Giant 3D Cat Comes to Life in Huge Billboard in Tokyo, Japan

The realistic-looking cat in 4K resolution appears between advertisements on a 154.7 square metre LED screen on top of a building in front of Shinjuku train station, meowing at people walking by.

The billboard was organized by local businesses who wanted to create a mascot in Shinjuku to cheer people up.

Due to the quasi state of emergency imposed in Tokyo, the cat can only be seen between 7:00 a.m. (2200GMT) and 8:00 p.m. (1100GMT), according to an official at Billboard management company Yunika.

The digital billboard spans over three floors and stands out from the rest as it features a curved LED screen, which can display 4K images, and is accompanied by speakers. The curved screen allows for more depth and can also help create a jaw-dropping 3D effect. You’ve probably seen viral footage of these 3D screens in other countries including China and South Korea, where the ads seem to jump off the screen.

To introduce the new 3D technology to the streets of Tokyo, Cross Shinjuku has started teasing a short video of a giant 3D calico cat. The cat will have its official debut on Monday July 12, when it will wake up when the screen turns on at 7am every morning and go to sleep in the evening before the screen turns off at 1am. The cat will also appear every so often in between ads throughout the day and meow at nearby pedestrians.

For now, the cat is only showing up briefly during the day, so you’ll have to keep your eyes peeled.

If you can't make it to Shinjuku, you can also keep tabs on the cat online, as Cross Shinjuku Vision has a live-stream video of the billboard on its YouTube channel. For more information, visit the website.

July 08, 2021