[b][size=3] I was in a dilemma on whether should I post this topic in MISC or should I post it in OA? However with further thoughts, I decide to put it in OA as this has afterall something that got to do with animes.

Last Sunday, I was with a friend going shopping for some electronic products. I wanted to get a DVD player in my own room and probably a headset since mine was spoiled. The DVD player was suppose to be for my regular anime dosage in case the one (Pioneer of course) at the living room was occupied by my mum who is a avid Korean soup opera fan.

We practically ransacked the whole mall searching for my stuff. And of course we also went to a megastore that was opened by BEST Denki. Upon entering the premises of the megastore, something caught my eyes. Hey isn't that that character in the advertisement Midori from Midori no Hibi? And there was also Chikage from Sister Princess in another corner.

Now this is something that make me not quite agree on. This megastore is using anime character in their advertisement? This megastore is selling electronic products so what is anime characters got to do with them?

Now here comes the marketing concerns. Why are they using anime characters as an icon? Is it for the branding or is it for their identification or to gain recognition of some sort from the customers? Or is it the fact, that the megastore has Japanese orgins and hence using anime characters would be the best way to tell the whole world that their identity?

I am pretty upset on the way that anime characters has been misused in my opinion. What are your views? Discuss.