If you're like me, nothing delights you more than (1) cartoons, and (2) vice. So what could possibly be better than cartoons promoting vice? The two go together like peanut butter and chocolate, and nothing spells persuasion like a whimsical animated character touting the refined pleasures of a stiff drink and a relaxing smoke.
As you are about to see, cartoons enjoy a long proud history in the service of the intoxicant industries. Unfortunately, in the wake of the the Joe Camel nanny state uproar, America's tobacco and alcohol merchants are increasingly reluctant to use the practice. All more's the shame, because as the following ad spots demonstrate, hard-partying spokescartoons can be a boffo vice sales tool.
One of my all time favorites: Fred and Barney go back behind the boulder to toke on some rich Winston flavor.
Mr Magoo for Stag Beer. This begs the question: was he a nearsighted curmudgeon, or just totally shitfaced?
Much more below the fold.
Stop-action Lucky Strikes on the march... with military precision!
Also in the anthropomorphic marching product vein: Rheingold beer. Although I admit the vaguely Germanic music is sort of creepy. Is this some sort of beer hall putsch?
A multicultural rainbow of poorly-animated stereotypes touts Kent filters.
Of course, no review of alky animation favorites would be complete without the Hamm's Beer Bear. From the land of sky blue wa-a-ters!
For the winos in our audience: a yodeling cartoon paean to the forgotten rotgut label Melody Hill.
I'm not sure if insecticide qualifies as a vice, but I wager these whimsical death-celebrating spots from Black Flag and Raid might induce strokes in today's enviro-bluenoses.
Some ultrahip late 50's UPA-inspired animation for Carling's Black Label.
More UPA-style Stan Frebergian moderns supporting National Bohemian...
And the classic campaign of Bob and Ray as Bert & Harry for Piels Beer
But cartoon vice commercials weren't just an American phenomenon, as this 1960 Suntory whiskey spot from Japan demonstrates. Salaryman! Enjoy benefits of Suntory!
Across the other pond, a psychedelic glam Banks's beer advert featuring Slade's Noddy Holder:
Digging wayyyy back for a real mindblower, the Kool Penguins scrutinize tobacco leaves, who are found wanting.
Last, but not least: adorable Disneyesque woodland creatures gather at the barn dance... and get their swerve on with PM Whiskey!
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