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London 2012 mascots not so cute

From http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE64I6GV20100519:

Quote:

http://uk.reuters.com/resources/r/?m...OPTP_0_BRITAIN

(Reuters) - Moulded from steel left over from the last girder on the Olympic stadium, London's 2012 mascots are neither cuddly nor cute but organisers say the gleaming one-eyed metallic forms will strike a chord with children.

As the covers were removed by two pupils in front of wide-eyed classmates and LOCOG chairman Sebastian Coe at an east London school a mere javelin throw from the heart of the Games, Wenlock and Mandeville were introduced to the world.

It was the culmination of an 18-month project to come up with an enduring image for the Games and a merchandising gimmick to keep the cash tills ringing as 2012 targets 16 millions pounds ($22.80 million) in revenue from Games memorabilia.

While modern and slightly obscure, the Games Organising Committee (LOCOG) says the mascots recognise Britain's Olympic heritage.

Wenlock is named after the village of Much Wenlock where Pierre de Coubertin visited in 1890 and his idea for a modern Olympics was born. Mandeville is called after the Stoke Mandeville Hospital where the Paralympic movement began shortly after World War II.

Asked to describe exactly what his creations were, designer Grant Hunter of London-based firm Iris, said they were "magical beings" that would become "multi-dimensional" mascots aimed at capturing the imagination of children across the world.

A group of invited journalists were given a sneak preview of an animated film based on a story by award-winning children's author Michael Morpurgo who was commissioned by London 2012.

It showed the two steel nuggets being sculpted by the grandfather and how they spring to life in the hands of two children before morphing into various sporting poses.

The film was screened by the BBC's One Show later on Wednesday, the official launch of the mascots 2012 chiefs hope will rank favourably alongside the likes of Moscow's Misha, Barcelona's Cubist-inspired Cobi and Atlanta's unpopular Izzy.

Rather hard to describe, Wenlock and Mandeville both have one large eye, representing a camera lens so they can record what they see, cannot speak, do not smile and have features borrowed from London's iconic taxis.

"The mascot will help us engage with children which is what I believe passionately in," London organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe told Reuters as human-sized versions of the mascots danced in the school playground.

"The message we were getting was that children didn't want fluffy toys, they didn't want them to be human but thy did want them rooted in an interesting story. By linking young people to the values of sport, Wenlock and Mandeville will help inspire kids to strive to be the best they can be."

After the furore over their controversial logo in 2007, a project that cost 400,000 pounds and was initially met with scorn before proving popular, London 2012 organisers are confident that the choice of mascots will hit the spot.

The budget was just "a few thousand" according to a LOCOG official.

"These guys will tell a story about the Olympics Games and really fit with our whole philosophy of the Games," LOCOG chief executive Paul Deighton said, adding that some of the rejected designs included pigeons and Big Ben with legs sticking out.

To appeal to a generation of children brought up with electronic gizmos, Wenlock and Mandeville look as though they are related to computer game character Sonic the Hedgehog and will even have their own place on Facebook and Twitter.

First their whack logo, and now these? What the frick?!

WHAT IN FUCKS NAME ARE THOSE... BABIES ARE GOING TO CRY

"Capturing the imagination of children all over the world" - BULLSHIT - more like capturing the FEAR of childrean all over the world

looks like the aliens from The Simpsons

:lol

Seriously, why don't they hire me to design stuff for Olympics?
They are usually the worst designs I've seen ever. Anyone can do it.

I swear I've seen them in an Ultraman episode.

freaky, especially that angry one/

They are truly...... one eyed monsters......

Seriously, makes our logo and mascots look x1000000 better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jsunu (Post 6958036)

They are truly...... one eyed monsters......

Seriously, makes our logo and mascots look x1000000 better.

:lol

I was JUST thinking that.

One eye monster...nice...

Quote:

Rather hard to describe, Wenlock and Mandeville both have one large eye, representing a camera lens so they can record what they see , cannot speak, do not smile and have features borrowed from London's iconic taxis.

This is typically British: after all it was George Orwell who predicted this in the 1940s with 1984. And of course anybody who's been to London knows that there are security cameras in virtually every corner of the city.

I don't know whether to think these mascots are avant-garde, or just plain horrible. By comparison, our mascots look conventional (and I remember the rants and negative press they got when they were unveiled.)

ummm, i would not want to take a picture with one of those things

Quote:

Originally Posted by Captain Picard (Post 6958015)

WHAT THE FUCK

Fixed your post.

looks like some villains that the power rangers had to fight at some point :confused:

alien invasion has finally hit earth

i think they look cool. I thought they were representing the london "eye" though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ari.gold (Post 6958107)

http://www.bigfatass.de/bfa/wp-conte...-2012-logo.jpg http://www2.b3ta.com/host/creative/6...ascotTharg.jpg

lisa simpson giving bart head..while aliens take over

i see what they did there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twitchyzero (Post 6958119)

lisa simpson giving bart head..while aliens take over

i see what they did there.

LOL :haha:

So in-fact...these London mascots are the true meaning of 'Dick-Head'

Those would be perfect for the special olympics.

Edit.. Isn't it kinda ironic these one eyed monsters are standing infront of the rainbow (think gay flag)
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