SK-II Hosts Virtual Premiere for Its New ‘VS’ Series

Kicking off the launch of its next SK-II STUDIO blockbuster, global prestige brand SK-II hosted a virtual premiere for ‘VS’ Series—a groundbreaking animated anthology series to inspire every woman that they have the power to #CHANGEDESTINY.   

‘VS’ Series by SK-II STUDIO is a collection of six animated films based on the real-life experiences of six Olympic athletes - Simone Biles, the world’s most decorated gymnast; Liu Xiang, world-record swimmer; Ishikawa Kasumi, table tennis player and two-time Olympic medalist; Ayaka Takahashi and Misaki Matsutomo, badminton duo and Olympic gold medalists; Mahina Maeda, surfer; and Hinotori Nippon, the Japan Volleyball team. 

Each film explores what it means to take destiny in their own hands, overcoming societal pressures which dictate how they should look, act and feel to be deemed perfect. 

The ‘VS’ Series was launched on May 1st 2021 across the globe, with a ground-breaking array of dynamic experiences, one being a virtual premiere streamed on YouTube Live and Twitter Live for Japan.

The star-studded event was hosted by comedian Naomi Watanabe and YouTube Star kemio, where hundreds of thousands of fans heard from the athlete cast of ‘VS’ Series alongside SK-II celebrity brand ambassadors - actresses Haruka Ayase and Kaori Momoi on their personal take on the animated films and their perspective on what it takes to change destiny. The virtual premiere also featured an exclusive performance by John Legend of never-before-heard song "Take A Look", the official soundtrack for the 'VS' Series film “VS Trolls” starring Simone Biles.      

During the livestream, conceptualised and executed by global social agency VaynerMedia, fans flooded the show with live comments - sharing sentiment that they were inspired and touched by the films, impressed with the hosts, and wanted it to last longer. 

At the time of this release, nearly a million viewers have watched the Twitter Live, and more than 50K have watched the YouTube Live; making this the most watched livestream from any beauty brand in Japan to date.

“The virtual premiere of the 'VS' Series by SKI-II STUDIO brought fans from all around the world together to enjoy this incredible animated series. Through six unique short films, we are presenting powerful stories of world-class athletes and how they overcame societal pressures and have changed their destiny,” says Sandeep Seth, CEO, Global SK-II. “In line with SK-II’s #ChangeDestiny purpose, our partner, VaynerMedia came up with a game-changing virtual launch, overcoming the barriers of time zones, language and other perceived limitations for a Premiere during these unprecedented times. We are excited to share the 'VS' Series inspiring stories with the world in such an innovative and engaging format."

Says VaynerMedia CEO, founder, and renowned influencer Gary Vaynerchuk: “VaynerMedia is proud to partner with a visionary brand like SK-II and to bring alive a virtual premiere of this magnitude. Whether you’re a sports fan or a music fan, our team put together an unmissable experience that redefines how brands engage with their consumers. Blending technology, world class athletes and celebrity talent with the message of #ChangeDestiny, we are celebrating the spirit of SK-II and the future of consumer engagement.” 

Following the 'VS' Series Premiere on YouTube, Gary also tuned into SK-II’s Instagram Live, featuring a talk with Simone Biles and Melodee Morita on Simone’s first animated film, where he engaged with fans over the comments. 

SK-II STUDIO also held a physical Premiere for ‘VS’ Series at Sanya Hyatt Hotel in Hainan, China, where audiences were able to view the episodes through an immersive cinema experience and enjoy a private live performance by singer-songwriter Lexie Liu, who composed the soundtrack for one of the episodes. 

The “VS” series films have been released worldwide on both YouTube and SK-II City—a virtual city inspired by the streets of Tokyo where fans can immerse in the cinematic universe of 'VS' by watching the films at the SK-II Cinema, or getting a backstage pass into the SK-II STUDIO.