In what seems like a desperate bid for brand extension, the GEICO gecko has published a book. Yes, the fictitious, talking lizard not only convinces people to buy insurance, but his accented charm apparently works on publishers, too. 

The GEICO Gecko has "penned" a book titled You're Only Human: A Guide to Life, a 164-page, breezy, robustly illustrated, reader-friendly tome that covers topics of interest to the renowned, slimy little insurance mascot, ranging from "friending" hawks to Twitter, from tattoos to flossing.

Why you may ask? Well, the Gecko has always been one of the most reflective mascots in TV and print advertising. It's clear that there's a lot more going on in that tiny, tiny brain than mere shilling for his commercial sponsor.Continue reading...

U.S. auto sales had their best month in three years in August, but you don’t necessarily have to put out any cold, hard cash if you want some new wheels. It might help, though, if you can dance and know how to operate a video camera.

Korea’s Kia Motors is offering up a brand spanking new $14,400 2013 Kia Soul for whoever can come up with a 90-second music video that judges and consumers fall for — and raises the question of whether Kia has accepted the mantle of "hamster brand" after its CMO told Ad Age he wanted to avoid that nickname.

The contest ties in with its latest Hamsterrific ad campaign, the "Bringing Down the House" commercial that debuted during the MTV Video Music Awards telecast last week, that features those shuffling hamsters again — only this time around they go back in time to win over a snooty crowd of pompadoured, poufy opera fans.Continue reading...

Chuck E. Cheese, the namesake mascot (mousecot?) of the pizza restaurant/kids arcade chain that was founded by the founder of Atari, is getting a makeover.

Following a teaser campaign on Facebook, the cartoon-like kid-appealing critter is getting hipper and adding some rock star 'tude (which keeping the purple and green t-shirt) via a national ad campaign in the U.S. that will break on July 5th. The new voice of Chuck also brings rock star cred to the character: Jaret Reddick, the lead singer of Bowling for Soup.

According to comments by CEC Entertainment CMO Scott McDaniel to Screen, the goal of the mascot refresh is to 

"contemporize Chuck E. Cheese in a very respectful and engaging fashion. Chuck E. is the hero at the heart of our restaurants. For the first time in years, we’re changing the way we communicate with our key patrons – kids.” The “Chuck E. Rocks” campaign comprises television, digital and in-store components. Four TV spots, “Belonging,” “Fun,” “Power” and “Birthdays,” each named for something a child experiences at Chuck E. Cheese’s, showcase kids doing what they do best at Chuck E. Cheese’s – having fun."Continue reading...

Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereal introduced a new brand mascot, the tongue-in-cheek masked superhero "The Crunchy Nut," with a cameo on Jimmy Kimmel Live last night — watch it below.Continue reading...

Larry the Cable Guy is more culturally relevant than Larry the Quaker guy. And that's a problem for Quaker Oats.

Now, the PepsiCo unit has given its old-fashioned mascot, internally nicknamed "Larry," a graphic makeover. Larry hasn't undergone as much transformation as other human mascots over the years — the increasingly hip Betty Crocker comes to mind — so the 130-year-old Quaker Oats figured it was time. Turns out, eating oatmeal is good for the middle-aged figure.Continue reading...

When M&M’s Ms. Brown appeared on TV screen during the Super Bowl, she represented a whole new resurgence for brand mascots. They may seem retro, but branded characters and icons are making a comeback because, as the Wall Street Journal reporter Suzanne Vranica points out above, who wants to talk to a logo?

While mascots took off in the 1950s, the use of icons had fallen out of favor in recent years ... but that was before Twitter and Facebook. Mr. Clean, for instance, has 277,000 fans via his Facebook page. The latest example: a new ad campaign by StubHub, which is using a talking tree as its mascot.Continue reading...

FDR was president, the Hindenburg crashed, the Golden Gate Bridge opened, and Spam was born. In 1937, the pork-centric meat dish sold in the trademark can hit store shelves.

So to celebrate the 75th anniversary of its birth, Hormel Foods, the owner of the Spam brand, are “launching a loveable character to rescue the world from routine meals,” according to the company's press release.

The 2½-inch mascot is a cartoon knight named (what else?) Sir Can-A-Lot and he’ll appear in Spam marketing across the board. In one new commercial, he pops out from an egg carton to remind the cook to include Spam in her recipe.Continue reading...

While the world’s best sprinters, hurdlers, and hammer throwers are fine-tuning themselves for this summer’s Olympic Games in London, there is a small army of big fluffy beasts that are doing the same.

But it’s for a totally different 100-meter race than the one that will find the world’s speediest man and woman wearing gold medals. This one is for charity mascots.Continue reading...