I have recently noticed that a bunch of brands have introduced/re-introduced characters or to promote their brand. Virgin Media have used cartoon mouse speedy as a fun metaphor to promote their fast service, Tetley's Tea have brought back the 2D animated little men, perhaps tapping into nostalgia in the tea market. And Sky have created iconic blue monsters that are reminiscent of Where The Wild Things Are and Jim Henson's puppets.
Cartoon legend Speedy Gonzales has been signed up by Virgin Media to advertise the firm's super-fast broadband packages. The fastest mouse in Mexico, famous for evading the grasp of his nemesis Sylvester the Cat, has been brought back by the internet service provider (ISP) to promote its up to 50Mb broadband deals. He will feature in a prime time TV ad campaign, and has also been immortalised in a London billboard made entirely of cheese. Ashley Stockwell, Executive Director of Brand and Marketing for Virgin Media, described Speedy as "the perfect celebrity partner" for the firm.
The reawakening of the 2D tea folk. Perhaps shoppers have craved a comeback for Tetley's 'tea folk', weeping milky tears and rocking gently beneath their tribute flat caps. But not many, surely, which makes Tetley's bid to revive the 'iconic' characters so puzzling. The Tetley Tea Folk were a group of little characters who were used for many years to advertise Tetley Tea Bags. The first advert featuring them appeared in 1973, and they were used right up until 2001 when they were finally deemed not modern enough and were dropped.
8ft blue monsters having a bath, a roast dinner and dancing in swimming costumes are the new characters used to promote Media brand Sky. Photographed by Gary Salter for WCRS, The monsters were designed and made by the Millenium team (Harry Potter, Doctor Who) who made the monsters that use animatronics to work.