A special web anime movie created in collaboration between Fuji Heavy Industries and GAINAX

Of all the automobile manufacturers created web specials that made car enthusiasts interested for more such as BMW Korea's BMW Meets Truth starring Rain, Lexus CT 200h's Dark Ride, Toyota Mark X Samurai Code drama starring Koichi Sato, True Power Should Be Shared starring the Aston Martin Rapide, Audi A1's The Next Big Thing starring Justin Timberlake, Kia Motors' The Lotze Identity starring Kim Joo-Hyuk, Nissan Note's Teinenpi Shoujo Heidi, and other web specials made possible by automobile manufacturers, it seems that Fuji Heavy Industries joined the bandwagon for a very special web special to keep fans of the Subaru brand alive and kicking by offering a short anime film titled Houkago no Pleiades (日本名：放課後のプレアデス)

Subaru and GAINAX presents Houkago no Pleiades

Created in collaboration between Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (behind the Subaru brand), and GAINAX, this special web movie made its debut in February 1 ,2011 and wow! This is the first time a famous Japanese carmaker team up with a famous Japanese anime studio for a surprise treat for Scooby fans all over Japan. I guess its true that Love is what makes a Subaru, a Subaru, especially this web special!

When I first peeked on this web special, it was like OH MY! This web special is a sweet as a full tank of 100-octane gasoline! As a web special created in partnership between Fuji Heavy Industries and GAINAX, there are some Subaru-related references on this 4-part short anime film;

1) The main character, Subaru (すばる) is from her namesake, the brand itself.

2) The opening of a door using a key is somewhat like you're turning the ignition key on

3) Hear the engine start-up on the magic staff? That's the sound of the boxer engine, the pinnacle of Subaru engineering.

4) The shafts Subaru, Aoi, Itsuki, Hikaru, and Nanako used were derived from Subaru models. Look closely at their shafts on this short film and it has something similar from the Subaru trademark grille.

Subaru's shaft was derived from the Fifth-generation Subaru Legacy

2010 Subaru Legacy Touring Wagon

Itsuki's shaft was based on the Forester

2011 Subaru Forester

Aoi's shaft was based on the third-generation Subaru Impreza

2011 Subaru Impreza 1.5i-S Limited (Special Edition)

Nanako's shaft was based on Subaru's Touring 7-seater, the Exiga

2009 Subaru Exiga

Hikaru's shaft was based on Subaru's latest compact, the Trezia

2011 Subaru Trezia

5) The areas marked on the bus stop were the names of areas Subaru manufacturing plants located, most notably, Ota, Gunma.

My impressions about this Subaru x GAINAX collaboration short film is tremendously superb. Two worlds combined to create something sweeter than a full tank of 100-octane petrol! Most Scooby fans wowed upon peeking at the web special, Houkago no Pleiades. This short anime film reprises the new Subaru slogan "Confidence in Motion" to a completely new level. I guess Houkago no Pleiades is the automotive web special that ends all automotive web specials since 2009's Nissan Note Teinenpi Shoujo Heidi and 2010's Toyota Mark X Samurai Code drama!

Thank you Fuji Heavy Industries and GAINAX for making this short anime film possible! I guess the words "Love is what makes a Subaru, a Subaru" came to reality! (Applause)