[Anime] Internet Explorer's New Mascot: Inori Aizawa

Well, this one has been floating around for quite a bit now today and I guess I should say something about it too (why not, right?). So, let's get on with it and see just what the folks from Redmond are up to with Internet Explorer in Japan...

Earlier today, Microsoft unveiled Inori as their new Internet Explorer mascot via a short anime production that definitely shows a few links to some other work out there. Immediately I was making comparisons Vividred Operation from this past spring, mostly during the transformation sequence and a few other places like her clothing style.

For those wanting to know a bit more about her, the folks over at Collateral Damage Studio have given a run down of her vitals as well!

DOB: 16 Aug 1995 (Now 18 years old)
Horoscope: Leo
Zodiac: Pig
Blood type: A+
Height: 1.62 m
Weight: 秘密～
Hobbies: Surfing the internet, geeky things like reading, Karaoke
Family: Aizawa Hikari is her cousin. The middle child
Favorite food: Ice-cream, especially mint flavor
Dislikes: Bullies

There's also a lot more on Inori's Facebook Page as well, where she describes herself as the following:

"When I was younger, I used to be a clumsy, slow and awkward girl.

However, just like the story of ugly duckling, people told me that I have really matured and changed over the years. I feel confident in my abilities now, and I'm eager to show you what I can do.

Why don't you get to know me a little better?"

Either way, I don't think this is going to get a lot of people to switch outside of Japan, but hey...ya never know and at least it's something that shows Microsoft gets the whole idea of target marketing. It's also a ton better than the Ghost in the Shell Surface stuff too. That one was just weird and strange...didn't even seem to fit.

This one though? Just fun and more in the spirit of "anime being anime". So, again, they kinda got the idea at least on this go around...

If you're looking for the anime short, here it is...though it may have to be viewed on the Internet Explorer YouTube Channel. Plenty of other sites out there have detailed what's in it...so just enjoy the 2minutes that they've put together!



All this still makes me wonder, why don't we get the cool shit in the US?!