Global InformationList of Australian and New Zealand advertising characters information
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ANZ Bank (NZ) | The Sharma family | ca 2019– | |
| ASB Bank (NZ) | Ira Goldstein | 2000–2010 | Played by American actor Steve Mellor |
| 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 | [2] Don Couldrey and Robert Jenkins created Ches and Dale for agency Dormer Beck |
| 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 | |
| Crimsafe (Aus & NZ) | Kimmy's dad | 2010–present | [3][4] |
| 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-present | |
| Four Square (grocery stores, NZ) | Mr. Four Square ("Cheeky Charlie") | 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 | [5] Don Donovan created Cookie Bear for the agency Carlton-Carruthers du Chateau. The famous “Dum-de-doo” was voiced by actor David Weatherly |
| 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 | The Australian author Bryce Courtenay created Louie the Fly as a copywriter for the advertising agency McCann Erickson.[6] James Joseph White wrote the jingle, Geoffrey Morgan Pike created the animation and Louie was voiced by actor Ross Higgins.[7] Louie also in New Zealand since the 1980s |
| Nestle Milky Bar chocolate (Aust & NZ) | The Milky Bar Kid | 1969-1990s | The ad used live actors until the 1990s when the Milky Bar Kid became animated. The first Milky Bar Kid was first played by Terry Brook in 1961 in the UK.[8] Over the years the Milky Bar Kid has been portrayed by many people including Australian actor Conrad Coleby.[9] |
| New Zealand Electoral Commission | Orange Guy | ante 2000 | |
| Nine Network | 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[10] | since 2008[11] | Voiced by comedian Paul Ego[12] |
| 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 (New Zealand) (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[13] | Spot the dog's real name was Sandy, the name Spot was an acronym for Services and Products of Telecom.[14] |
| TVNZ | The Goodnight Kiwi | 1981–1994 | The minute-long Goodnight Kiwi clip was animated by Sam Harvey in 1981. Its last broadcast was in 1994.[15] |
| 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 | |
| Mr Toys 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 | |
| Turners Automotive Group (NZ) | Tina from Turners | 2021–present | played by Sieni Leo'o Olo |
| Yellow Pages (Aus) | Jan | 2000–present | "Not happy, Jan!" led to 'Not happy, John!' campaign |
| Mr Whippy (Aus) | Mr Whippy | 1962–present | |
| XXXX (Aus) | Mr Fourex | 1924–present | |
| YoGo (Aus) | YoGo Gorilla | 1990–present |
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- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
- ^ Orsman, Bernard (17 August 2019). "Revealed: Classic TV Chesdale cheese ad created after smoking cannabis, copywriter says". NZ Herald. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Reports" (PDF). adstandards.com.au.
- ^ "At home with Roy Billing". 20 October 2012.
- ^ "Bear and biscuits: When Cookie Bear was big". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Browne, Rachel (11 September 2011). "Louie finally told to buzz off after 50 years". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Estera, Christine (2021). "Why the Louie the Fly Mortein ads created by late author Bryce Courtenay remains a favourite six decades later". Channel 9 News. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Fact Friday: The Milkybar Kid". August 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ Jacob, Philip (30 March 2011). "Milkybar Kid thrown into the melting pot". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Fair Go Ad Awards: PaknSave Stickman | News Video". tvnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011.
- ^ "The Man, the Stick, the Legend, stoppress.co.nz, Retrieved10 December 2023.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Spot the Telecom Jack Russell Terrier". 30 October 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
- ^ "Te Ara Goodnight Kiwi". Retrieved 14 March 2023.