Episode 100: Talking Food Mascots with Kirk + Kurtts
What do Betty Crocker, Charlie Tuna, Tony the Tiger and the oddball characters from Off Limits Cereal have in common? Along with fellow creatives Kirk Visola and Andy Kurtts of the “Kirk and Kurtts” design podcast, they were all our drinking buddies one evening!
We chewed the fat with Kirk and Andy about some classic characters and their impact on pop culture (and snacking), and why these same techniques invented decades ago still work today.
Order a Bedrock Fizz for yourself (and maybe a few for all of us). It’s time to join four designers back in the bar.
Watch the full conversation on YouTube
E X T R A S :
Andy Kurtts and Kirk Visola
(Top to bottom): The most recent versions of Betty Crocker, Charlie Tuna and Tony the Tiger
(Top to bottom): Character evolution for Betty Crocker, Charlie Tuna and Tony the Tiger plus the Off Limits cereal product line
Betty Crocker
The Betty Crocker Portraits
Company background (Wikipedia)
Charlie Tuna
Character background (Wikipedia, Pop Icon)
Television ads (1968, 1970s, 1976, 1983) (YouTube videos)
Tony the Tiger
Character timeline (Kellogg’s)
Character background (Wikipedia)
Television ads (YouTube video)
Off Limits Cereal
Website
Character backgrounds (via Ian Stoufer)
Additional Links
Aura Bora Water
“The Real Mad Men of Chicago” (documentary including Leo Burnett’s advertising characters) (YouTube video)
MasterCard “Icons” Ad (YouTube video)
Instacart “We’re Here” Big Game Ad (YouTube video)
Short Time (trailer for movie with Dabney Coleman)