Comments | seal_clubber: 2010 Winter Olympic Mascots

seal_clubber

2010 Winter Olympic Mascots

Jan 15, 2009 11:18

Okay, so maybe I don't pay attention to homegrown events enough, or maybe I was busy with Christmas/Norway planning, but I have only just now become aware of the 2010 Winter Olympics mascotsI think they blow. You may not agree with me on this you may think they've done a fine job of capturing the spirit and essence of Canada and winter sports. If ( Read more... )

canada, rant

Comments 10

wraithgirl January 15 2009, 16:59:46 UTC

They look more Japanese anime than Canadian and it's very BC biased. I know that Ontario bias is a huge problem with many Western Canadians - is this payback time?

I don't know. It just feels like a lost opportunity to me. Why not feature some *actual* Canadian species, perhaps some endangered ones and raise awareness?

Personally, I would have gone for Moose and Squirrel. It's traditional.

seal_clubber January 15 2009, 18:04:26 UTC

I had the same thought about the whole anime look/feel (did you see the cartoon versions from that first link)? I can dig the BC-bias, though, and I suppose the Native/First Canadian references needed to be there (because if they aren't, some fool always cries "racism").

pauliatchy January 15 2009, 19:41:24 UTC

Nail hit on the head!

The BC bias is completely appropriate, seeing as that's where the Olympics are being held, but it certainly reinforces some tired Canuck stereotypes (much like the birthday greeting I received from a Southern friend with a picture of Bob and Doug McKenzie... sigh) Heck, I don't even wear a toque in winter!

Re: Tired Canadian Stereotypes seal_clubber January 17 2009, 14:11:36 UTC

When I went to Disneyworld in the late-eighties, I decided to visit the Canadian pavillion in the Epcot Center, just to see what face we were putting forward. Walking up the path, we came upon a guy in an Eskimo outfit (he must have been roasting) sitting cross-legged on a blanket, displaying (and selling) "Genuine Inuit Soapstone Carvings".

Uh-oh.

Next up was, I shit you not, a log cabin. Inside was a "mountie", dressed in the full dress red serge uniform, and every other word out of this guy's mouth was "eh". "Good morning, eh?" he had various trinkets in glass display cases for sale, but I can't recall what they were, because at that point we fled in pretty much abject horror. We never found out was further up the path (a toque-wearing moose, perhaps, or a talking beaver hawking maple syrup... who knows? We certainly didn't want to find out).

Beauty, eh?

dogofthefuture January 15 2009, 21:24:10 UTC

I don't recall any country ever having a decent Olympic mascot since... well, ever. I guess 1984's Sam the Olympic Eagle at least made some sense.

alivicwil January 16 2009, 00:36:09 UTC

I could tell what Quatchi was supposed to be, but had to watch the videos to 'understand' the other two.

As mascots go, I don't think they're too bad.
They're supposed to be for the kids... Kids will thing they're cute, and (hopefully) there'll be story and colour-in books which teach them a little more about the stories they come from, and other aspects of Canada's (or BC's) flora, fauna and culture.

This site doesn't mention your 3 mascots in it's list of the 10 worst (though it does include MukMuk, who gave Miga her scarf.

I have mentioned Fatso, the Fat-Arsed Wombat, before. A couple of sports-comedians used him on their Sydney Olympic show as Mascot, and referred to Syd(ney) Olly(mpics) and Millie(nium), the real mascots, as Syd, Ollie and Dickhead.

seal_clubber January 17 2009, 14:03:46 UTC

You have indeed mentioned Fatso before, and I adore him. I believe when I first read of Fatso (and saw a picture of his awesome statue in front of the stadium), my response was "My God, I love you Australians". :-)

sanity_clause January 16 2009, 19:11:39 UTC

I think mascot design is pretty hard, if it's intended to do more than just sell toys. They primarily are aimed at kids, but have to have adult appeal as well; they need to express a brand that is consistent with the rest of the campaign, and they have to try to be unique, yet familiar. Carrying the burden of having to represent an entire nation with one stuffed doll is an added burden, especially with an event as earnest as the Olympics. Looking at the former mascots, it's hard to see any that are really successful - they either fail at obviousness or obscurity.

( ... )

sanity_clause January 16 2009, 19:11:59 UTC

The same can also be said for the apparent anime influence - Vancouver's version of multiculturalism is far more focused on eastern Asia than the GTA's is. Chinese (especially Hong Kong), Japanese and Vietnamese cultural references are pretty common, and that art style is very popular with the target audience of kids they're trying to reach. Plus, the designer they chose uses that style extensively, so it had to be deliberate: http://www.meomi.com/about.html... )

seal_clubber January 17 2009, 14:02:21 UTC

Of the three sample mascots you showed, the only one that has immediately identifiable association with its home country is Amik, the beaver (cliché, but true). I asked mrs_clubber if Haakon and Kristin say "Norway" to her, and her reply was a flat "No ( ... )