The Sharks adorable mascot “Sharkie” is still wet behind the ears, but that did not stop him from receiving his first “trophy”!
Sharkie was introduced to the world this year in a somewhat unorthodoxed manner, when he was reavealed as the Sharks latest “signing”. Some thought it brilliant, other were not that impressed!
Sharkie, being portrayed as a 3D super hero of the 21st century in a 30 second advertisement, has stolen the hearts of many a Sharksfan kid and adult, was awarded the “Mention D’Honneur” award at the 19th annual Federation Internationale Cinema Television Sportifs (FICTS) awards. An organisation recognised by the International Olympic Committee to promote “culture through sports”.
In a very competitive marketing world, we would like to congratulate Sharkie and Mike Ablett, Sharks Marketing Manager, on this awsome achievement!
May it be the first of many that Sharkie will enjoy with our beloved team!
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I still prefer the old Sharkie running all over the sidelines like a mad thing 🙂
Congrats to Sharks management and the creative company behind the scenes. Well done 😎
Although the new Sharkie looks a bit funny, I do love the advert
Worst. Sharkie. Ever.
How that design got past quality control is beyond me.
Looks more Puffer Fish than Shark.
@JarsonX (Comment 3) : Personal preferences aside..he must be doing something right for getting this! 😉
@John Galt (Comment 4) : And I think you should change your surname to “GALL” – I have never heard anything but bitter comments from you…do you EVER smile?
@Ice (Comment 6) : Very witty
@John Galt hahahaha i have to agree with you.The new mascot looks drunk.The face says it all.
@John Galt (Comment 4) : saying something like that after the design just won an award could potentially make you look a little silly? 🙂
I think the new Sharkie has a much better design but he needs to do sum preseason work and slim down! A much slimmer Sharkie with that design would be perfect!
@John Galt (Comment 4) : looks bad agreed.
Yay 😎
Now we need to dig out this 200-plus-comments thread of heated debate about the new Sharkie and see who should be blushin 😉
From the time I heard that Ronnie Uys was the inspiration for the new Sharkie’s shape, I had an idea that it was going to be a big let down, no matter how good the advert was.
Old Sharkie was a symbol of fitness and outdoor fun. New Sharkie is all about taking an extra slow stroll down to Micky D’s to pick up a supersized meal or 2, to break up a marathon session of console games.
The new Sharkie is a bigger let down than Marius Joubert.
But if the kids like it (he can’t even shoot them with his watergun anymore) and it’s a better marketing tool, it’s a job well done.
Yussie, hier’s ‘n klomp suurknolle op die webwerf vandag. 🙄
Is the lack of rugby getting to you guys?
The new Sharkie rocks! His target demographic is obviously the younger generation. I have yet to meet a kid who doesn’t love the new Sharkie and the advert. This includes kids whose parents support other teams. I suspect he’ll bring in a number of new fans in the long run simply because those kids liked the mascot from a young age.
@rekinek (Comment 12) : Are you a “MRS” yet??
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
The design didnt win th award.
The 30 second clip, which is actually very good, did.
Hell even I was excited about it when I first saw the clip.
Then I went to a live game and had the misfortune of seeing the new Sharkie live. And I’m sorry, the Sharkie from the clip does not match up with Sharkie in reality.
You’re kidding yourself if you think it does.
Bring back the old one. He was well liked by the kids and the adults. Used to have my folks and I in stitches.
@Ice (Comment 6) :
Lol. Ice, you can try your hardest to remain in Lala Land forever but unfortunately the reality is that the new Sharkie looks ridiculous. And its not just me that is saying this.
There have been numerous complaints. So many in fact that it made the papers and the complaints forced Brian Van Zyl to come out and state that they would have to re look at the design.
@John Galt (Comment 16) : agreed u are not the only one, my comment was actually directed at your general trend of commenting…I cannot recall ever reading a positive comment coming from you. That’s all. Being in Lala land forever, I simply don’t get pessimism. It seems a lonely place to be.
