Marketing East Asia

Canva Japan debuts coming-of-age anime campaign about creativity, connection

by Sharona Nicole Semilla

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June 17, 2026

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Japan – Canva Japan has unveiled its first-ever fully animated television campaign, using anime-inspired storytelling to spotlight how creativity can bring communities together and turn small ideas into collective action.

Titled “Beside Your Feelings: The Blue Sea Shopping Street,” the campaign follows Natsuki, a young musician who returns to her seaside hometown only to discover that the once-vibrant shopping street she grew up with is slowly fading away.

Determined to revive the community she cherishes, Natsuki reunites with her childhood friend Minami. Together, they use Canva to design flyers, create promotional materials, and rally local residents around a shared cause.

Their efforts eventually lead to the formation of a band alongside Misaki, a fishing YouTuber, transforming a grassroots initiative into a town-wide movement.

The campaign features acclaimed voice actor Kaori Maeda as Natsuki and is set to Hump Back’s anthem, “Haikei, Shonen Yo,” combining the emotional resonance of anime with themes of creativity, belonging, and self-expression.

Available as both a 30-second television commercial and a three-minute web-exclusive film, the initiative marks Canva Japan’s most ambitious brand effort to date as it seeks to reinforce its position as a creative platform that empowers everyday users to turn ideas into impact.

According to Asumi Yamayoshi, Brand Marketing Lead at Canva Japan, the campaign celebrates the seemingly ordinary moments where meaningful ideas often begin.

“Through creativity, ordinary people can spark extraordinary change, whether that’s revitalising a local community, bringing a dream back to life, or simply helping someone feel seen,” Yamayoshi said.

Directed by filmmaker Toshitaka Shinoda, the story culminates with a heartfelt letter designed in Canva, reinforcing the campaign’s message that creativity goes beyond aesthetics—serving instead as a way for people to express what matters most.