By Heather Taylor<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you didn\u2019t know any better, you might assume that Coca-Cola\u2019s \u201cSprite Boy\u201d<\/a> was a brand mascot created for one of their most famous soft drinks, Sprite. However, in an M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist within the world of big brands, Sprite Boy had nothing to do with the lemon-lime soda. In fact, he made his debut in Coca-Cola advertisements nearly two decades before Sprite was introduced!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Archie Lee, an executive at D\u2019Arcy Advertising Agency who worked on the Coca-Cola account in the 1940s, developed Sprite Boy while Haddon Sundblom, an illustrator now known for his iconic renderings of Coca-Cola\u2019s Santa Claus<\/a>, drew him. He made his introduction in Coca-Cola ads in 1942, sometimes appearing alongside Santa or on his own, but always on a mission to help consumers connect their nickname for the beverage brand, \u201cCoke,\u201d with the Coca-Cola brand name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sundblom\u2019s Sprite Boy had a unique appearance. Synonyms for \u201csprite\u201d include fairy and nymph, and Sprite Boy had plenty of elf-esque features. He was depicted as grinning, wearing two different hats, and only ever showing his head and hands. These hats alternated between a soda jerk\u2019s cap and a hat designed to look like a bottle cap, created to represent both sides of the Coca-Cola business. Stars surrounded Sprite Boy, a nod to both his sparkling personality and the carbonated bubbles inside of Coke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n