@John Galt (Comment 16) : Oh wait!!!! Did I detect a glimps of non-bitter in your comment to Rob?!?!? Could it be?!?! 😆
@Ice (Comment 18) :
Haha, perhaps. Just perhaps.
Its not pessimism, its realism.
My realism is needed as a counterbalance for people who live in Lala Land. 😉
@John Galt (Comment 19) : I DO get out of Lala land once in a while – stick around and u will see. When it comes to “serious” stuff yes…otherwise lala land is quite a nice place – I extend an invite for u to visit once in a while! 😉
Way to go “Sharkie”! Here’s looking forward to a lot of chatting about you in the future! 😉
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : Amen bru….
@rekinek (Comment 12) : 😆 howzit reki…
@John Galt (Comment 16) : its not bad because you say so, I know of a lot of people and kid loving it, we all can have and state our opinions, I do miss the energy that the previous sharkie had but that is to do with the guy inside…
Bring back the legendary feats of Manie Blom
@Ice (Comment 15) : not yet. still 2 weeks of stressing 😆
@vanmartin (Comment 14) : I completely agree with you.
but you know the oldies here
@John Galt (Comment 16) : are you serious ? like serious serious?
it just goes to show how serious people are about Sharkie. 😎
@Franshark (Comment 23) : 😎 how are you keeping?
@rekinek (Comment 26) : U will have a ball, knowing you!
@Ice (Comment 30) : me hopes 😀 right now it is difficult to look past all the nitty gritty of preparations 🙄
@Ice (Comment 30) : ps. the theme is black and white – of course 😆
@rekinek (Comment 29) : I’m well, how’s the new job and all? Almost end of the year 🙂
@rekinek (Comment 27) : U know old people do not take easy to a change..its understandable then I guess! 😈
@rekinek (Comment 26) : what’s this, something I missed? Comment 15?
@Franshark (Comment 33) : I guess being a newbie comes with a lot of excitement and lots of figuring out what is what (and who is who 😉 , but good work and nice people so quite 😎
@Ice (Comment 34) : unless you are a woman 😉 the change is the name of the game , different hair, different nails, new bag, new hat
@Franshark (Comment 35) : the DO day 😉
needa run now 🙁
nice chatting must pop in more often. cheers guys 😛
@rekinek (Comment 38) : aaaaaaahaaaa 🙂 so why the stress its all exiting 😉 (as if I did not stress)
@rekinek (Comment 39) : Make a “draai” before the big day – and we want photo’s!!
PS. Why was SW (read ICE) not invited to cover the wedding?? 😆
@Franshark (Comment 24) : I don’t the guy inside can be held accountable for the lack of energy bit tho. This new Sharkie outfit must weigh quite a few times more than the old outfit + there is limited flexibility.
The sharks have probably become th?s b?ggest market?ng based un?on ?n the southern hem?sphere..how has a team only ever won 6 troph?es and st?ll manta?ned a mass?ve support base around the world..
Thats why players move down to durbs and thats why people of all ages love the sharks..the?r culture and the?r market?ng strategy around ?t..
It’s a small thing, but I miss how the old Sharkie would sit on his little chair in front of the flashers and be blown over when they strut their stuff.
And how he would join them as a flasher.
His water gun (which was ruthlessly pryed away from him by a 8 year old boy when he attended a Harlequines game this season- the last time I saw him 🙁 )
@Muzi (Comment 8) : That’s rich coming from someone whose team has a Bull as their mascot…
It is obvious where they got the new Sharky. They hired Lenny from Sharks Tale.
I think the new Sharkie is cool, but the advert isn’t great. I enjoy the start, where you see the wave of bucket seats and his fin going through the turf. After that it’s a let down; the flow seems staggered and the fact that he’s playing against himself is daft. Also, why didn’t they use the Sharks logo for the flag at the beginning?