List of Australian and New Zealand advertising characters
 | This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these messages)
|
Many advertising characters used as mascots and characters by companies in Australia and New Zealand are similar to those used in the United States and the United Kingdom. There are, however, quite a number that are unique to these two nations.
Many advertisements shown on New Zealand television are made in Australia, and many Australian and New Zealand companies operate similar businesses on both sides of the Tasman Sea. As such, there is considerable overlap in advertising characters and mascots found in the two countries.
The following is a list of notable mascots and characters created specifically for advertising purposes in Australia and New Zealand, listed alphabetically by the product they represent.
| Product | Character | Years used | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASB Bank (NZ) | Ira Goldstein | 2000–2010 | |
| Bundaberg Rum (Aus) | Bundy R. Bear | 1980s on radio | [1] |
| Campbell's Cash & Carry supermarkets (Aus) | Delilah | 1980s–1990s | |
| Chesdale Cheese (NZ) | Ches and Dale | 1960s–1980s | |
| Colgate Toothpaste (Aus & NZ) | Mrs Marsh | 1970s–1980s | |
| Commission for Financial Capability (NZ) | Sorted Mouse | 2001–present | |
| Cookie Time Cookies (NZ) | Cookie Muncher | at least the 1980s–present | |
| Creamoata (cereal, NZ) | Sergeant Dan | 1920s–1950s | |
| Eta margarine & peanut butter (Aus) | Rita the Eta Eater | 1970s–1980s | |
| Eta peanut butter (NZ) | Eta Nut 1001 | 1960s–1980s | |
| Expol Insulation (NZ) | Polly the Penguin | 2000s | |
| Four Square (grocery stores, NZ) | Mr. Four Square | since at least the 1960s | |
| Frosty Boy ice cream (Aus & NZ) | Frosty Boy | since at least the 1960s | |
| Griffins biscuits (NZ) | Cookie Bear | since at least the 1970s | |
| Home Ice Cream (Aus) | Delivery Dan | 1999–present | |
| Home Timber & Hardware (Aus) | Rusty and Sandy | 1993–present | |
| Instant Kiwi (lottery scratch card, NZ) | Doug and Mexi-Doug | 2008–present | |
| Life. Be in it. (health campaign, Aus) | Norm | 1975 | Also aired in the United States |
| Melbourne Metropolitan Board of Works (Aus) | Wally | 1980s | |
| Mitre 10 Mega stores (NZ) | The Big Guy | 2004–present | |
| Mortein (insect spray, Aus) | Louie the Fly | 1957–present | also in New Zealand since the 1980s |
| Nestlé Milky Bar chocolate (Aus & NZ) | The Milky Bar Kid | 1969–1990s | "Live action" until the 1980s, animated in the 1990s |
| New Zealand Electoral Commission | The Orange Guy | ante 2000 | |
| Nine Network Australia | The Smiling Dot | 1975 | Used during the "Living Color" campaign |
| NRMA Insurance (Aus) | Wallace Fairweather | Mid-1990s | Radio in NSW & Victoria |
| Pak'nSave (NZ) | Stick Man[2] | since 2000s | Voiced by comedian Paul Ego[3] |
| Palmolive dishwashing liquid (Aus & NZ) | Madge | 1971–1980s | Australian version based on US commercials, with Robina Beard playing Jan Miner's role |
| Pizza Hut delivery (Aus) | Dougie the Pizza Delivery Boy | 1994–1997, 2002–present | |
| Progressive Insurance (Australia) | Kitty, the Progressive Insurance Girl | 2011–present | Australian counterpart of Progressive's Flo in the United States, with Holly Austin playing Stephanie Courtney's role |
| Sky Network Television (NZ) | Bert Badger | 2000s | |
| Slip-Slop-Slap (health campaign, Aus) | Sid the Seagull | Debuted 1981 | |
| Smith's Chips (Aus) | Gobbledok | late 1980s–early 1990s | |
| Sunny Queen Farms (Aus) | Sunny The Egg | 2009–present | |
| Supercheap Auto (Aus) | Steve Lenda | 2003–present | Also used in NZ |
| Streets (ice cream) (Aus) | Paddle pop lion and Bubble O' Bill | 2003–present | Also used in NZ |
| Telecom New Zealand | Spot | 1991–1998[4] | |
| Television New Zealand | The Goodnight Kiwi | 1981–1994 | |
| The Comedy Channel (Aus) | C'fer | c.1996–2003 | |
| Tiger Tea (NZ) | Tony the Tiger | 1950s–1970s | |
| Tip Top ice cream (NZ) | Moggy Man | 1960s | |
| Toyota Masterclass cars (NZ) | Ernie | c.2002–2007 | |
| Toyworld (Toy retailers) (Aus & NZ) | TW, The Toyworld Bear | since at least the 1980s | Last spotted at the Toyworld 40th birthday gala |
| Tuckerbag supermarkets (Aus) | Tucker Bag | 1980s | |
| Yellow Pages (Aus) | Jan | 2000–present | "Not happy, Jan!" led to 'Not happy, John!' campaign |
| Mr Whippy (Aus) | Mr Whippy | 1962–present | |
| Castlemaine XXXX (Aus) | Mr Fourex | 1924–present |
|
See also
- List of Australian sporting mascots
- List of American advertising characters
- List of European and British advertising characters
References
- ^ https://www.facebook.com/BundyR.Bear/?ref=br_rs
- ^ [1] Archived 20 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Comedians freestyle through laughs". The Southland Times (via Stuff.co.nz). 29 November 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Telecom Pays Tribute To Spot," scoop.co.nz, 31 August 2000. Retrieved 29 August 2012.