Funny Picture

I drew these a few years ago as a favor for a friend -- he needed some multipurpose "clip art" figures for his website. Don't think he ever used 'em, so here they are on my blog!

Click on the image below for the full-sized collection of Car Salesmen cartoons

(Click on the arrow in the player above to watch)

The character designs in this vintage Fizzies cartoon TV commercial are so appealing and the little song is so catchy I just had to share this one. Man! They really knew how to make commercials in the fifties! Kid-vid commercials today are so overly-amped it's ridiculous...but what kid wouldn't want to kick back and make a fizzy after watching this delicious animated spot?

Just listen to the crazy syncopated rhythm in this jazzy jingle:

• They sparkle, they bubble, and quick as a ..wink...
• You've got yourself a DEE-liciously tasty ... effervescent drink!

The story structure of this little cartoon opera is a joy to observe too;

The know-it-all big brother shows off his musical skills and haughtily demonstrates his fizzy-making prowess.

Notice the conflict: little sis is trying to grab the Fizzies package away, but the boy wants to show how cool he is.

While he selfishly guzzles the Fizzie he just made, the little girl snatches the Fizzies packet away and shows that she's just as smart and can make her own darn fizzie! She even gives us a wink to say to all the downtrodden younger siblings in the audience that Fizzies is the friend of the underdog.

After the boy chases his sister off-screen, the announcer comes in with the pitch!

You've got to pay attention because the conflict is still unresolved. The pitch itself is a model of CLARITY. He tells you and shows you exactly what the product is, and why you must have it now. There's no color, so they SHOW all the fruit flavors with delicious cartoon illustrations of the grape, orange, cherry, lemon-lime, strawberry and root-beer flavors!

Finally, now that the sales pitch is finished, the whole family comes in to screen happily drinking Fizzies.

This is especially for the moms in the audience, demonstrating that Fizzies are the answer to all domestic strife. Brilliant.

"Get Fizzies...the new HAPPY drink!" Just GET 'em. I love the boldness of old commercials. They just tell you what to do.

There are TONS more like this at www.tvdays.com

Dan Goodsell's recent post about Super Sugar Crisp's Sugar Bear reminded me that my first cartoon influences were all the awesome animated breakfast cereal mascots of the late sixties and early seventies.