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M&M announces redesigned characters in effort to reflect a ‘more dynamic, progressive world’

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The six iconic M&M characters, all different colors with their own personality, have undergone makeovers in order to be more modern and reflect a “more dynamic, progressive world,” according to Mars on Thursday.

The redesign was aimed at creating a feeling of belonging and community including highlighting each character’s personalities and not their gender.

One of the more notable changes include the redesign of the green M&M. That character will be exchanging her white heeled go-go boots that she was adorned in 1997 instead for “cool, laid-back sneakers to reflect her effortless confidence.”

Mars had received some criticism over the green candy’s sexualized appearance. She will now be “better represented to reflect confidence and empowerment, as a strong female, and known for much more than her boots.” 

Additionally, the green M&M and the brown M&M will now have a more friendly relationship with one another in a move meant to showcase a “force supporting women.”

The dynamic of the two characters will have them “together throwing shine and not shade,” according to the company. While the characters have at times been depicted at odds in some advertisements, they have also been shown as friends, and in some cases more than friends. A viral tweet from 2015 showed an animated photo of the two pieces of candy holding hands on a beach.

The brown M&M’s heels will also be lowered to something more professional, Mars added. The orange M&M, who has been depicted as having an anxious personality, will now “embrace his true self, worries and all,” but his shoelaces will now be tied to show his cautious nature.

According to Mars, he represents “one of the most relatable characters with Gen-Z,” which they noted is the “most anxious generation.” The red M&M was also subject to overhaul. Where he may have shown bullying tendencies in the past, he will now be more kind to his fellow characters.

Mars has also said they will include imagery of M&Ms in all shapes and sizes rather than only one body size. It will also be removing prefixes from the names of the characters to focus on “their personalities, rather than their gender.” 

ARTICLE: ELIZABETH HERTZBERG

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: MASHED.COM

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