Union

“Wake up.” Snap said to Crackle and Pop. “Mr. Peanut has been killed.” He showed his sleepy fellow cereal stars a video. Mr. Peanut dropped into a cavern and explodes.

The three friends watched in horror. “How could his sponsor let it happen? He’s been working for them for decades if not a century.” Crackle had tears in his eyes. He and Mr. Peanut had played golf together and always sat at the same table at the conventions for the Association of Cartoon Advertising Icons. (ACAI)”

“I called the Energizing Bunny. He said it was the sponsor and the ad agency looking for a new image and we're all in danger,” Snap said. “Some young new ad exec whipper snapper wanted to make his mark.”

The three friends were quiet until Pop said, “We need to form a union to make sure our contracts don’t expire. I mean if they want to let us go, buy us out, don’t kill us.”

They quickly made a list of icons to call including;

• The Nesquik Rabbit
• Geoffrey the Giraffe
• Captain Crunch
• Tony the Tiger
• Felix the cat
• The purple Milka Cow (they decided to go for international icons too)
• Aleksandr and Sergi Meerkat
• Elsie the Cow
• Michelin Man
• Cocoa Puff bird
• Trix Rabbit
• M&M characters"(Red, Blue, Yellow, Green, Brown)
• Geico Gecko
• Joe Camel came even if his retirement was forced by the anti-smokers
• Wiley Coyote for Acme

All the attendees, both still active and those seeking new sponsors, expressed horror at Mr. Peanut’s violent death. A meeting was set at the Energizer Bunny’s house. The Bunny rushed around, getting everyone appropriate food.

“We need to do some focus groups,” Tony said. “Show the sponsors that killing or even firing us would put them in a bad light. I’ve heard many people are upset by Mr. Peanut’s demise.”

The focus group included half children, half adults. One child left in tears after she saw the explosion killing Mr. Peanut. Her mother left with her. Another mother said that children shouldn’t have to see such violence and she, for one, would never buy another Planter’s peanut. Cashews were better anyway.

Will other ACAI members be killed off? 

Will Planters regret what they did to Mr. Peanut and devise a clever way to resurrect him? 

Will theACAI have the power to convince sponsors and ad agencies that killing them off or even firing them is a bad idea? 

 

RIP 1916-2020 

Mr. Peanut