No. These are not right. I’d imagine, for an Olympics in London, something like a friendly British lion and unicorn. These–things–are just not right.
Heh, I’m following them on Twitter now!
They’re better than I expected. Yes, my expectations are that low.
I am rather pleased they took the whole Simpsons thing and saw it all the way through. Kodos and Kang were the first things I thought of when I saw the picture.
Remind me to say a little prayer every day to thank God I’m not in marketing. That is truly an impossible and thankless job. When I first opened the picture I was horrified, but the more I think about it the more inevitable these two mascots become.
I imagine when the marketing department was handed this assignment, they had a list of requests that included:
1 - Portray all the best elements of London in a very positive way.
2 - Be original and memorable.
3 - For the love of God, whatever you do, don’t offend any of the nations that will be coming here!
The lion and the unicorn both represent the monarchy - since some of the nations that will be coming to the games have a “history” with the monarchy they have to be excluded based on rule 3. In fact, all references to the monarchy would be excluded based on rule 3.
Victorian London is a popular time period and has more than enough history, both real and literary, to create any number of mascots. However, that was also the height of English colonialism, and since England controlled several of the nations that will be coming to the games it is exluded due to rule 3. Probably for the best, Sweeney Todd would be a memorable mascot (rule 2!) but might scare the kids (rule 3).
Medieval London is another popular time period. How great a mascot a Knight would make! But alas, the crusdades, and since Britain was crusading against some of the nations that will be coming to the games this period is exculded due to rule 3.
The only safe and historically harmless time period in London where rule 3 won’t apply is modern day. By far, the most recognizable feature of modern day London is the giant Ferris Wheel, also known as the London Eye. A one eyed mascot was inevitable - and the only way to create a one eyed creature that isn’t grotesque (rule 3) is to make it a cartoon. With that leap, it’s a short hop to original and memorable and rule 2 is successfully accomplished.
Now for Rule 1 - throw in some taxi lights on the head (because of course, everybody knows London is famous for its taxis!), a bit of steel from the construction of the Olympic Stadium and voila - you have the perfect, safe, focus group approved olympic mascot ready to portray London in her best light.
Link to the Lisa gives head, logo, please. I’m not seeing it in anything linked to thus far and am confused.
Here ya go:
http://industrialbrand.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/london-2012-logo_lrg.jpg
You have to use your imagination a little - Lisa is on the right. Her head is the 0, and the 2 below her makes up her body and legs. Bart is on the left, head held back. Once you see that, you should be able to figure out what the dot in the middle is on your own :o
From where in the picture did you get that it was Bart?! :eek: :eek: :eek:
Aw man, thinking the guy is BART really squicks me out. Thanks a lot.
The cartoon was cute. The mascots are a lot more tolerable in animated, foot-high form. But in 3D, walking around, 7 feet tall and horribly clumsy, NSM.
After his horrific accident while filming the promotional video for the Chernobyl Tourist Board, Gumby never acted again…
I’m following them both on twitter, and it’s rather amusing. They just mostly post comments about the various images of them trying new sports and stuff. But I believe early one one of them posted about how one of them got stuck in an elevator I believe (ah it was Wenlock). It’s mostly for the Kids, but I like having them around for the novelty.
http://twitter.com/iammandeville
http://twitter.com/iamwenlock
…but these guys didn’t register with me when I first saw them. Now I’ve taken a good look, and I. Must. Have. Them. In plush form, of course. There must be some way to get them on line.
Frazzled, your post is brilliant. And this is why I like them. They’re so Hitchhiker’s Guide. They’re so Doctor Who. I could do without references to the monarchy or colonialism*, anyway. Too many Americans think the UK is stuck in the 19th century. At least these guys disprove that.
*Although I wonder how steampunk mascots would go over?
They look like the paws of some animal about to stomp on you.
And the target audience is primary school kids?
Uh - why?!