The Puttermans
Encyclopedia
The Puttermans starred in a series of advertisements created by New York-based advertising agency Ogilvy & Mather
for Duracell
in the mid-1990s.
Made to combat the successful Energizer Bunny
ad campaign, the Puttermans were a family of plastic robot
s who outlasted others, thanks to their Duracell brand batteries (a playful reference to their deadpan 1970s ad campaign which featured head-to-head competition between toys).
The original campaign was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
whereas later executions (using the "No battery is stronger, longer." claim) were helmed by David Kellogg
.
The characters were developed by special effects wizard Steven Johnson and his company XFX, Inc. The actor
s were made up to look as if they were claymation or computer animation
characters. The costumes consisted of boxy modular units of stiff foam rubber
coated with urethane
. The characters all had large copper-top batteries protruding from their backs and their faces were made of state-of-the-art latex prosthetics designed to heavily caricature the actors' own features, and complete character wardrobes. They tended to alienate viewers, due to their non-human yet non-toy or cartoon appearance
, and the series of commercials was abandoned. At the time, the actor identities were not revealed to preserve the family's mystique.
The family consisted of:
Some of the earlier commercial plots included the following:
Halloween
costumes of Herb and Flo, complete with latex masks, were released in North America.
American rock band Primus
wore Putterman-like costumes of themselves made up like cowboys in the Les Claypool
-directed video for "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver
".
Ogilvy & Mather
Ogilvy & Mather is an international advertising, marketing and public relations agency based in Manhattan and owned by the WPP Group. The company operates 497 offices in 125 countries with approximately 16,000 employees.-History:...
for Duracell
Duracell
Duracell is a brand of batteries manufactured by Procter & Gamble.Additionally, Duracell owns the Procell professional-use brand.-Products:Duracell manufactures alkaline batteries in many common sizes, such as AAA, AA, C, D, and 9V...
in the mid-1990s.
Made to combat the successful Energizer Bunny
Energizer Bunny
The Energizer Bunny is the marketing icon and mascot of Energizer batteries in North America. It is a pink toy rabbit wearing sunglasses and blue and white striped sandals that beats a bass drum bearing the Energizer logo. It is a parody of the preexistent Duracell Bunny, still seen in Europe and...
ad campaign, the Puttermans were a family of plastic robot
Robot
A robot is a mechanical or virtual intelligent agent that can perform tasks automatically or with guidance, typically by remote control. In practice a robot is usually an electro-mechanical machine that is guided by computer and electronic programming. Robots can be autonomous, semi-autonomous or...
s who outlasted others, thanks to their Duracell brand batteries (a playful reference to their deadpan 1970s ad campaign which featured head-to-head competition between toys).
The original campaign was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld
Barry Sonnenfeld
Barry Sonnenfeld is an American filmmaker and television director. He worked as cinematographer for the Coen brothers, then later he directed and produced big budget films such as Men in Black.-Life and career:...
whereas later executions (using the "No battery is stronger, longer." claim) were helmed by David Kellogg
David Kellogg
David Kellogg is an American film, commercial, and music video director.Kellogg has gained prominence for dozens of television spots that he has created for clients such as Pepsi, Fuji, AT&T, Sprite, Coke, Nike, Apple, IBM, MCI, United Airlines, and Mercedes-Benz...
.
The characters were developed by special effects wizard Steven Johnson and his company XFX, Inc. The actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
s were made up to look as if they were claymation or computer animation
Computer animation
Computer animation is the process used for generating animated images by using computer graphics. The more general term computer generated imagery encompasses both static scenes and dynamic images, while computer animation only refers to moving images....
characters. The costumes consisted of boxy modular units of stiff foam rubber
Foam rubber
Foam rubber refers to rubber that has been manufactured with a foaming agent to create an air-filled matrix structure. Commercial foam rubbers are generally either polyurethane foam or natural foam rubber latex. Latex foam rubber, used in mattresses, is well-known for its endurance.-See also:*...
coated with urethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
. The characters all had large copper-top batteries protruding from their backs and their faces were made of state-of-the-art latex prosthetics designed to heavily caricature the actors' own features, and complete character wardrobes. They tended to alienate viewers, due to their non-human yet non-toy or cartoon appearance
Uncanny Valley
The uncanny valley is a hypothesis in the field of robotics and 3D computer animation, which holds that when human replicas look and act almost, but not perfectly, like actual human beings, it causes a response of revulsion among human observers...
, and the series of commercials was abandoned. At the time, the actor identities were not revealed to preserve the family's mystique.
The family consisted of:
- Herb, the father (Keith Langsdale)
- Flo, his wife, the mother (Marla Frees)
- Son Zack (Debi DerryberryDebi DerryberryDebi Derryberry is an American voice actress, singer, composer and kids' entertainer who won an American Anime Award.-History:...
) - Daughter Trish (Krystee Clark)
- Grandma Putterman, who was actually played by a male actor.
Some of the earlier commercial plots included the following:
- The Puttermans attend a family reunionFamily reunionA family reunion is an occasion when many members of an extended family get together. Sometimes reunions are held regularly, for example on the same date of every year....
picnic. A talkative relative freezes up mid-sentence and falls face first into a plate of spaghetti, and the Puttermans jokingly accuse her husband of switching her Duracell battery with an off-brand. - Trish Putterman and boyfriend Bruce sit on a porch swing, and wish that their romantic night could go on forever with the help of Duracell.
- Grandma Putterman is so filled with energy, she can't stop dancing.
Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
costumes of Herb and Flo, complete with latex masks, were released in North America.
American rock band Primus
Primus (band)
Primus is an American rock band based in San Francisco, California, currently composed of bassist/vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry "Ler" LaLonde and drummer Jay Lane. Primus originally formed in 1984 with Claypool and guitarist Todd Huth, later joined by Lane, though the latter two departed...
wore Putterman-like costumes of themselves made up like cowboys in the Les Claypool
Les Claypool
Leslie Edward "Les" Claypool is an American musician and writer, best known as the lead vocalist and bassist in the band Primus. Claypool's playing style on the electric bass mixes tapping, flamenco-like strumming, whammy bar bends and slapping.Claypool has also self produced and engineered his...
-directed video for "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver
Wynona's Big Brown Beaver
"Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" is the first single off Primus's 1995 album Tales from the Punchbowl.-Music and lyrics:The song epitomizes Primus's musical eccentricities, whereby the group's signature funk metal stylings are comically inflected with a sound vaguely reminiscent of bluegrass and...
".