Voting Station

Coca-Cola Polar Bears

Please vote to return to collections.

Advertising Icon

The Resume

    (1922- )
    First used in print ads in France (1922)
    Revived in TV ads as part of the 'Always Coca-Cola' campaign (1993)
    Commercials made by Creative Artists Agency
    Animated by Rhythm & Hues

Why they might be annoying:

    In one of the commercials, the bears interact with penguins, which come from Antarctica, making them polar opposites. (Polar--get it? I just slay me.)
    After the success of the commercials, Coke merchandized the heck out of them, featuring the bears on plush toys, Beanie Babies, Christmas ornaments, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards, serving trays, etc.
    Polar Beverages made a TV commercial showing a polar bear contemplating a Coke, then throwing it into a recycling bin labeled 'Keep the Arctic pure' before enjoying a can of Polar Seltzer (1994).
    Coke got an injunction against the ad airing on the grounds that it implied that their product was impure.
    Coke introduced a new white can featuring the bears, but had to yank it after a month because of consumer complaints that it too closely resembled the silver Diet Coke can (2011).

Why they might not be annoying:

    The computer animation in the TV ads was cutting edge at the time.
    One of the ad creators noted, 'The bears are cute, mischievous, playful and filled with fun.'
    Visitors to the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta can pose for pictures with the bears.
    Coke donated $2 million (and pledged to match up to $1 million in consumer donations) to a World Wildlife Fund project to protect polar bear habitats in the Arctic (2011).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 12 Votes: 41.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 56 Votes: 46.43% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 300 Votes: 49.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 125 Votes: 55.20% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 10 Votes: 30.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 19 Votes: 42.11% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 101 Votes: 44.55% Annoying