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TOI launches a new cartoon strip on Mr Wizer
Mr WizeR is the new mascot for Maruti Suzuki's WagonR. The animated character will also be extended to online and television
Maruti Suzuki has come up with a mascot, Mr WizeR, which would promote its hatchback car, WagonR. The cartoon character will debut in a cartoon strip in The Times of India tomorrow (July 17).
WizeR is an amalgamation of the brand name, WagonR and his inherent trait, 'wise'.
The cartoon strip, to start with, will appear every Friday, on the business page of The Times of India. Mr WizeR will also be seen in blogs, online virals and TV campaigns.
The idea has been conceptualised by Times - Red Cell & Auto Vertical, Lintas Media Group, the AoR on Maruti Suzuki. The creative team at Times Red Cell will also work on the story for the two or three column strip.
Mr WizeR, according to V S Mani, senior vice-president and general manager, Lintas Media Group, is a corporate executive, who has solutions to problems. He will be shown in both office and general life situations “WagonR will be an integral part of the storyline and the brand fit will be merged with the story,” says Mani.
Many companies in the recent past have dropped their popular mascots – Gattu of Asian Paints and the Maharaja of Air India are two instances. But Mani disagrees that having mascots is outdated. "Amul Butter's mascot – the Little Girl, is still going strong. The challenge was to bring alive the brand promise in an interesting manner. Through Mr WizeR, we would not only establish connect with the core audience, but it would appeal to the younger audience too," he explains.
The strip could be humorous, or could simply make a point, depending on the story.
According to C R Srinivasan, director, Times Group, coming up with an idea for the automobile sector, which is getting cluttered by the day, was a challenge. "The idea had to be in alignment with the brand value and the brand belief. It had to deliver what the brand promises to stand for, that is, being smart and being a leader. Mr WizeR just does that," he says.