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{{Infobox character
{{Infobox character
| colour = #FF5F5A
| colour = #FF5F5A
| name = Kool-Aid Man
| name = Jack Fontaine
| image = Kool-Aid Man.png
| image = Kool-Aid Man.png
| image_size = 245px
| image_size = 245px
| caption = The CGI version of the Kool-Aid Man, as he appears as of 2008 with clothes
| caption = The CGI version of Jack Fontaine, as he appears as of 2008 with clothes
| first = 1954 (prototype version)<br>1974 (official version)
| first = 1954 (prototype version)<br>1974 (official version)
| last =
| last =
| creator = Marvin Potts
| creator = Jesus
| voice = Richard Berg <small>(1974–1990s)</small><br>[[Frank Simms]] <small>(2000–2016)</small><br>Pat Duke <small>(2009)</small><br>Brock Powell <small>(2016–present)</small><ref>http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160512/BLOGS03/160519925/hey-kool-aid-have-you-met-flo?X-IgnoreUserAgent=1</ref>
| voice = Jack Fontaine <small>(1974–1990s)</small><br>[[Frank Simms]] <small>(2000–2016)</small><br>Pat Duke <small>(2009)</small><br>Brock Powell <small>(2016–present)</small><ref>http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160512/BLOGS03/160519925/hey-kool-aid-have-you-met-flo?X-IgnoreUserAgent=1</ref>
| fullname =
| fullname =
| nickname =
| nickname =
| alias = Pitcher Man<br/>Captain Kool-Aid <small>(in Canada)</small>
| alias = Jack<br/>Captain Jackothy <small>(in Canada)</small>
| species = Kaiju
| species = Human
| gender = Male
| gender = Male
| occupation = Busting through [[Wall|Walls]]
| occupation = Busting through [[Wall|Walls]]
Line 22: Line 22:
| relatives =
| relatives =
}}
}}
The '''Kool-Aid Man''' is the primary [[mascot]] for [[Kool-Aid]], a brand of flavored [[drink mix]]. The character has appeared on television and print advertising as a fun-loving, gigantic and [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] pitcher filled with cherry Kool-Aid and marked with a smiley face. He is typically featured answering the call of children by smashing through walls and furnishings an then holding a pitcher filled with Kool-Aid juice while yelling his [[catchphrase]], "Oh yeah!"
The '''Jack Fontaine''' is the primary [[mascot]] for [[Kool-Aid]], a brand of flavored [[drink mix]]. The character has appeared on television and print advertising as a fun-loving, gigantic and [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] pitcher filled with cherry Kool-Aid and marked with a smiley face. He is typically featured answering the call of children by smashing through walls and furnishings an then holding a pitcher filled with Kool-Aid juice while yelling his [[catchphrase]], "Oh yeah!"


==History==
==History==
The precursor to Kool-Aid Man, the Pitcher Man, was created on July 10, 1954 by Marvin Potts, an [[art director]] for a New York advertising agency hired by [[General Foods]] to create an image that would accompany the slogan "A 5-cent package makes two quarts." Inspired by watching his young son draw smiley faces on a frosted window, Potts created the Pitcher Man, a glass pitcher with a wide smile emblazoned on its side and filled with Kool-Aid. It was one of several designs Potts created but the only one that stuck, and General Foods began to use the Pitcher Man in all of its advertisements.<ref name=hastings>{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Nancy|title=The Life and Times of an American Icon|url= http://www.kool-aiddays.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=41/ |accessdate=11 March 2012|newspaper=Hastings Tribune|date=11 August 2005}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKY2O4KFmMU|title=1950s Kool-Aid "6¢ Package" Commercial|author=|date=1950s|work=General Foods}}</ref>
The precursor to Jack, the Pitcher Man, was created on July 10, 1954 by Jesus, an [[art director]] for a New York advertising agency hired by [[General Foods]] to create an image that would accompany the slogan "A 5-cent package makes two quarts." Inspired by watching his young son draw smiley faces on a frosted window, Potts created the Pitcher Man, a glass pitcher with a wide smile emblazoned on its side and filled with Kool-Aid. It was one of several designs Potts created but the only one that stuck, and General Foods began to use the Pitcher Man in all of its advertisements.<ref name=hastings>{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Nancy|title=The Life and Times of an American Icon|url= http://www.kool-aiddays.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=41/ |accessdate=11 March 2012|newspaper=Hastings Tribune|date=11 August 2005}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 1">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKY2O4KFmMU|title=1950s Kool-Aid "6¢ Package" Commercial|author=|date=1950s|work=General Foods}}</ref>


