Major relaunch aims to inspire and mobilise a new generation of environmental enthusiasts.
The Wombles – the popular children’s characters from the 1970s – have come out of hibernation to spread their positive message of local environmentalism.
The characters have been given a CGI makeover as part of a major relaunch that aims to inspire and mobilise a new generation of environmental enthusiasts.
A #WomblesWanted advertising campaign is encouraging members of the public to adopt positive (Womble-style) behaviour, from recycling to reusing and refurbishing old items rather than sending them to landfill.
The Wombles are also being used to promote Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean, the country’s largest mass-action environmental campaign, which takes place from March 20 to April 13.
This will be the first in a series of initiatives supported by The Wombles to encourage all of us to do more for our local environment in 2020, from recycling and collecting litter to reusing and refurbishing old items rather than sending them to landfill.
The new CGI gives each Womble – including all of the classic characters (Orinoco, Great Uncle Bulgaria, Madame Cholet, Alderney, Tobermory, Wellington, Bungo and Tomsk) – a full range of facial emotions and the ability to talk.
A new series of scripts, balancing important environmental messages with the playful fun that made The Wombles so popular, is under development. The team behind the Wombles is in discussion with major studio partners and streaming platforms about bringing the original eco-warriors back to our screens in the near future.
“The Wombles were the original eco-warriors and thanks to the original TV series many were inspired to take a greater interest in our environment,” said Daniel Avener, ceo of MDR Brand Management, which has been appointed to handle the brand extension and commercial partnerships programme for The Wombles. “Given the challenges facing the planet today, it’s a perfect time for companies and brands to leverage such an iconic family of characters to build a positive platform to help spread the environmental message to recycle, reuse and rethink the way we live and consume on a daily basis.”
MDR has also expanded its core team of consultant associate partners to specifically support The Wombles including leading industry experts Ian Downes, Simon Gresswell and Lisa Shapiro.
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