The Pacific School Games will be held in Canberra this year, from 30 Nov to 6 Dec. About 5000 primary and secondary school students from Australia and Pacific countries will be competing. I made their mascot, a bunyip, which was launched a few weeks ago. Here is a photoset of the making process. I like the way its tail waggles the best:
Sally was interested in the plasticine model I made of the fruitbat, so I have added this photo to the set. You can click to see it enlarged in different sizes. The yellow pins mark the performer’s eyes, and the black spot on the leg, their feet.
Meanwhile, Amy has given me Best Flying Rodent in an Insupportable Role – lol! Thanks, Amy.
Oh yeah, the World EXPO also has a pavilion mascot, a platypus called Kamoné. She was designed by Melbourne-based illustrator, artist, toy designer and storyteller Nathan Jurevicius, best known for his Scarygirl series of toys, comics and products.
The drawings are pretty cool and there are various versions of her: dancing, just herself, in a long dress, playing soccer, with ipod and backpack, with tote and pencil, as an artist? (interestingly this isn’t used – maybe its not clear enough), and as a scientist.
There is also a bodysuit puppet of her. There are numerous pictures in the Australian Pavilion image gallery, such as this one of her supervising the unloading of the platypus exhibit (minus her gloves). And here Kamoné is at Tokyo Station, meeting her friends the official Aichi Expo mascots, Kiccoro and Morizo, a forest child and a forest grandfather.
One other thing. There is nice flash graphic at EXPO2005, though its a pity you have to scroll down to get both images.
I forgot about Brumby Jack, the official mascot of the Super 12’s Brumbies, the ACT Rubgy Union team. In a daggy interview in the Canberra Times he listed ‘The Man from Snowy River’ as his favourite movie, and ‘Horse with No Name’ as his favourite song. Its possible to buy a rather frightening Brumby Jack toy.
Brumbies are wild horses in Australia, and most mums and kids know the song Brumby Jack from watching the ABC’s Playschool — ‘Here comes Brumby Jack, bringing the horses down the track…’
The other local football mascot is the Canberra Raiders Victor the Viking. His muscles always look lumpy and migratory…
Updated links 2015
