HBO seemed to be entering the sugar water category this July when it rolled out Tru Blood, the blood-red drink originally seen on the network s eponymous vampire show. While the drink is available for purchase online, in reality HBO enlisted reverse-branding and defictionalization specialist Omni Consumer Products to create it. Fast Company has gathered a list of recent attempts to market so-called fantasy products. It turns out this variation on merchandising has precedence.
As Fast Company traces it, the practice started with a disastrous Disney and Hasbro partnership to market a real version of the gooey toy Flubber from its 1963 film Son of Flubber. Skin rashes and a small setback for the environment highlight that effort. More recent attempts have been strictly promotional, for instance the Simpsons movie promotion turning 7-11 Slurpees into Apu-endorsed Squishies. Others have taken a crack at creating a niche, such as Jelly Belly s Harry Potter flavor jelly beans. Overall, and Flubber aside, none have come close to being a mass marketed product.
In addition to the Tru Blood drink, Omni has developed products from films Idiocracy and Anchorman. Available at their site: Sex Panther cologne. Just in time for Christmas. Check out the media rich feature at Fast Company.
