“Colonel” Sanders was an iconic American entrepreneur who first served his fried chicken at a gas station in 1930. In 1952, he founded the Kentucky Fried Chicken company, now re-branded as KFC. Despite his death in 1980, Sanders remains a key symbol of the company in its advertising and branding. My dad always referred to him as “Colonel Chicken.”
The Big Boy restaurant chain (including Bob’s Big Boy) started in 1936 and is best known for its trademark chubby boy in checkered overalls. The inspiration for Big Boy’s name, as well as the model for its mascot, was six-year-old Richard Woodruff. After Warner Bros. animation artist Ben Washam sketched the boy’s caricature, he became part of the company identity.
Happy Star is the mascot of American fast-food restaurant chain Carl’s Jr. and its sibling chain Hardee’s. When combined with Hardee’s, Carl’s Jr. is the #4 US fast-food chain in size after McDonald’s, Burger King and Wendy’s. The twin star logos are unstoppable!
Jack is the mascot of American restaurant chain Jack in the Box. In advertisements, he is portrayed as the founder, CEO and ad spokesman for the chain. The character made his first appearance in 1993.
Wendy is the daughter and fourth child of American businessman Dave Thomas, the founder of the Wendy’s restaurant franchise. She is known for being its namesake and mascot. Her likeness has been used as the Wendy’s logo, in the form of a young girl with red braids, since the company’s founding in 1969.
The King is the advertising mascot for the Burger King fast-food restaurant franchise. The first cartoon iteration of this character was created in 1955. The current extra-creepy/brilliant “Wake Up with the King” costumed mascot was introduced in 2003.
A clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald’s fast-food restaurant chain. He first appeared in 1963. The next two weeks at Mascot Mashup will be dedicated to creating 8-bit versions of some popular food advertising icons and corporate trade characters.
A Mexican painter born on this day in 1907. She claimed her birth date was July 7, 1910 because she allegedly wanted the year of her birth to coincide with the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. She is best known for her self-portraits and married fellow Mexican painter Diego Rivera.
The Man of Steel is a DC Comics superhero and icon of American culture who was created in 1932. He was born on the planet Krypton, before being rocketed to Earth as an infant by his scientist father. After being discovered and adopted by a Kansas farmer and his wife, he was raised as Clark Kent.
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi and dedicated in 1886. The robed female figure represents Libertas, a Roman goddess and embodiment of liberty. The statue, a gift from France, has become an icon of freedom and of the United States. Happy Fourth of July!
P.S. From the mouth of the sculptor himself: “America is an adorable woman chewing tobacco.” – Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi
A cartoon character created in 1934 by Walt Disney and Dick Lundy. He is an anthropomorphic Pekin duck and temperamental friend of Mickey Mouse. Creator Walt Disney is from Chicago, Illinois.
Note: Donald Duck and the Oregon Duck college mascot are one and the same character. They just wear different clothes. The University of Oregon licenses Donald from Disney.
A Chicago-based American television host, best known for her self-titled talk show, which became the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011. The Oprah Winfrey Show concluded one month ago, on May 25, 2011.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week. This is the second of three Chicago-related characters.
A singer-songwriter and guitarist from Chicago, Illinois. He is best known as the frontman (and sole permanent member) of The Smashing Pumpkins. I think “The Aeroplane Flies High” might be my favorite Pumpkins song. This is the final character of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week. In celebration, two more Chicago-related characters are next.
The King of Pop was the most successful entertainer of all time, from his beginnings with The Jackson 5 to his solo career. His 8-bit outfit is based on the “Smooth Criminal” video. He died on this day in 2009 at age 50. His personal physician was charged with involuntary manslaughter. This is character #7 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 this week.
A musician from Aberdeen, Washington. He is best known as the lead singer and guitarist of the grunge band Nirvana, which destroyed 1980s hair metal and put the Seattle music scene on the map. He became famous, married Courtney Love and died at age 27 (of apparent suicide, though some evidence points to the possibility of homicide). Also, where did you sleep last night? This is character #6 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am in Chicago for the HOW Design Conference 2011 starting today.
Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is widely considered the greatest electric guitarist in music history. Jimi Hendrix died in London at age 27 from “barbiturate intoxication and inhalation of vomit.” Watch the original “All Along the Watchtower” music video. This is character #4 of my eight-day Music Week.
An English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame with The Beatles and later married Yoko Ono. Lennon was murdered in New York City in 1980. I have depicted him in his Abbey Road suit from 1969 (which recently sold for $46,000). This is character #3 of my eight-day Music Week. Yes, I work on this 8-bit character project eight days a week.
P.S. Happy Summer Solstice!
Charles Hardin Holley was an American singer-songwriter and influential pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll. He died in an airplane crash in Iowa at age 22, along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. February 3, 1959 is known as The Day the Music Died. Among his songs, “Everyday” might be my favorite. This is character #2 of my eight-day Music Week.
I am back in Iowa right now, not far from that 1959 plane crash site near Clear Lake. Also, the new Rave On Buddy Holly tribute album features some impressive cover artists.
The King is a cultural icon and one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. Elvis brought the sound of African-American music to a wider audience by interpreting black rhythm and blues. He died an overweight caricature of himself at age 42 and is buried at Graceland. Also, we’re caught in a trap.
Today I am starting Music Week. In addition to Elvis, the next seven 8-bit characters will be based on famous musicians. Happy Father’s Day!
Mickey Mouse – No. 124
An American cartoon character created in 1928 who has become an icon for the Walt Disney Company. The Mickey ears, they’re everywhere! Creator Walt Disney is from Chicago, Illinois.
Disney was referenced multiple times at the HOW Design Conference 2011 in Chicago during the past week. And I have finally returned to Oregon.