM
Also, let’s get the most of important goods, huh? Huh, people?
Kevin M on July 17, 2007 at 11:17 PM
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