Metro Ken
Metro Ken was a cartoon mascot used by Nexus to inform customers of modernisation works for the "Metro: All Change" programme. The idea for Metro Ken came from the design team at the marketing agency Gardiner Richardson, who were commissioned by Nexus to devise the "All Change" livery. He was then brought to life by illustrator Ian Bilbey. He was unveiled to the public on 12 February 2008, with some of his first appearances being at Central, Felling, and Sunderland stations where development projects were already taking place. He would later be seen on billboards and posters highlighting a variety of small- and large-scale developments.[1][2]
The original series included ten different illustrations of Metro Ken, tailored depending on the scale and type of development at a particular location on the Metro system.[1] These included illustrations of Ken with a paintbrush, a broom, and wearing a hard hat on a building site.[2] 3D renders of Metro Ken were later produced and used as early as 2014.[3] Unlike the original illustrations, the 3D version of Metro Ken only has four fingers, and Metro has claimed on social media that "he gets upset" in reference to people asking about the missing finger.[4]
Musician Ed Pickford wrote and performed the song "Metro Ken" based on the Nexus mascot.[5]
The domain name of one of the APIs used by the Pop app starts with "ken", which is likely a reference to Metro Ken.
Sources
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Metro Ken keeps commuters informed" (archived). Railnews. 19 March 2008.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Cartoon workman greets Metro commuters" (archived). ChronicleLive.
- ↑ Tyne and Wear Metro (18 March 2014). "Hi Metro Ken here, on Sunday 23 March no trains will be running between North Shields and Shiremoor in both directions to allow for vegetation work. We’ll be running bus replacement service 900 to get you where you need to be. Please leave some extra time for your journey this Sunday as it may take longer.". Facebook
- ↑ @My_Metro (30 December 2017). "Metro Ken. This is him- don't ask about the missing finger.... he gets upset.". X (formerly known as Twitter)
- ↑ Pickford, Ed. "Metro Ken" (archived)
