Chances are, you're familiar with the Michelin Tires mascot, Bibendum - Perhaps better known today as "The Michelin Man". I've always found the early depictions of him to be interesting - Always shown smoking a tasty cigar and carelessly ripping tubular tires from his body and offering them to someone in need. The vintage Bibendum costumes could even be described as terrifying, yet awesome. He was a marketing masterpiece, made evident by his ability to withstand the test of time. He was first introduced in 1894 and has changed very little since then. I really enjoy looking at the art nouveau style advertisements which he appeared in, and I believe they're still great pieces of design by today's standards. Way to go Michelin.
The video above is from 1935, and depicts the theoretic birth of Bibendum. It's kinda neat to see what animators were capable of back in that day. People must have thought that crap was hilarious...
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