'Magical Girl' Posters in Chiba Aim to Enforce the Law Through Cuteness
Omar Yusuf — September 22, 2011 — Art & Design
References: nlab.itmedia.co.jp & kotaku
With the understanding that punitive measures against criminals only lead them further into crime, the 'Magical Girl' posters of Matsudo City intend to stop crime with the under-appreciated weapon of cuteness.
In Japan, there exists a sub-genre of anime that depicts adorable super humans known as Magical Girls (Sailor Moon is the closest resemblance). Harnessing this country-wide love for cute, commanding women, the municipality of Matsudo City have plastered Magical Girl posters across the city that urge citizens to report crimes and obey the law. As part of this new initiative to slow crime in the area, the posters announce plans for 'No Crime Day,' which will take place on the 15th of every month.
For lack of a better explanation, I believe the cultural differences between Japan and its North American neighbors are too vast for this idea to gain currency Stateside. It will be interesting to see whether a lovable cartoon is enough to cut down on crime in the area.
In Japan, there exists a sub-genre of anime that depicts adorable super humans known as Magical Girls (Sailor Moon is the closest resemblance). Harnessing this country-wide love for cute, commanding women, the municipality of Matsudo City have plastered Magical Girl posters across the city that urge citizens to report crimes and obey the law. As part of this new initiative to slow crime in the area, the posters announce plans for 'No Crime Day,' which will take place on the 15th of every month.
For lack of a better explanation, I believe the cultural differences between Japan and its North American neighbors are too vast for this idea to gain currency Stateside. It will be interesting to see whether a lovable cartoon is enough to cut down on crime in the area.
Trend Themes
1. Cute Crime Prevention - Exploring the potential for using cuteness as a tool for crime prevention
2. Anime-inspired Marketing - Leveraging popular anime characters to promote products or services
3. Cultural Differences in Crime Prevention - Comparing and contrasting innovative crime prevention methods across different cultures
Industry Implications
1. Law Enforcement - Consider how law enforcement agencies can incorporate cute and playful elements into their branding or public outreach efforts
2. Marketing and Advertising - Explore ways that anime-inspired marketing strategies can be used to engage new audiences or tap into existing fandoms
3. Animation and Entertainment - Consider developing new anime or cartoon characters that could be used to promote social causes or community initiatives
0.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