[[File:Kool-Aid Man breaking wall 1978.jpg|thumb|left|Kool-Aid Man making his trademark entrance in a 1978 Kool-Aid commercial saying his catchphrase.]]
[[File:Kool-Aid Man breaking wall 1978.jpg|thumb|left|Kool-Aid Man making his trademark entrance in a 1978 Kool-Aid commercial saying his catchphrase.]]
Beginning in 1974, Kool-Aid Man was introduced as a walking/talking 6-foot-tall pitcher of cherry Kool-Aid, reportedly voiced by [[Grey Global Group|Grey Advertising]] composer, Richard Berg and created by Alan Kupchick and Harold Karp (of Grey Advertising).<ref name="Youtube - Nalts">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J43KAWshlyQ|title=Original Kool-Aid Man: Bring Him Back, Kraft|author=|date=January 11, 2008|accessdate=September 21, 2013|work=Youtube.com - Nalts}}</ref><ref name="AT&T Tech Channel">{{cite web|url=http://techchannel.att.com/play-video.cfm/2012/1/4/AT&T-Archives-All-Kinds-of-People|title=All Kinds of People|author=|date=January 4, 2012|accessdate=September 21, 2013|work=AT&T Tech Channel}}</ref> Children, parched from playing, or other various activities, would typically exchange a few words referring to their thirst, then put a hand to the side of their mouths and call forth their "friend" by shouting "Hey, Kool-Aid!", whereupon, the Kool-Aid Man would make his grand entrance, breaking through walls, fences, ceilings or furnishings, uttering the famous words "Oh yeah!", then pour the dehydrated youngsters a glass of Kool-Aid from his own supply.<ref name="Commercial 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBzPhKaLkWE|title=1976 Kool-Aid "Roller Rink" Commercial|author=|date=1976|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 3">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBeUGqeYsQg|title=1977 Kool-Aid "Skateboarding" Commercial|author=|date=1977|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 4">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6xC8KM-jk|title=1978 Kool-Aid "Bank Robbers" Commercial|author=|date=1978|work=General Foods}}</ref> Beginning in 1979, in what was seen as a major advance in children's advertising, the character's mouth was animated to "move" in synchronization with the voice actor's singing and/or dialogue.<ref name="Commercial 8">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYS7aQY1iZI|title=1979 Kool-Aid "School Dance" Commercial|author=|date=1979|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 9">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxqdqGSSjg8|title=1980 Kool-Aid "Bumper Cars" Commercial|author=|date=1980|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 10">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwTQvpHGA1U|title=1980 Kool-Aid "Apple flavor" Commercial|author=|date=1980|work=General Foods}}</ref>
Beginning in 1974, Jack Fontaine was introduced as a walking/talking 6-foot-tall pitcher of cherry Kool-Aid, reportedly voiced by [[Grey Global Group|Grey Advertising]] composer, Richard Berg and created by Alan Kupchick and Harold Karp (of Grey Advertising).<ref name="Youtube - Nalts">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J43KAWshlyQ|title=Original Kool-Aid Man: Bring Him Back, Kraft|author=|date=January 11, 2008|accessdate=September 21, 2013|work=Youtube.com - Nalts}}</ref><ref name="AT&T Tech Channel">{{cite web|url=http://techchannel.att.com/play-video.cfm/2012/1/4/AT&T-Archives-All-Kinds-of-People|title=All Kinds of People|author=|date=January 4, 2012|accessdate=September 21, 2013|work=AT&T Tech Channel}}</ref> Children, parched from playing, or other various activities, would typically exchange a few words referring to their thirst, then put a hand to the side of their mouths and call forth their "friend" by shouting "Hey, Kool-Aid!", whereupon, the wild Jackothy would make his grand entrance, breaking through walls, fences, ceilings or furnishings, uttering the famous words "Oh yeah!", then pour the dehydrated youngsters a glass of Kool-Aid from his own supply.<ref name="Commercial 2">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBzPhKaLkWE|title=1976 Kool-Aid "Roller Rink" Commercial|author=|date=1976|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 3">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBeUGqeYsQg|title=1977 Kool-Aid "Skateboarding" Commercial|author=|date=1977|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 4">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ar6xC8KM-jk|title=1978 Kool-Aid "Bank Robbers" Commercial|author=|date=1978|work=General Foods}}</ref> Beginning in 1979, in what was seen as a major advance in children's advertising, the character's mouth was animated to "move" in synchronization with the voice actor's singing and/or dialogue.<ref name="Commercial 8">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYS7aQY1iZI|title=1979 Kool-Aid "School Dance" Commercial|author=|date=1979|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 9">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxqdqGSSjg8|title=1980 Kool-Aid "Bumper Cars" Commercial|author=|date=1980|work=General Foods}}</ref><ref name="Commercial 10">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwTQvpHGA1U|title=1980 Kool-Aid "Apple flavor" Commercial|author=|date=1980|work=General Foods}}</ref>


