What Do You Know About Mascots?

What, you may wonder, are mascots? Can they be a fluffy figure that kids adore and cuddle? Is it a logo or object that an organization considers to be a good luck charm? Is it an animal or a person whose presence brings good fortune for a team? The answer may surprise you. The answer is yes.

Team mascots are perhaps the best known types of good luck charms. Then there are those figures which are used to promote a particular corporate brand or product or simply to generate good feelings toward a company. Some even serve to inform the public. Remember the United States Forest Service and their spokes-bear Smokey who reminded us that “Only you can prevent forest fires.”

No matter which game you play, you will be sure to see some pretty outrageous team mascots. Billy Buffalo is the mascot for the Buffalo Bills. When they come out to play, so does their eight foot tall mascot! When the Dallas Cowboys come to town, you can be sure to spot Rowdy the cowboy stirring up the crowd into a frenzy. Miles the white horse follows the Denver Broncos where ever they go. When the Indiana Pacers play, Boomer and Bowser come out too. When the Florida Marlins take the to field, so does Billy the Marlin. All sorts of sports teams have an animal as a good luck charm.

Mascots need to be sensitive to the culture that they live in. While sports teams like the Chiefs, the Indians and the Redskins were created at a time when many North Americans perceived the Native American as being primitive and violent, these teams have had to make changes to their good luck charm due to changes in perception of the Native American people. Even restaurants have had to change their figures which continued to perpetuate the image of the lazy Mexican.

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are known for their unique mascots. The 2010 Games’ four furry figures, Sumi, Miga, Quatchi and MukMuk were popular with children and adults alike. Through sales of their stuffed likeness, the Games were able to support athletes and to help pay for the venues which were built for the event. However even Olympic mascots are not without controversy, just look at the heat that the British are taking for their figures Wenlock and Mandeville.

Some political groups rally behind a mascot. You can rally behind the Elephant, Donkey, Camel or Owl (representing any of four different political parties in the United States).

A mascot’s life is not eternal, not always anyway. Gone are the days when you could watch the Hamburgler and Grimace try to make off with Ronald’s fries and shakes. The California Raisins are gone, as are Frito Bandito and the bathroom tissue squeezing Mr. Whipple.

Creating your own mascot is something that should take time and a lot of thought and planning. Make sure you spend time studying what has worked in the past for others in your line of business. Make sure that it is something that reflects your business values and will appeal to your public.

As the manufacturer of the world’s most lovable mascot, costumes, and characters, we also specialize in custom mascots that are suitable for almost any social context. Our fun sport mascot designs and theatrical costumes will bring joyous smiles to your audience!