A new day, a new cringe worthy network mascot (The turn of West Midlands Metro)

[waterboo]

Just seen this pop up on linkedin, it seems like West Midlands Metro are following the trend of introducing acutely scary mascots! Would be interested to know how they 'represent the region', and if these railway mascots are in any means encouraging patronage?

 

[InkyScrolls]

I really don't understand the point of mascots. Just something else to waste money on.

 

[duffield]

Just seen this pop up on linkedin, it seems like West Midlands Metro are following the trend of introducing acutely scary mascots! Would be interested to know they 'represent the region', and if these railway mascots are in any means encouraging patronage?

Hmm. I've seen worse! They just seem rather "meh" to me.

 

[Bigfoot]

SWR already have Wes and Sandy, branding team on fire at WMM

 

[Welly]

I can see them in the magistrate's dock on a poster with the slogan "Don't be a muppet, pay your fare"

 

[New York Giant]

Jim Henson wants them back.

** I know, before anyone responds lol **

 

[Dr Hoo]

Coming from the West Midlands I sort of get this. The Metro runs through a massive range of ethnically and culturally distinct areas. So any particular, er, chromatic feature of countenance and accent can lead some patrons and potential patrons to ‘switch off’. The Metro has in the past used Ozzy Osbourne as a voiceover for example but he is only going to resonate with a section of the intended audience.

Using cartoon or puppet characters with blue faces and capable of being dubbed into a wide variety of locally appropriate dialects and languages can ‘cut through’ to everyone.

[Edited to add.] Given that the Metro is ‘owned’ by the West Midlands Combined Authority, which I understand is controlled by the same party running the UK national government, can we assume that local mascots are part of the ‘new normal’?

 

[185]

You'd think with the state of the CAF trams repeatedly being found with cracks in the underframe, they'd spend the money on that.

*Avanti West Coast had a competition for a new mascot, featured in South Park, 2004, Series 8, episode 8.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Has the same creative agency been used as LNER did recently with their 'Eleanor' campaign (= M&C Saatchi)?

(Link to YouTube clip of LNER's 'Freedom all the way' ad.)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Muppets would be an accurate description of a lot of the railway management at present. Why they like to emphasize this via mascots goodness only knows.

 

[birchesgreen]

I like them, whats the problem? Honestly some people just have to moan about everything.

 

[En]

I like them, whats the problem? Honestly some people just have to moan about everything.

exactly and as another poster has pointed out using a 'muppet' type character allows for human like interaction without any of the offence that certain cured pork product factions take over the representation of women and PoC

 

[jfowkes]

The only real criticism of them is that they're a bit of a waste of money and don't really "do" anything in the sense that I doubt they're going to enter the national consciousness.

Then again, I don't think anyone expected the compare the meerkat characters to last for 20 years so who knows.

 

[Ghostbus]

Wes & Mindy represent the diversity and creativity of the West Midlands

What is that even supposed to mean?

Are they genuinely scared of "representing" the West Midlands with a blonde hipster dude and a girl with an afro and hoop earrings? So they got "creative" and made them blue?

I feel like I would be insulted if I lived in the West Midlands. And asking how much of my hard earned money was wasted on this absolute tosh.

 

[John R]

Mork and Mindy would have better engaged with the senior railcard demographic. (Especially Mindy with half the age group…)

 

[NewarkRed]

This didn't last long... i think..

 

[Mcr Warrior]

This didn't last long... i think..

TPE were still doing promotional tweets featuring the 'Bucket' and 'Spade" characters just earlier this year.

x.com

x.com

Extract...

Bucket & Spade have been getting together with their pals to explore the North and Scotland.

 

[birchesgreen]

I feel like I would be insulted if I lived in the West Midlands. And asking how much of my hard earned money was wasted on this absolute tosh.

Well i do and i'm not.

As for the cost, well its just coming out of the existing marketing budget i suspect.

 

[GordonT]

exactly and as another poster has pointed out using a 'muppet' type character allows for human like interaction without any of the offence that certain cured pork product factions take over the representation of women and PoC

These things tend to come and go. 40+ years ago National Express introduced an animated frog-character called Beeper to front its marketing notably the "Beeper's Cheaper" campaign when deregulation of long-distance coach services enabled companies like National Express to seriously undercut BR fares on competing services.

 

[anotherguy87]

I quite like them - they look like a lot of fun and a lot better than over mascots.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Personally, I think Wes and Mindy are quite bland (do like the names though), but the cost of these are going to be minor in the grand scheme of things.

Speaking of mascots, is Whistle the Dog still about?

 

[RailWonderer]

My vote goes to EMR Miles or the GA hare. I think British eccentricity should definitely be embraced on the railways as it gives them character. I just think the Sesame Street background extras should be dumped, as they don't even look cute, friendly or embracing as mascots should.

 

[DarloRich]

I like them, whats the problem? Honestly some people just have to moan about everything.

agreed - people just seem to loose all rationality over things like this. it is just advertising fluff .

 

[DJ_K666]

Have they borrowed two of the Muppets?

 

[Stampy]

Have they borrowed two of the Muppets?

 

[Cross City]

I really don't understand the point of mascots

It gives something for joyless people to moan about on the internet.

 

[InkyScrolls]

It gives something for joyless people to moan about on the internet.

This is true - nothing like a good moan.

 

[Ianigsy]

Using cartoon or puppet characters with blue faces and capable of being dubbed into a wide variety of locally appropriate dialects and languages can ‘cut through’ to everyone.

The Birmingham City supporters will like it more than the Wolves fans, though!

 

[fgwrich]

Has the same creative agency been used as LNER did recently with their 'Eleanor' campaign (= M&C Saatchi)?

(Link to YouTube clip of LNER's 'Freedom all the way' ad.)

Possibly, though these look like they’ve come from that awful Travelodge advert from a few years back.

I don’t mind mascots myself - the GA Hare for example is great. I just dislike puppet versions like this unfortunately

 

[yorkie]

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