2026 World Cup Mascots: What Works and What Doesn’t in Clutch, Zayu, and Maple
An analysis of the three official FIFA World Cup 2026 mascots, exploring their design, storytelling, merchandising potential, and the visual identity of the host countries. An analysis of the three official FIFA World Cup 2026 mascots, exploring their design, storytelling, merchandising potential, and the visual identity of the host countries. The FIFA World Cup is not just about teams, stadiums, and matches. Each edition also has a mascot: a character designed to make the ev
Valentino Spadoni
Paying for a mascot through royalties: when and why it benefits everyone
When a company considers creating a mascot, the first question is almost always the same: “ How much does it cost? ” It’s a legitimate question, and there are several ways to answer it. In fact, there is a common practice across creative industries: payment through royalties on sales, or a hybrid model that combines a lower upfront fee with a percentage of the results. It may sound like an unusual proposal, but it isn’t at all.In film, publishing, and character licensing, th
Valentino Spadoni
Yuru-chara: the Japanese mascots that move billions
Japan is perhaps the ideal habitat for mascots.We already know that its comics culture is highly developed, with Japanese creators exporting their work and captivating audiences worldwide. What few people realize, however, is that this passion for fictional characters (and stories) extends deeply into everyday life. There is a mascot for everything. Merchandise, transportation, credit cards—and, of course… entire cities. In Japan, there is a type of mascot known as yuru-chara
Valentino Spadoni