Ad Council Japan

Credits

Descriptions by
2K-tan

Video captures courtesy of
VHSlover

Background

Advertising Council Japan, formerly named Japan Advertising Council until 30 June 2009, and originally established as Kansai Advertising Council in 7 July 1971 until 1974, is a private non-profit organization that distributes Japanese public service announcements on behalf of various sponsors, including both non-profit organizations and government agencies.

1st Tag (1972-1987)

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Visuals: Over a white, or colored background, or superimposed over the commercial, there is the shape of a heart at the left with the text "公共広告機構" next to it.

Variants:

• The logo may change position and color depending on the commercial.
• During its time as Kansai Advertising Council in 1972-1974, the Japanese text was "関西公共広告機構".
• Other early commercials had "社団法人" above the company name.
• On other commercials during 1986, the shape of a heart flies from the top-right with the eyes resembling a bird. Once it's centered, the text wipes in with the eyes fades out.
• On other commercials during 1986, the heart flips like a book and become pink. The text is below the heart.

Technique: Cel animation.

Audio: The closing audio of the commercial.

Audio Variants: On other commercials during 1986, there is a bird chirping noise.

Availability: Seen on PSAs by the company during the time period.

2nd Tag (1987-)

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Visuals: Over a white background, the blue word "AC" is shown in the Motter Ombra font. Above is the company's slogan in black, and the name of the company in Japanese "公共広告機構" (before 2011) or the English "JAPAN" (since 2011).

Slogans/Bylines: The slogans were changed over time, though there were also other special cases for some PSAs promoting certain events. These slogan variants were used until 2009, where the slogans would become replaced by one of the bylines below the Tag.

• 1987-2001: 人と人とを結ぶ、思いやり (Connecting and caring for people)
• 1991: "ここから始めなければ。(We must start from here.)
• 1994: 人を救うのは、人しかいない。(Only people can save people.) (This slogan was used for PSAs regarding the aftermath of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.)
• 2001-2009: 明日のために、いま始めよう。(Let's start now for tomorrow.)
• 2005: 明日を一緒に考えよう。(Let's think about tomorrow together.) (Used for PSAs regarding Japan-Korea relations.)
• 2007: 未来につながる活動を支援しています。(We support activities that lead to the future.)
• 2008-2009: よりよい社会をめざす民間の広告ネットワーク (A private advertising network aiming for a better society.)
• 2009-2012: 会員社のご支援で活動しています (We work with the support of our member companies.)
• 2010-2012: 民間の広告ネットワーク (Private Advertising Network)
• 2011: 民間から。公共広告40年 (From the Private Sector. 40 Years of Public Advertising)
• 2013-2020: この活動を支援しています (We support this activity)
• 2015-2019: 企業のCSR活動 (Corporate CSR activities)
• 2018-2020: Advertising Council Japan
• 2019: ACジャパンは、広告学生賞を主催しています。(AC Japan sponsors the Advertising Student Awards.)
• 2020-: 気づきを、動きへ。(From awareness to movement.)

Variants:

• In its early years, an animated version of the Tag existed where the "AC" text would rise up.
• Another animated variant has the "AC" draw in from the sides.
• A superimposed variant with the Tag on a white color appeared in some instances.
• In other superimposed cases, the "AC" Tag without the text at the bottom would be featured alongside the sponsoring company's Tag next to it.
• A monochrome version had the white Tag over a black background.
• Some commercials had the entire Tag and text in one line. It was shrunk below the screen in some 1987 commercials.
• Some commercials from 1990 would feature the slogan and text rise up in two lines near the center, with the Tag then appearing from the left.
• There also exists slogan-less variants used before 2009.
• A black and white variant was used in a 2000 PSA.

Technique: None. Simple 2D animation for the animated variants.

Audio:

• 1987-2009: A two-note choir singing "AC".
• 2009-2015: A re-recorded version of the choir.
• 2015-: Someone singing "AC Japan" with a bell instrument on the background.

Audio Variants:

• Sometimes the 1987 jingle is followed up by the PSA's announcer saying the company's name.
• In a few cases, the closing audio of the commercial would play without the jingle.

Availability: Seen on nearly all PSAs from the Ad Council since 1987. The 1991 slogan version was spotten on the Household Drainage and Mermaids PSAs from the year.