Cheerful Fat Corporate Logos

Today's thought. It's just an observation with no conclusion, really, except there are a good number of hefty corporate character logos in this country. 

Not sure why, but they have been there for well over a century: round, imposing, generally cheerful bulbous types who are an integral part of the branding. They have been for generations. Heck, the Michelin Man has been around since 1898. 

There are small companies that use them.

And bigger companies like Frost King, which makes weatherizing products.

 

That Hamburger Helper hand, too, is rather husky and meaty.

The round, big and happy characters are all over. 

I don't know why a predilection for round, big, anthropomorphic cartoon characters are part of the Western canon of advertising, but they are. Even The Simpsons has its Lard Lad Donuts mascot. 

 

 

I tried to look for other tropes, like freckled kids (Alfred E. Neuman, Wendy of the Wendy's hamburger chain) or military titles (Cap'n Crunch, Captain Morgan rum), but they are not as prevalent as the well-fed, large logo characters. Not at all.