Japan – Canva has teamed up with Wieden+Kennedy Tokyo (W+K Tokyo) to launch a captivating new film series that showcases how creativity can transform everyday challenges into innovative solutions.
Directed by filmmaker Yuki Tanada, known for The One Million Yen Girl and My Broken Mariko, the eight-part series follows Yuki, a curious young girl, and her fellow islanders as they navigate daily life on a remote Japanese island.
Each short film presents an everyday challenge faced by the islanders, with creative solutions emerging through digital design tools. From making artwork and presentations to editing videos and designing printed materials, the series explores how technology can support problem-solving in daily life.
The first four films introduce the island’s quiet charm and its eccentric residents. ‘The Postman’ follows Yuki as she befriends the local postman, played by Kanji Furutachi, and helps revive the tradition of Nengajo, Japan’s New Year postcard custom. In ‘A Fresh Start,’ Yuki tries to help her grandmother, played by Naoko Ken, reignite her passion for running an island salon.
In ‘Dream Boyfriend,’ Yuki playfully reshapes the reality of her surfer crush, Kai, to match her idealised vision of a boyfriend. ‘Island Romance’ sees her scheming to make the entire island fall in love, hoping it will bring more children to play with—leading to unexpected twists and chaos.
The series will continue into 2025, introducing new island characters and expanding the story’s focus on creativity, community, and connection.
Max Pilwat, creative director at W+K Tokyo, said, “This year, we explored the power of Canva on a deeper level. Through this series, we brought the app to an unexpected setting—an island—demonstrating how it can allow real people to design and connect beyond their imaginations.”
