04/19/24
May 19, 2010
If You Thought The Logo Was Bad...: London has unveiled the official mascots for the 2012 Olympics.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia to olympics at 10:21 PM - 31 comments
A few years ago, when they unveiled the crack-inspired mascots for the Torino Olympics, Neve and Glitz, I thought that was just about the limit of stupid, but Wenlock and Mandeville make an anthropomorphic snowball and ice cube seem like they make total sense. Can you just imagine the reaction if your kid were to meet one of these mascots in real life? Poor kid would have nightmares for years.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 10:54 PM on May 19, 2010
No.
posted by Uncle Toby at 10:58 PM on May 19, 2010
I guess they're trying to live up to their reputation of the city with the most CCTV cameras?
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 11:05 PM on May 19, 2010
We didn't have terrible mascots in Sydney, but we still created:
posted by owlhouse at 11:06 PM on May 19, 2010
wow. Those are awful mascots, and what's with the video of Grandpa making them in his garage? The video has a very creepy feel to it.
posted by dviking at 11:41 PM on May 19, 2010
The British deserve that after declaring the Vancouver Olympics the worst ever after 4 days.
posted by grum@work at 12:38 AM on May 20, 2010
"The British deserve that after declaring the Vancouver Olympics the worst ever after 4 days." That's possibly because we only won a single gold medal this year... Jolly Green Giant and all that.
posted by Goyoucolts at 05:45 AM on May 20, 2010
Makes you kind of wonder what the mascot designs they didn't choose looked like.
posted by dyams at 06:15 AM on May 20, 2010
Makes you kind of wonder what the mascot designs they didn't choose looked like.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 06:43 AM on May 20, 2010
The names are great, but those one-eyed mascots are terrifying. The blue one looks like he's wearing crotchless chaps.
posted by rcade at 06:53 AM on May 20, 2010
Makes you kind of wonder what the mascot designs they didn't choose looked like.
You make it sound like this effluent emerged from the end of some kind of design process. Surely the "designer" just drank his fee and photographed what he threw up afterwards, no? Part of me wants to say "mascots are stupid anyway, no one ever had a good one", but mostly I just keep thinking what everyone else in Britain keeps thinking: we're going to fuck this up utterly.
posted by JJ at 07:13 AM on May 20, 2010
There have been a few good mascots. Vancouver's were nice, as were the Nagano Olympics snowlets.
In other news, kudos to longtime user, first-time poster These Premises Are Alarmed for the smooth username.
posted by rcade at 07:32 AM on May 20, 2010
The blue one looks like he's wearing crotchless chaps.
I thought it had peed its pants.
posted by grum@work at 08:26 AM on May 20, 2010
The blue one looks like he's wearing crotchless chaps.
This. Putting them in chaps probably didn't even register with whomever designed two longer-than-wide customers with single eyes. The whole thing is compounded by the completely unhip attempted hip-hop pose that winds up looking like a fascist salute. Leather gear & fascism: maybe Max Mosley had something to do with the creative process?
posted by yerfatma at 08:31 AM on May 20, 2010
kudos to longtime user, first-time poster These Premises Are Alarmed for the smooth username.
Maybe s/he was just waiting for an eponesterical comment opportunity?
posted by yerfatma at 08:33 AM on May 20, 2010
There have been a few good mascots. Vancouver's were nice, as were the Nagano Olympics snowlets.
The coyote, snow rabbit and bear from SLC weren't too bad either. Why not just use more animals? Everybody likes animals. Is it because the British Isles have killed off all their non-livestock animal life or something?
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:35 AM on May 20, 2010
Why not just use more animals?
I am completely confused by this. I blame the '90s NBA expansion for making it ok to have concepts (Heat, Magic) as themes.
posted by yerfatma at 09:34 AM on May 20, 2010
When they're doing the wrestling and sailing events, the mascots can morph into Manlock and Wendeville.
posted by beaverboard at 10:45 AM on May 20, 2010
bperk, I was thinking they hired the alien of the week visual designer from Dr. Who but told him/her to go soft and pastel.
posted by billsaysthis at 11:50 AM on May 20, 2010
The Teletubbies ditch their third member and get dressed up for the occasion???
posted by Howard_T at 01:10 PM on May 20, 2010
I'm having nightmares and I haven't gone to sleep.
posted by jjzucal at 01:36 PM on May 20, 2010
Mr Bismarck, I salute you.
posted by fabulon7 at 01:44 PM on May 20, 2010
Apparently they did consider animals, but the best the designers could come up with for London was anthropomorphic pigeons. Not what you would call inspiring.
Also in the running: a teapot
posted by deflated at 03:47 PM on May 20, 2010
I guess they're trying to live up to their reputation of the city with the most CCTV cameras?
I agree, but it took you three years to say that? You're wasting a great username. Sing, my angel! Sing!
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:09 PM on May 20, 2010
from the article deflated linked to: According to reports, alternatives rejected included the Big Ben with arms and legs
Yea, he was bound to be flashing that other apendage, so probably a wise choice to not to move forward.
posted by dviking at 08:31 PM on May 20, 2010
Well, dviking, the other Big Ben probably ruined it for him. ;)
posted by steelergirl at 10:33 PM on May 20, 2010
The age of consent in England is 16 so it wouldn't be a big deal.
They'd just have to keep him away from the Chinese gymnasts.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 12:40 AM on May 21, 2010
Another take on it here.
I just cannot stop laughing.
posted by lil_brown_bat at 08:09 AM on May 21, 2010
Me either..
posted by yzelda4045 at 09:01 AM on May 21, 2010
Article discussing the London Olympics logo. The logo has been previously discussed here but I couldn't find it.