A Trump-Obsessed Fangirl Realizes Her Mega-Dream in This Outrageous Japanese Ad Parody
The Story Behind Mike Diva's Fantastic Nightmare (for Some)
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This insane film from director/VFX pro and YouTube star Mike Dahlquist, more famously known as Mike Diva, is either a mind-blowing nightmare -- or a dream come true, at least for its protagonist, a Japanese fangirl obsessed with all things Donald Trump. The video opens on the young woman, whose room is wallpapered with images of Trump as if were the next One Direction. As she bats her eyes over his floaty-haired mugshot, her TV screen announces that Trump has been elected president -- not just of the United States, but the entire world.
The Trump devotee lights up and begins to float through the sky, sweeping through a bizarro universe in which Trump's big head rests atop buildings -- spewing rainbows from its mouth -- and hangs like fruit off sakura trees. We're then treated to a showcase depicting the billionaire against stylistic backdrops inspired by everything from Miami Vice to Mein Kampf. And then the ultimate happens, when Trump's noggin joins up with a Godzilla-size robot body, Gundam-style, and he blasts off into space and obliterates the entire planet.
"Ultimately I thought it'd be funny to make a video that is obnoxiously pro-Trump in a style that directly conflicts with anything Trump and his supporters would actually want to be associated with," Dahlquist explained. "I wanted to make something insane but with a high production quality. I didn't want this to look like a random YouTube video."
The point, he said, was "to confuse as many people as possible. "I ultimately just want people why a Japanese ad agency would possibly make something like this."
So what's the connection to Japanese advertising -- the film is simply titled "Japanese Donald Trump Ad." "I'm obsessed with Japanese commercials," he said. "I can't get enough of them. They're so over-the-top insane and entertaining, and I've always wanted to make one. This video was my way of doing that, while simultaneously celebrating just how crazy it is that Trump has gotten this far."
Mr. Dahlqvist has previously been inspired by this genre, perhaps most notably, with a mesmerizing faux Furby ad.
Dahlquist said he created the film with no budget but with plenty of help from his buddies. "Luckily, I have some amazingly talented friends that got what I was going for and who were willing to help me make this thing free of charge. I did a lot of the post myself, but if I didn't have help, it probably would have taken me half a year to finish this thing."
As for Trump's reaction, Dahlquist hasn't heard anything so far, "but I'm waiting for either a cease and desist or a tweet from Trump himself."
When asked if a project for Trump's opponent is in the works, "Probably not," he said. "But it might be fun to make a vid about Hillary's cringeworthy attempts to reach a younger demographic. Who knows? I'm honestly not a very political guy. I just like making weird stuff that gets a rise out of people."
Credits
- Date
- Jun 16, 2016
- Brand :
- Mike Diva
- Client :
- Mike Diva
- Director :
- Mike Diva
- Shooter :
- Jan-Michael Losada
- Starring :
- Chloe Doan
- Producer :
- Mike Shafia
- Producer :
- Joshua Z. Hernandez
- Music Producer :
- Stephen Thomas
- Music Producer :
- Mike Diva
- Visual Effects Artist :
- Mike Diva
- Visual Effects Artist :
- Tim Hendrix
- Visual Effects Artist :
- Calvin Serrano
- Visual Effects Artist :
- Aaron Nelson-Purcell
- Visual Effects Artist :
- Cody Vondell
- Visual Effects Artist :
- Abi Laurel
- Editor :
- Mike Diva
- Translation :
- Mari Toyozumi
- Voiceover :
- Cristina Coppinger
- Art Producer :
- Caitlyn Brisben
- Treatment :
- Mike Diva
- Treatment :
- Jan-Michael Losada
- Special Thanks :
- Alyssa Onofreo
- Special Thanks :
- Joshua Z. Hernandez
- Special Thanks :
- Michelle Nguyen Bradley
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