Month: October 2018 | Avant Garb

There is a moment, when sculpting a big mascot head, or designing hugely, fabulous mascot clothes when I feel the mascot coming to life. For Bucky the Buccaneer, a mascot we made for Barry University, it was when we were making his fabulous, Buccaneer coat.

Bringing a mascot to life is magic. Bucky’s coat has a kind of magic woven into the fabric. For me, the coat gave Bucky his swagger. The coat was the magic moment.

Bucky had a well planned start. All mascots start with a rendering, a drawing of the mascot. Turkel Brands, an agency in Miami, Florida, provided a brilliant mascot design. We knew a lot about Bucky before we made the first paper patterns, before we started sculpting his head and before we engineered his tail structure.

Mascot Fabulousness

Bucky is a mascot that is filled with Mascot Fabulousness. When we sent him off for his grand debut, we knew we were sending off a great mascot.

Bucky has a big, expressive beak, a big, bird tail and a pirate coat with swagger! He has belts and buckles, a sword and a periscope and…oh yeah… a grand, flamboyant hat with a big, red feather.

Here’s a video of Bucky’s debut at Barry University

©JenniferSmith 2015

There’s a new mascot in Mascotland. His name is Gritty. He’s caused a stir and we’ve noticed. So has everybody else. He is everywhere. He’s on TV, he’s all over social media and he’s on the tip of everybody’s tongue Gritty is the new mascot for Philadelphia Flyers Hockey.

He’s Big. Fat. Orange. He also has wild googlie eyes and a slightly unpredictable manner.

At first glance he seems like an pretty unusual mascot.

We first looked at him and said, “Huh!?”

The introduction of Gritty has been brilliant. We know some of the key players who brought him to life – Gritty isn’t one of ours. We know some of the people who have had a hand in conceptualizing, making and plotting his introduction. They are a knowledgable bunch.

Since Gritty arrived on the scene, we have all talked to each other about, well, Gritty. There is a whole Gritty photoshop movement on twitter ( and his twitter feed is worth a read). He’s hung out with Jimmy Fallon and Ricky Gervais. He’s been on GMA.

The big, shaggy orange guy is doing everything a mascot should do. He’s bringing people into the house. He’s the Flyers most ardent fan.

He’s adorably, socially awkward and he mostly l-o-o-o-o-o-v-v-v-e-s everybody inside the arena and out.

Gritty, the new mascot for Philadelphia Flyers Hockey is BRILLIANT. He’s bringing new fans to hockey and he’s introducing neighbors to each other. He has already made a Big, Big Impression because he is a BIG, BIG mascot.

Gritty has no boundaries. He reaches out to everyone and we are all reaching back.

Need a mascot? Get in touch.

Mascot Fabulousness – Bucky the Buccaneer

Mascot Fabulousness

Gritty, the New Mascot for Philadelphia Flyers Hockey

Archives for October 2018

Mascot Fabulousness