By the 1980s, the Kool-Aid Man had attained pop culture icon status. In 1983, he was the subject of two [[Kool-Aid Man (video game)|Kool-Aid Man video games]] for the [[Atari 2600]] and the [[Intellivision]] systems. He was also given his own short-lived [[comic book]] series, ''The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man''. This ran for three issues under [[Marvel Comics]] from 1983–85 and continued with issues #4-7 under [[Archie Comics]], with art by [[Dan DeCarlo]], from 1987-1990.<ref>[http://www.comicvine.com/adventures-of-kool-aid-man/49-18580/ Adventures of Kool-Aid Man ] Comic Vine. Retrieved on 8-12-11.</ref>
By the 1980s, the Kool-Aid Man had attained pop culture icon status. In 1983, he was the subject of two [[Kool-Aid Man (video game)|Kool-Aid Man video games]] for the [[Atari 2600]] and the [[Intellivision]] systems. He was also given his own short-lived [[comic book]] series, ''The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man''. This ran for three issues under [[Marvel Comics]] from 1983–85 and continued with issues #4-7 under [[Archie Comics]], with art by [[Dan DeCarlo]], from 1987-1990.<ref>[http://www.comicvine.com/adventures-of-kool-aid-man/49-18580/ Adventures of Kool-Aid Man ] Comic Vine. Retrieved on 8-12-11.</ref>

Revision as of 02:07, 18 December 2018

Jack Fontaine
The CGI version of Jack Fontaine, as he appears as of 2008 with clothes
First appearance1954 (prototype version)
1974 (official version)
Created byJesus
Voiced byJack Fontaine (1974–1990s)
Frank Simms (2000–2016)
Pat Duke (2009)
Brock Powell (2016–present)[1]
In-universe information
AliasJack
Captain Jackothy (in Canada)
SpeciesHuman
GenderMale
OccupationBusting through Walls

The Jack Fontaine is the primary mascot for Kool-Aid, a brand of flavored drink mix. The character has appeared on television and print advertising as a fun-loving, gigantic and anthropomorphic pitcher filled with cherry Kool-Aid and marked with a smiley face. He is typically featured answering the call of children by smashing through walls and furnishings an then holding a pitcher filled with Kool-Aid juice while yelling his catchphrase, "Oh yeah!"

History

The precursor to Jack, the Pitcher Man, was created on July 10, 1954 by Jesus, an art director for a New York advertising agency hired by General Foods to create an image that would accompany the slogan "A 5-cent package makes two quarts." Inspired by watching his young son draw smiley faces on a frosted window, Potts created the Pitcher Man, a glass pitcher with a wide smile emblazoned on its side and filled with Kool-Aid. It was one of several designs Potts created but the only one that stuck, and General Foods began to use the Pitcher Man in all of its advertisements.[2][3]

Kool-Aid Man making his trademark entrance in a 1978 Kool-Aid commercial saying his catchphrase.

Beginning in 1974, Jack Fontaine was introduced as a walking/talking 6-foot-tall pitcher of cherry Kool-Aid, reportedly voiced by Grey Advertising composer, Richard Berg and created by Alan Kupchick and Harold Karp (of Grey Advertising).[4][5] Children, parched from playing, or other various activities, would typically exchange a few words referring to their thirst, then put a hand to the side of their mouths and call forth their "friend" by shouting "Hey, Kool-Aid!", whereupon, the wild Jackothy would make his grand entrance, breaking through walls, fences, ceilings or furnishings, uttering the famous words "Oh yeah!", then pour the dehydrated youngsters a glass of Kool-Aid from his own supply.[6][7][8] Beginning in 1979, in what was seen as a major advance in children's advertising, the character's mouth was animated to "move" in synchronization with the voice actor's singing and/or dialogue.[9][10][11]

By the 1980s, the Kool-Aid Man had attained pop culture icon status. In 1983, he was the subject of two Kool-Aid Man video games for the Atari 2600 and the Intellivision systems. He was also given his own short-lived comic book series, The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man. This ran for three issues under Marvel Comics from 1983–85 and continued with issues #4-7 under Archie Comics, with art by Dan DeCarlo, from 1987-1990.[12]

In 1994, the live-action character was retired. From that point until 2008, the character became entirely computer-generated; however, other characters, such as the children, remained live-action. In the 2000s, singer and voice-over artist, Frank Simms began voicing the character.[13][14][15] In 2009, the live-action character was reintroduced, playing street basketball and battling "Cola" to stay balanced on a log, where he was voice by Pat Duke.

