Studio Ghibli Creates Adorable New Commercial Of Brush-Painted Cats

Hand-drawn animation is a disappearing art that Studio Ghibli is thankfully still keeping. The beloved art style takes center stage in a new, a-mew-sing commercial created by the Japanese animation great.

In 2010, Studio Ghibli was commissioned by Nisshin Seifun Group, a food and flour milling conglomerate, to produce a series of spots for its wheat-growing arm. The last time one of these advertisements debuted was back in 2015.

Seven years later, the animation studio has released the fourth iteration of the campaign—and knowing fans of Hayao Miyazaki’s world, they’ll be feline great about this.

In the endearing spot, a hat falls into the scene, and a cat’s head can be seen bobbing up. Later, the audience finds that there are not one, not two, but three cats… in a hat.

Some notable names contributed to the short and sweet animation, which sports the traditional style of sumi-e (Japanese brush painting). Studio Ghibli’s cofounder Toshio Suzuki drew the kitties, who first made their appearance in 2010, and he also produced the work, with Katsuya Kondo (Up On Poppy Hill and Disney+‘s Grogu and Dust Bunnies) animating and overseeing the film. The catchy tune features the vocals of Akiko Yano.

[via Anime News Network, Crunchyroll, Studio Ghibli, video and cover image via Studio Ghibli / Nisshin Seifun Group]