Making mascot magic

FAMED BRANDS: CLIENT LIST INCLUDES SPRINGBOKS, SHARKS, MCDONALD'S

- Hein Kaiser

It's magical; it evokes childhood memories like the Oros man, the Care Bears, and a host of more modern characters such as online legend Grimace and ninjas.

Walking through Mascots SA's workshop in Cape Town feels like stepping behind the curtain of a magic show.

On one workbench, a fuzzy lion's head is coming to life. Nearby, a fabricator is shaping a foam frame with delicate precision; a hat is fitted on a mascot, and racks of brightly colored materials line the walls ready to transform into anything from a dancing scarecrow to a corporate mascot.

This is where creativity meets craftsmanship, and where John and Manuela Cooper have spent 18 years turning imagination into reality.

Where mascots come from isn't something we think about. But they're everywhere. Last month, kids chased Grimace around Johannesburg as the character appeared randomly at McDonald's outlets. Parents drove all over the city to get a selfie with the online hero.