As a way of acknowledging Burger King's recent decision to do-away with the King mascot following a seven-year run, TIME has compiled a list of the Top 10 Creepiest Product Mascots of all-time. These mascots did all they could to keep their products on the minds of the public, but managed to unsettle them in the process.
First on the list is, of course, the King. In his years as Burger King's mascot, millions were exposed to the bearded king with the beatific grin and a penchant for misbehavior. But wait...there's more! Also making the list is Count Chocula, whose "wiry fingers" and "single sharpened incisor hanging from his jaw" failed to scare children away from eating the sugary cereal he was born to promote. Other selections include the original Ronald McDonald (no argument here; I mean just look at that image above), the Dairy Queen Lips (uhh...okay) and The Hamburglar (oh come on...seriously?). The list makes for an entertaining read, if for no reason other than to stroll down memory lane and see some of the characters you saw in old commercials.
The consensus opinion seems to be that "creepy" mascots are a bad thing for companies to utilize, though I'm not sure I agree. These mascots tend to remain in people's minds, ensuring that they think about the product. Furthermore, I'm not certain that Burger King has the right idea when they blame their financial problems on the mascot. In fact, the Burger King mascot had become a celebrity, in his own way. Did they not think it possible to promote the healthier foods on their menu using the king? I don't see this move helping their situation. Perhaps the king will make a return one day.
Here is a link to TIME's list of the Ten Creepiest Mascots
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