What is Low Fuel Consumption?!

Do you remember the story of that little girl who spends her childhood in the idyllic mountains of the Alps? That girl who is looked after by her grandfather living in a hut on top of a mountain? And whose best (and only) friend is a goat shepherd (at least until she meets her cousin from the city)? Yes, you’re right, I’m talking about Heidi.

The story of Heidi, written by Johanna Spyri at the end of the 19th century, became popular all over the world and created an image of a pure nature which is still attached to Switzerland. Especially in Japan, where Miyazaki Hayao and Takahata Isao produced the well-known anime “Heidi, Girl of the Alps” (アルプスの少女ハイジ), the world of Heidi is the very image of Switzerland. For the Japanese Heidi is an icon of innocent childhood and the love for nature. So what could be better  for a company which wants to sell their products as ecofriendly than using Heidi in a commercial?

So did Nissan and produced a series of Heidi commercials for their eco-car “NOTE” called “Heidi, low fuel consumption girl” (低燃費少女ハイジ). So far there are six spots in which Heidi tries to find out what low fuel consumption means. She asks “What is low fuel consumption?” (テイネンピってなに？) all the time and is probably the most annoying Heidi you’ll ever see. Nobody can escape her questions, not even the mountains who echo that low fuel consumption is nice to the mountains and economical. But Heidi is never satisfied with the answers she gets and becomes a nuisance for her entire environment:

Part 1: The Echo

Part 2: Peter

Peter asks his goats for help.

Part 3: Grandfather

Heidi gets really really annoying. Poor grandfather.

Part 4: Candy

Heidi’s grandfather plans to buy candy for Heidi to make her forget about her question. Her worries that Heidi might return to Frankfurt again, if he cannot satisfy her……

Part 5: Klara

Klara and Heidi are catching butterflies, but Klara gets tired. This is the most hilarious part, I think: Klara says that she wants to go home and eat sausage. For she’s a German she can’t live without sausage! xD

Heidi can’t understand why Klara doesn’t like to catch butterflies and asks her what she does in her free time in Frankfurt. Klara has to think for a while and answers “cram school”. Then Klara starts a monologue on how great her knowledge is and that she would know even more than adults, so Heidi takes the chance to ask her about the low fuel consumption. Of course, Klara doesn’t know what low fuel consumption is either but now she cannot turn back and has to make up a story. According to Klara almost everyone in the city has a low fuel consumption and Heidi should come with her to Frankfurt to see one!

Part 6: Going on a Journey

Hoping to get to see a low fuel consumption Heidi accompanies Klara to Frankfurt. When Klara asks Heidi what she likes more, her grandfather or butterflies, Heidi can’t tell… Meanwhile her grandfather desperately tries to stop her.

Part 7: The people of the residence

Heidi reaches Frankfurt but still can’t find the answer to her question what low fuel consumption is. Everybody gets frustrated of her and so it’s quickly decided that Heidi should go home. But while Heidi is already on the train her grandfather also reaches the residence in Frankfurt. Nobody opens the door for him and so he’s got no other choice than to return…

Extra: Grandfather goes home

Heidi’s grandfather understandably gets a little crazy on his way home.