I finally got down to watching all of Tim Burton's
Frankenweenie last week. The only reason I'd delayed for so long was because I knew I'd break down into a blubbering cooing teary mess every time the lead character's dog appears on screen. And I was soooo right. Pass the Kleenex. Cue the sniffles.
The story is a clever riff on the original, decades-old, raise-from-the-dead, "It's alive!" monster genre, but with a more tender approach. Essentially, it's about a boy and his best friend, Sparky, and what transpires after the latter meets with a fatal accident but is later brought back to life through a literally electrifying science experiment. Of course, I have to admit that the movie's extra pull at my heartstrings is based solely on the fact that I have my very own Sparky at home, in the form of my nearly 12-year old, super laid back English bull terrier Emma.
As movie merch marketing is wont to do, Frankenweenie also sparked - pun fully intended - a clothing line by, of all retailers, the Japanese mega chain
Uniqlo. That got me digging for other brands and movies that have used this stout pooch with the distinct wedge-shaped head as the main draw (and if they're playing secondary characters, they're always memorable scene stealers) in their respective enterprise. Here are some of my favourites:
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| Uniqlo promotional poster |
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| Target's limited edition soup can labels (featuring their ad mascot Bullseye) that are reminiscent of the iconic Warhol-inspired print. |
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| Target gift card |
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| Bud Light and Spuds MacKenzie |
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| Bullie peddling coffee |
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| Bullie peddling tea |
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George C. Scott and the bullie Abraxas Aaran
playing the general's dog William "Willie" the Conqueror in Patton |
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| My own Emma |
