Inspired by 1920s-1950s cartoon drawings, retro mascots are back! From cereal boxes to coffee bags, these playful characters add instant recognition and shelf appeal.
Watch this video to see how we created a packaging mascot for our own PackMojo packaging:
1. Design your retro cartoon mascot
If you're reading this, you're most likely not a self-proclaimed artist, and so this step might just be the most intimidating. But, with incredible access to many powerful tools on the internet, it doesn't have to be. There are a variety of online art generator tools that can help you create a cartoon mascot. Just let them know what object you would like them to turn into a cartoon, and if you have any other design requirements, like if it should be waving or walking, if it should be holding any specific items. The tool that we will be using is ChatGPT’s retro cartoon generator.
As long as you follow certain guidelines, art generated by OpenAI's ChatGPT is safe for commercial use. For any tools you use, it’s good practice to review the conditions for commercial use before adding them to your packaging. Here are OpenAI's terms of use.
2. Vectorize your cartoon mascot
Once you have a cartoon you're happy with, bring it into Adobe Illustrator and vectorize it by going to Object > Image Trace > Make and Expand. This will leave you with a scalable cartoon mascot. From here, it acts like any other vector, so you will be able to edit it as you desire. For a more in-depth tutorial on image tracing, watch this tutorial.
Quick tip: When you image trace, Illustrator will create shapes for both the lines in the image as well as the background. Therefore, you may want to select the shapes generated for the background using the Direct Selection Tool and delete them. In order to select all of the background in one go (or just all elements of one color), you will want to begin by working at the level of the grouped vector. To get to this level, double-click the vector. Across the top, you will see the breadcrumbs of which layer you are in. Then, select a shape with the color of elements you want to select. Go to the top menu and choose Select > Same > Color Fill. This will automatically help you select all of the elements with the same color fill at the level you're working in. If you want to make your line drawing thicker, try adding a stroke to your shapes!
3. Add other packaging elements
Then, add your other packaging elements. We tend to see many other retro elements and color schemes paired with cartoon mascots. Think thick, bold text and vibrant hues paired with softer pastels.
Closing Thoughts
This retro mascot trend is more than just a throwback—it’s a fun, eye-catching way to stand out and connect with your customers. With accessible AI art generator tools that are safe for commercial use and Illustrator's image trace function, it can be really easy to create simple icons and artwork for your packaging.
Whether you're launching a new product or refreshing your look, adding a retro cartoon mascot is a playful move that packs a punch. So go ahead and give this tutorial a try, and when you're ready to bring your vision to life, PackMojo is here to help with custom packaging that’s as bold, nostalgic, and unique as your brand!