Have you ever wondered just what a mascot is? While most think of some fluffy cute figure that might root for the team while it plays, or that comes out during a half-time show, there are many different types of mascots. Sometimes just one person can be a team’s good luck charm, sometimes it is the presence of a particular object (like a lucky rabbit’s foot). But any figure which is thought to bring an organization good luck can be called a mascot.

There are many types of these figures. They may be good luck for a sports team. They may act as an ambassador of good will for a service agency such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Who can forget their Crash Test Dummies, Vince and Larry in their blue test jump suits?

Sports mascots tend to be large and cuddly. They are friendly with children. They are filled with energy and cheer on their team from the side lines. Examples of these are Rowdy for the Dallas Cowboys, Billy the Marlin for the Florida Marlins and Boomer and Bowser for the Indiana Pacers.

Some of these good luck figures, unfortunately, have met with controversy. Many of these are linked to previous images of Native North American which portrayed them as fierce of primitive. Teams such as the Redskins and the Chiefs have had to re-examine their names, their mascots and their fan based paraphernalia in order to be culturally sensitive. Restaurants, especially Mexican ones, have had to get rid of figures which perpetuated the image of the “lazy Mexican”.

Some are linked to special events. For every Olympic Games a new figure is created which represents the country in which the games are held. The 2010 Olympic Games had four mythical characters, named Quatchi, Miga, MukMuk and Sumi, who were the mascots of the Games. These characters not only generated income to support the Games, but also generated good will and made many children and adults happy. The figures for the Olympics have at times met with controversy, just look at the discussions heating up over the figures Wenlock and Mandeville for the 2012 Olympics in Britain.

Even political parties sometimes rally behind an animal figure. In the United States, each political party banner bears an animal, hence their nicknames in common caricature and literature.

A mascot’s life is not eternal, not always anyway. Gone are the days when you could watch the Hamburgler and Grimace try to make off with Ronald’s fries and shakes. The California Raisins are gone, as are Frito Bandito and the bathroom tissue squeezing Mr. Whipple.

Creating your own mascot is something that should take time and a lot of thought and planning. Make sure you spend time studying what has worked in the past for others in your line of business. Make sure that it is something that reflects your business values and will appeal to your public.

As the manufacturer of the world’s most lovable mascot, costumes, and characters, we also specialize in custom mascots that are suitable for almost any social context. Our fun sport mascot designs and theatrical costumes will bring joyous smiles to your audience!