Originally published in Jetstream Magazine by Winston Shek.

In the winter of 1992, ANA (figuratively) handed the paintbrush to the public. The airline held a nationwide contest asking elementary and middle schoolers to design a livery for one of its new Boeing 747-400s, celebrating its 500 millionth passenger. The winner wasn't a seasoned artist or aviation buff, but a 12-year-old sixth grader, Yukie Ogaki. Her playful whale-themed design with a sea of fish would soon wrap itself around the largest passenger aircraft in ANA's fleet. 

The result, JA8963, nicknamed the "Marine Jumbo," became an icon of the skies and a symbol of imagination brought to life at 35,000 feet. The design was so popular that smaller cities and airports in Japan protested that they could not receive the livery. As a result, a Boeing 767-300 (JA8579) was painted in the same livery as "Marine Jumbo Jr."

That moment wasn't a one-off. It marked the beginning of ANA's long-running love affair with special liveries: aircraft that tell stories and celebrate Japanese culture. From sea turtles and droids to Olympic tributes and Pokémon characters, ANA has turned its fleet into a gallery of flying art.

In 1996, following the success of its Marine Jumbo livery, ANA unveiled a livery with Snoopy and his pals in winter gear on a Boeing 747-400. It commemorated the 25th anniversary of ANA's Hokkaido Ski Tour. The Japanese airline promoted Snoopy as the tour's mascot in commercials and advertising. It primarily featured the livery on flights to snowy Hokkaido in the winter of 1996 and the winter of 1997.

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