Twipsy

Twipsyは、Expo 2000 ハノーバーの公式マスコットで、抽象的で変幻自在なキャラクターです。国際博覧会のテーマ「人間・自然・技術」を表すようにデザインされ、空を飛べる大きな腕と普通の腕、平らな靴とハイヒールを片方ずつ持っています。デザイナーのハビエル・マリスカルは、Twipsyを宇宙の始まりのような遠い過去から来た存在、つまり星や細胞、無脊椎動物、爬虫類、鳥、哺乳類へと姿を変えてきた火花だと説明しました。

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誕生と選考

The organizers invited some 20 leading international artists to a restricted competition. In 1995, an international jury chose the proposal of Spanish designer Javier Mariscal, already known worldwide as the creator of Cobi, the mascot of the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. German sources put the number of proposals the jury reviewed at 17.

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The mascot had to symbolize the Expo’s three basic themes: humankind, nature and technology.

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名前の由来

The character received his name in May 1997. Twipsy was coined by Manfred Gotta, a German name developer.

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仲間たち

In the television series, Twipsy is joined by Nick, a 13-year-old boy who falls into cyberspace after an accident, his 8-year-old sister, Lissie, and their friend Albert.

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博覧会で

Life-size versions of Twipsy promoted the Expo abroad and walked the grounds during the Expo, which ran from June 1 to October 31, 2000.

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切手・映像・グッズ

Twipsy starred in an animated series set in cyberspace, where he works as a colorful email courier. It premiered on the German children’s channel KI.KA on November 1, 1999, seven months before the Expo opened, and ran to 26 episodes of 25 minutes. Its title song was composed by Xavier Capellas and Cece Gianotti.

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Germany issued special stamps featuring Twipsy, and plush toys, T-shirts, caps, mugs and watches were sold on the Expo site.

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豆知識

Mariscal described Twipsy as “born from a computer,” with a body that stretches and shrinks like chewing gum.