The Story Behind the Kool-Aid Man

October 7, 2016 5:00 am

Created in 1927, Kool-Aid didn’t fully capture the public consciousness until the arrival of the Kool-Aid Man. This massive pitcher of Kool-Aid had a knack for smashing walls and uttering, “Oh yeah!,” making it one of the catchiest slogans in advertising history.

But just how was the iconic sloganeer created? Watch (and listen) as voice artist Frank Simms retraces the development of the Kool-Aid Man’s voice: bizarrely, soul legend Barry White was a big inspiration. Then stick around for a feature on Billy West, who has voiced an unnerving number of iconic cartoon characters (including both halves of The Ren & Stimpy Show and seemingly everyone on Futurama.)

 

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