_Editorial

By Heather Taylor Legend — or rather, Drake’s Cakes lore — has it that a duck named Webster was born to be the face of the snack brand. You can’t miss him on Drake’s Cakes snack packaging. Webster is clad in a chef’s hat with an orange neckerchief, bright orange beak, and giant grin across his face. How did such…

By Heather Taylor Few characters have mastered the art of crashing quite like Kool-Aid’s iconic Kool-Aid Man. After spending his early years in advertising as the “Pitcher Man,” an ice-cold pitcher full of the flavored drink mix, Kool-Aid brought their business to Grey Advertising in 1975. Under the guidance of creative director Robert Skollar, the Pitcher Man became the Kool-Aid…

By Heather Taylor For six decades, the Clio Awards have awarded the crème de la crème in advertising campaigns and celebrated the industry as a whole. With the next awards ceremony slated for September 25th, the Clios are embracing the golden age of advertising. Illustrator Sam Spratt has captured some of the ad world’s most famous creatives, and their respective…

By Heather Taylor Killing the star in advertising usually applies to characters we love to hate, like the Raid Bugs. Hingie, the new face of dating app Hinge, is a character made for feeling the warm fuzzies. He’ll do anything for love including die. Repeatedly. Over and over again all in the name of true romance. Hinge: The Dating App…

By Heather Taylor In 1944, Smokey Bear made his debut in a new PSA ad campaign from the USDA Forest Service, Ad Council, and National Association of State Foresters (NASF) in partnership with ad agency FCB. Designed by USFS employee Rudolph Wendelin, Smokey wore a ranger’s hat and belted blue jeans. He carried a shovel in one paw. Three years…

By Heather Taylor Sixty years ago, the world met a rabbit that had a problem. This rabbit didn’t like to eat carrots. He loved munching on Trix, the corn cereal with fruit flavors. It was the Trix Rabbit, a rabbit that loved Trix so much he could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, children were always there to…

By Heather Taylor The world lost a very special character talent this weekend with the passing of Russi Taylor. For more than 30 years, the voiceover actress was Disney’s iconic Minnie Mouse. Taylor was also known for her work on The Simpsons as Bart Simpson’s nerdy classmate Martin Prince. In the advertising landscape, Taylor lent her vocal range to another…

By Heather Taylor The world lost a very special character talent this weekend with the passing of Russi Taylor. For more than 30 years, the voiceover actress was Disney’s iconic Minnie Mouse. Taylor was also known for her work on The Simpsons as Bart Simpson’s nerdy classmate Martin Prince. In the advertising landscape, Taylor lent her vocal range to another…

By Heather Taylor Animal, the pork sausage mascot for U.K. snack brand Peperami, is back in the spotlight! He’s not alone either. Animal’s beefing up commercial spots with a little help from his new protein-loving pals, Chicken and Beef. “We Are Animal” Created by ad agency Atomic London, the latest Peperami advertisement “We Are Animal” features two new mascots. They’re…

By Heather Taylor “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for a tiger and rooster!” We might have paraphrased astronaut Neil Armstong’s famous quote when he first stepped on the moon just a little bit. 50 years ago on July 20, 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins declared liftoff in Apollo 11 and landed on…

By Heather Taylor “What if we can make a change in the lives of children with cancer right now?” This is the question that opens a video for insurance company Aflac’s ongoing Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign. It’s a difficult question to answer, one that left many families hopeful that their children will be able to win the battle against the…

By Heather Taylor Hot diggity dog! Fans of Oscar Mayer hot dogs have the opportunity of a lifetime to call the iconic Wienermobile home. Airbnb, Meet The Wienermobile! The Wienermobile is officially listed on Airbnb with reservations officially rolling out beginning July 24th. For one night only (sorry — visits can’t turn into lengthy staycations), guests will enjoy an overnight…

By Heather Taylor What happens when the iconic face for finger lickin’ good chicken meets a cheetah famous for dangerously cheesy snacks? Cheetos’ Chester Cheetah is officially the latest iteration of KFC’s Colonel Harland Sanders. The First Brand Mascot To Portray Colonel Sanders Over the last few years, several celebrities have stepped into Colonel Sanders’ famous white suit. Everyone from…

By Heather Taylor Vorstelijke smaak sinds 1892. This Dutch phrase translates in English to “royal taste since 1892,” and is the official slogan accompanying Wilhelmina Mints. If you live in the United States, you can walk into just about any Trader Joe’s location and spot several elegant white boxes of Wilhelmina Mints stacked at the checkout counter. Sugar confectioner Fortuin…

By Heather Taylor Mr. Peanut has spent 2019 in #CrunchTime mode. In a nutshell, the legendary legume rescued Alex Rodriguez from disappointing Super Bowl snacks, acted as a blushing love guru with Dr. Ruth, and raced the NUTmobile against the 2020 Toyota GR Supra. Now, he’s adding entrepreneur to his lengthy resume with a footwear line. The first-ever Planters custom…

By Heather Taylor What, exactly, is a Motaur? Imagine the mystical imagery that surrounds the half-human, half-horse creatures in Greek mythology. Now, take that imagery and apply it to the 2019 landscape. The Motaur (pronounced MO-TOUR) was conceived by ad agency Arnold Worldwide for Progressive Insurance. His entire being seemingly derives from Greek mythological narratives. Motaur is half man, half…

By Heather Taylor Father’s Day is Fudgie the Whale’s time to shine at Carvel. The iconic whale’s signature ice cream cake will be available for purchase, and inscription with the iconic “to a whale of a dad” phrase, for the ultimate Father’s Day treat at Carvel shoppes nationwide. That’s not the only surprise Fudgie has in store for dads this…

By Heather Taylor Actress Candace Cameron Bure and StarKist spokesfish Charlie the Tuna have totally nailed it when it comes to red carpet award show events. The camera loves this glamorous pair. Charlie’s even sports a bowtie with his signature beret and thick-rimmed glasses. The one downside to being in the spotlight is getting hunger pangs. Candace is craving a…

By Heather Taylor Nobody loves summertime more than bugs, especially the Raid Bugs. The Raid Bugs sure do love to make your life miserable. From roaches to flies, these uninvited guests are here to spoil picnics and invade cupboards all summer long. Only Raid, the insecticide famous for its “killing bugs dead” tagline can stop these icky critters. It’s not…

By Heather Taylor Kevin Carlson thinks everyone should keep a set of googly eyes on them at all times. Tuck a few pairs into your wallet with your driver’s license and you’ll be all set to take on life. “They will impress others!” Carlson insists, “You’ll always find a way to have fun with googly eyes.” It’s not unconventional advice…