California Raisin
California Raisin
- Description
- The California Raisins are sculpted clay figures used as advertising and merchandising characters by the California Raisin Advisory Board. The figures were first developed by Will Vinton Productions in 1986 based on caricatures of African American rhythm-and-blues groups. The California Raisins are often accompanied by a soundtrack of “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” originally popularized by singer Marvin Gaye. The Raisins released numerous studio albums in the 1980s, starred in a cartoon series, and were nominated for an Emmy for their 1988 “Meet the Raisins” mockumentary. These figures were used in the Claymation advertisements from 1986 through 1991.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1986-1991
- producer
- Will Vinton Productions
- user
- California Raisins Advisory Board
- maker
- Will Vinton Productions
- place made
- United States: Oregon, Portland
- Physical Description
- plastic (overall material)
- lead (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- clay, plasticene (overall material)
- Measurements
- average spatial: 26 cm x 12 cm x 8 cm; 10 1/4 in x 4 3/4 in x 3 1/8 in
- ID Number
- 1991.3182.01
- catalog number
- 1991.3182.01
- nonaccession number
- 1991.3182
- subject
- Motion Pictures
- Animation
- Consumerism
- Food Culture
- Music
- Blacks
- African American
- See more items in
- Culture and the Arts: Entertainment
- Popular Entertainment
- Advertising
- American Enterprise
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History