Fuyu no Chikai, Natsu no Matsuri: Takeo no Ookusu

Fuyu no Chikai, Natsu no Matsuri: Takeo no Ookusu, or 'Winter Vow, Summer Festival: The Great Camphor Tree of Takeo,' was released in 2016 as a collaborative promotional animation project. Commissioned by the city of Takeo in Saga Prefecture, Japan, the film was designed to highlight the region’s local landmarks and natural beauty, most notably the legendary camphor tree, which is over 3,000 years old. By weaving a narrative around these local treasures, the production sought to boost regional tourism and foster a deeper emotional connection between the landscape and its visitors.

The animation was produced by Seven Arcs, a studio widely recognized for its polished aesthetic and character-driven narratives. The design approach centered on capturing the serene, atmospheric quality of rural Saga, utilizing a soft, evocative color palette that emphasizes the scale and antiquity of the Great Camphor Tree. Upon its release, the film was well-received by local audiences and the Japanese animation community as a sincere, well-crafted example of 'region-promotion' anime that prioritizes setting and atmosphere over conventional commercial tropes.