Energizer Bunny
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The Energizer Bunny is the marketing icon and mascot of Energizer batteries. It is a pink rabbit wearing sunglasses and blue sandals that beats a bass drum. It has been appearing in television commercials since the 1990s. The Energizer Bunny does not appear in Europe and Australia where the rival Duracell Bunny is seen instead. Australia's mascot for Energizer is a muscle-bound anthropomorphic battery.
[edit] Background
The American Energizer commercials, produced by DDB Chicago Advertising, originally began as a parody of TV advertisements for rival Duracell. In the Duracell ads, a set of battery-powered instrument-playing toy animals gradually slow to a halt until only the toy powered by a copper-top battery remains active. In Energizer's parody, the Energizer Bunny then enters the screen beating a huge bass drum and swinging a mallet over his head.[1] The creative team at DDB Chicago who conceived and designed the bunny chose All Effects special effects company to build the original Energizer Bunny, a remotely operated vehicle. All Effects operated the Energizer Bunny in most of its first commercials.[citation needed]
As the series progressed, realistic-looking commercials were aired for fictional products (such as "Sitagin Hemorrhoid Remedy") only to have the Bunny march through. To date, the Energizer Bunny has appeared in more than 115 television commercials.[2] In these commercials, a voiceover would announce one of various slogans used throughout the years; all of them would relate the stalwartness of the Energizer Bunny to the long-lasting power of their batteries. The original slogan boasted that "...[n]othing outlasts the Energizer...", but it was eventually changed after a lawsuit filed by Duracell disputing Energizer's claim.[3]
In 1991, Energizer unsuccessfully sued the Adolph Coors Company for creating a parody of its Energizer bunny ads.[4]
The term "Energizer Bunny" subsequently entered the vernacular as a term for anything that continues endlessly.[citation needed] President George H. W. Bush employed the term in a campaign speech in 1992.[citation needed]
The Energizer Bunny and his likeness have made cameos on television shows including Cheers, ABC Wide World of Sports, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, The Late Show with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, and MadTV.[5] He has also appeared in movies including Grumpy Old Men, Edtv, and Hot Shots! Part Deux.
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Energizer Bunny vs. The Duracell Bunnies - Retrieved: April 27, 2007
- ^ History of the Energizer Bunny Energizer.com - Retrieved: July 5, 2007
- ^ Pott, Carol (Ed.), (2005). The Blue Pages: A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices. Polipoint Press, (Heading under Energizer Holdings, Inc.)
- ^ Trade Marks and Human Rights. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.
- ^ Bunny Bio - Behind the Fur, Energizer.com - Retrieved: September 10, 2007
