In the latest chapter of the Sparky redesign saga, Arizona State on Wednesday revealed the latest update to the Sun Devil mascot, this version the result of an online fan vote.
The new Sparky is an update to the version revealed to much criticism in a March 1 news conference. That version, designed in conjunction with Disney, was criticized most for the mascot head, which featured black horns and very large eyes. The backlash was so great that ASU leaders decided to scrap the design and let fans decide on a new one.
The latest Sparky is the result of the online vote that allowed select fans -- ASU students, faculty, staff, alumni, season ticket holders and Sun Devil Club members and donors -- to choose between four new versions of the mascot head. It will debut at the start of the 2013 academic and athletic year.
The Sparky redesign also included a new Sparky logo, though it will not replace the old Sparky logo. The new logo will be used in comic books, children's books, animated films and on select merchandise. The original logo was drawn in 1946 by Disney artist Berk Anthony and remains unchanged. The mascot, however, has changed more than a dozen times.
