Haibao –the story of the Expo Mascot

Haibao –the story of the Expo Mascot
May 08, 2009 By Susie Gordon , eChinacities.com

If you live in Shanghai, there’s no escaping that blue, vaguely dental-looking creature who is springing up everywhere. Since the design for the 2010 Expo mascot was announced back in 2007, his image and form have slowly been taking over the city. He was first unveiled at the Yu Yuan in early 2008, and can now be seen in locations ranging from the steps of the Urban Planning Museum to Longhua Temple (and everywhere in between). Haibao is ubiquitous these days – as much a part of the city as the Olympic fuwa were in Beijing last year. Haibao comes at the helm of decades of Expo mascots. Most notable and recent is Fluvi, an alien-esque ‘water sprite’ who represented the 2008 Zaragoza fair, preceded by the motley crew of ‘Royal Flora’ cartoon fruits from the 2006 Ratchaphruek Expo in Thailand. So what is the story behind our ever-present blue friend?

Shanghai Expo mascot Haibao
Photo: Shanghai Expo

In January 2007, the Expo committee announced an international contest to design the mascot for 2010. The aim was to attract ideas from around the world, embodying Chinese culture, representing the Expo theme ‘Better City, Better Life’, and producing a character that was eye-catching and easy to reproduce across a range of media. Over 800 advertising agencies were drafted in to promote the competition, and delegations of Expo reps travelled to over 50 Chinese cities. To help entrants with their designs, the committee put together a document tracing Expo’s history back to the first event in London in 1851. At various seminars and meetings, international experts were drafted in to give their views on what the mascot should entail. President of the Hong Kong Designers Association, Hon Bing-Wah, said "The design of the mascot is for a global event, so it has to hold a global concern."

Shanghai Expo mascot Haibao
Photo: Shanghai Expo

The committee expected to receive around 15,000 entries, but by the end of the four month application period, 26,655 designs had been received. They came from all over the world, but mostly from China’s eastern seaboard. The artists came from all walks of life – professional animators alongside nurses, teachers, and children (7% of entries came from under-10s). The oldest entrant was 83, and the youngest was three.

 
An 11-strong jury gathered to discuss the entries, comprising artists, designers, art experts and cultural gurus from the mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy and Portugal. They eventually settled on the entry submitted by Shanghai design firm Yokan Corporate Identity, who had come up with a blue bubble figure with a quaff of hair and a cheerful grin. After three months of talks, the committee created a slightly modified figure, which is the Haibao we see today. China’s Vice President Wu Yi officially agreed the design on 24th September 2007.

Shanghai Expo mascot Haibao
Photo: Shanghai Expo

Haibao’s name (海宝) means ‘treasure of the sea’ in Mandarin, and was chosen for its relation to Shanghai and its position close to the ocean. The official Expo website gives an exhaustive (and often slightly far-fetched) explanation of Haibao’s anatomy, and what each aspect represents. Apparently, he was designed around the principle of 人 (rén) meaning ‘people’, whose two strokes symbolise support and teamwork, as well as that much-vaunted Chinese buzz-word harmony. His hair was inspired by an ocean wave, while the expression on his face is confident and friendly, welcoming visitors to the Expo. His eyes, according to the website, are wide with anticipation, and his vibrant blue colour symbolises “the latitude and imagination which represents the rising and potential of China”… Indeed. Haibao’s body is round, to depict a “well-off life” and his jolly thumbs-up hand gesture is another welcome to visitors. His feet (and this is priceless) are large, in order to signify China’s strength, and ability to host a good Expo.

Shanghai Expo mascot Haibao
Photo: Shanghai Expo

As with the five too-cute fuwa who huanying-ed us to Beijing last year, Haibao is set to adorn all sorts of merchandise in the coming months. Already, the shelves of the Urban Planning Museum shop are crammed with that familiar sky-blue fabric, as hordes of Haibaos in different sizes stare from their boxes. To commemorate Spring Festival in 2007 and 2008, special mascots were released, clad in traditional Tang Dynasty outfits, clutching strings of rather menacing firecrackers. If you have ever dreamed of owning a set of dinner plates inscribed with Haibao’s image, your prayers will be answered. The same goes for a plethora of Expo-related goods ranging from mobile phone charms to enormous cushions. The Haibao world is our oyster. Bring on 2010.

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