A stunning anime commercial on the Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) has been produced and it is directed by acclaimed Japanese director, Makoto Shinkai, of Your Name fame.

The ad is about the Thomson-East Coast Line, the up-and-coming sixth MRT line, which is currently under construction.

The first stage will open in 2019, with the line fully completed in 2024.

Marina Bay station construction

The Japanese building construction company, Taisei Corporation, was awarded the $425 million Contract T226, meaning it will oversee the construction of the construction of Marina Bay station and its associated tunnels.

The 30-second ad was published on Sunday, May 6, on the company's official YouTube channel:

But it appears to have been removed.

Here's another re-upload:

It isn't your usual PR spiel involving people in helmets, shaking hands, while staring at blueprints.

The 45-year-old director made this animated short story revolve around the female protagonist Ayano, who is an engineer.

She is voiced by Masami Nagasawa, who played Miki Okudera in Your Name.

What the video means

At the beginning of the video, we are introduced to Ayano texting an apology to her classmates who were asking if she'd be able to make it to a reunion.

She apologises that she's currently in Singapore, and therefore, unable to attend.

Her classmates are obviously a little miffed, and curious as to why she would be in Singapore.

But, of course, Ayano misses memories and younger days in her hometown.

But she's here to help with the work that goes on behind the Thomson line.

Singapore's recognisable skyline features in the video, with Marina Bay Sands popping up in the background:

Several of the iconic CBD buildings and the ArtScience Museum make up the backdrop of the initial scenes as well:

Little touches help make the scenes feel a little more like Singapore, such as during Ayano's lunch break within the dormitory canteen with her colleagues:

Taisei Corporation

While this is the first time that we're seeing the construction of our MRT lines being featured in such a pretty-looking commercial, Taisei Corporation has been closely involved with the construction of our newer stations, such as the Circle Line's Marymount Caldecott, Botanic Gardens, and Farrer Road stations, as well as Downtown Line's Downtown station.

The station it will be building, the Marina Bay station on the TEL, will be an interchange station connecting the TEL, North-South and Circle Lines.

Where are the foreign workers?

This wasn't a perfect ad for anime-loving Singaporeans, however.

Some were quick to point out via a reposted video that it was inaccurate, as it failed to depict the foreign workers who are involved and relied upon heavily in the construction process of the stations.

The animated short probably was constructed this way to promote Taisei's branding and narrative, in line with several other animated shorts by the same company, which seek to humanise to some extent the work that the company does from a Japanese perspective, paired with stunning visuals that Makoto Shinkai is so well-known for.

More anime with Singapore in it:

Top image via Taiseicorp's YouTube video