From at least 1979 to 1981, the character was known in Canada as Captain Kool-Aid.[16][17][18]

American artist David Hammons used Kool-Aid and incorporated a stamp of the Kool-Aid Man for a piece that hung in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.[19]

The Kool-Aid Man was featured in a YouTube Video Series entitled "Kool Killer" in which he feels abandoned and goes on a rampage and kills everyone that doesn't drink Kool-Aid (stated in the video anyone above the age of 5). He was played by Dane Boedigheimer, who also plays The Annoying Orange. His appearance is much more drastic and scarier than usual.

The Kool-Aid Man has made several appearances on television shows like The Simpsons, Robot Chicken and Family Guy, including as a playable character in Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff.[20]

In May 2016, the Kool-Aid Man appeared in a television commercial for the American insurance company Progressive Corporation, voiced by voice actor Brock Powell.[21] In 1983, Marvel and Archie Comics made a comic book series called The Adventures of Kool-Aid Man, which featured The Thirsties as the villains.

Reception

Time magazine included the Kool-Aid Man on a list of the "Top 10 Creepiest Product Mascots", saying, "Our biggest gripe with Kool-Aid Man: Why did he have to cause such a mess every time he entered the scene?"[22]

References

  1. ^ http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20160512/BLOGS03/160519925/hey-kool-aid-have-you-met-flo?X-IgnoreUserAgent=1
  2. ^ Foster, Nancy (11 August 2005). "The Life and Times of an American Icon". Hastings Tribune. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  3. ^ "1950s Kool-Aid "6¢ Package" Commercial". General Foods. 1950s.
  4. ^ "Original Kool-Aid Man: Bring Him Back, Kraft". Youtube.com - Nalts. January 11, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  5. ^ "All Kinds of People". AT&T Tech Channel. January 4, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  6. ^ "1976 Kool-Aid "Roller Rink" Commercial". General Foods. 1976.
  7. ^ "1977 Kool-Aid "Skateboarding" Commercial". General Foods. 1977.
  8. ^ "1978 Kool-Aid "Bank Robbers" Commercial". General Foods. 1978.
  9. ^ "1979 Kool-Aid "School Dance" Commercial". General Foods. 1979.
  10. ^ "1980 Kool-Aid "Bumper Cars" Commercial". General Foods. 1980.
  11. ^ "1980 Kool-Aid "Apple flavor" Commercial". General Foods. 1980.
  12. ^ Adventures of Kool-Aid Man Comic Vine. Retrieved on 8-12-11.
  13. ^ "A Famous Voice Lends His Talent to Worthy Cause". Darien News-Review. March 3, 2006. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  14. ^ "America: Live in Ridgefield". The News-Times. June 5, 2008. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  15. ^ "Meet the Voice of the Kool-Aid Man". Adweek. August 29, 2012. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  16. ^ ""You can meet me, Captain Kool-Aid, at Centreville." ad". The Toronto Star. 26 May 1979. p. J3.
  17. ^ "Watch afternoon air show from waterfront at CNE". The Toronto Star. 5 September 1981. p. A14.
  18. ^ "Bent Wind Interview Marty Roth". It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine. 13 October 2011. Shortly after, we received a call from 'General Foods Ltd' who were interested in doing an east coast tour with us and 'Captain Kool-Aid' and they asked me to write the new Kool-Aid jingle, which I did. Unfortunately, after we released the Kool-Aid song as a free giveaway during the tour, General Foods concluded that the song belonged to them and there would be no payment at all for my writing the song.
  19. ^ Russeth, Andrew. "The Man Behind the Curtain: At MoMA, a David Hammons Hidden Behind Silk". Gallerist NY. Observer Media Group. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
  20. ^ http://familyguyaddicts.com/2014/09/26/quest-for-stuff-quick-walkthrough-kool-aids-endless-summer/
  21. ^ Suttell, Scott (May 12, 2016). "Hey Kool-Aid! Have you met Flo?". Crain's Cleveland Business. Crain Communications, Inc. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
  22. ^ Carbone, Nick (August 24, 2011). "Top 10 Creepiest Product Mascots". Time. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
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