Hikari: Kariya wo Tsunagu Monogatari

Hikari: Kariya wo Tsunagu Monogatari was produced by Studio ZEXCS in 2016 as a specialized promotional animation. It was commissioned by the city of Kariya, located in the Aichi Prefecture of Japan, to serve as a regional tourism piece intended to highlight local landmarks and foster community pride. The production reflects a common trend in mid-2010s Japanese animation where municipalities partnered with established studios to create high-quality, short-form narrative content to boost the visibility of lesser-known cultural or historical sites.

The creative direction for this short was handled by the animation staff at ZEXCS, who sought to blend a gentle, slice-of-life aesthetic with the specific geography of Kariya. By focusing on the emotional resonance of the city's scenery rather than traditional advertising tropes, the team aimed to create a lingering, atmospheric impression on viewers. Upon its release, the project was received as a charming entry in the niche genre of regional-pride animation, noted primarily for its modest, sincere approach to local storytelling.